Collocations for drug - noun
1. substance used as a medicine
ADJECTIVE
powerful,
strong
effective
safe
modern, new
wonder
They're hailing it as the new wonder drug.
effective
safe
modern, new
wonder
They're hailing it as the new wonder drug.
anti-cancer,
anti-inflammatory,
anti-malarial,
antiviral,
etc.
sedative
psychoactive
More and more children are being prescribed psychoactive drugs.
sedative
psychoactive
More and more children are being prescribed psychoactive drugs.
prescription
You used to be able to buy this medicine over the counter, but it is now a prescription drug.
You used to be able to buy this medicine over the counter, but it is now a prescription drug.
non-prescription,
over-the-counter
generic
We want to make it possible for African companies to produce cheaper generic drugs.
generic
We want to make it possible for African companies to produce cheaper generic drugs.
brand-name
(esp. AmE)
performance-enhancing
an athlete who tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs
performance-enhancing
an athlete who tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs
VERB + drug
be on,
take
Are you taking any other drugs at present?
Are you taking any other drugs at present?
prescribe (sb),
put sb on
The doctor put me on anti-inflammatory drugs.
The doctor put me on anti-inflammatory drugs.
give sb,
treat sb with
administer, give sb
The nurses came around to give the patients their drugs.
administer, give sb
The nurses came around to give the patients their drugs.
develop,
manufacture,
produce
new drugs that have been developed recently
new drugs that have been developed recently
market
test
approve
Some veterinary drugs are not approved for use in food-producing animals.
test
approve
Some veterinary drugs are not approved for use in food-producing animals.
be resistant to,
not respond to
Some infections are now resistant to drugs.
Some infections are now resistant to drugs.
PREPOSITION
drug against
a powerful drug against tuberculosis
a powerful drug against tuberculosis
drug for
He's taking drugs for depression.
He's taking drugs for depression.
2. illegal substance
ADJECTIVE
illegal,
illicit
addictive
hallucinogenic, mood-altering, psychoactive, psychotropic
class A, dangerous, hard
heroin and other hard drugs
addictive
hallucinogenic, mood-altering, psychoactive, psychotropic
class A, dangerous, hard
heroin and other hard drugs
soft
Some addicts start on soft drugs.
Some addicts start on soft drugs.
designer
(= artificially produced)
She had taken a new designer drug.
She had taken a new designer drug.
recreational
They had a liberal attitude to recreational drugs.
They had a liberal attitude to recreational drugs.
drug + NOUN
baron,
kingpin (esp. AmE),
lord
pusher
cartel
misuse
screening, testing
Some workplaces have introduced mandatory drug screening.
pusher
cartel
misuse
screening, testing
Some workplaces have introduced mandatory drug screening.
drug offense (AmE),
drugs offence
(BrE)
drug charge (esp. AmE), drugs charge (BrE)
sentencing (esp. AmE)
a review of the drug sentencing laws to make penalties harsher
drug charge (esp. AmE), drugs charge (BrE)
sentencing (esp. AmE)
a review of the drug sentencing laws to make penalties harsher
drug squad,
drugs squad
(both BrE)
drug czar (AmE), drugs tsar (BrE)
The new federal drug czar claimed the nation was winning the war on drugs.
the government's former drugs tsar
drug czar (AmE), drugs tsar (BrE)
The new federal drug czar claimed the nation was winning the war on drugs.
the government's former drugs tsar
war
the latest moves in the drug war
the latest moves in the drug war
PHRASES
drink and drugs (BrE),
drugs and alcohol
(esp. AmE)
the dangers of drugs and alcohol
the dangers of drugs and alcohol
Notes: Illegal drugs
do … (informal),
experiment with …,
take …,
try …,
use …
She confessed to having experimented with drugs in her youth.
She confessed to having experimented with drugs in her youth.
be/get high on …
They committed the crime while high on drugs.
They committed the crime while high on drugs.
be addicted to …,
be dependent on …,
be/get hooked on …
(informal)
bodybuilders who are addicted to steroids
bodybuilders who are addicted to steroids
be on …
(informal)
He seemed to be on acid most of the time.
He seemed to be on acid most of the time.
be off …,
come off …
He's tried several times to come off cocaine.
He's tried several times to come off cocaine.
possess …
She was arrested on charges of possessing narcotics.
She was arrested on charges of possessing narcotics.
deal …,
deal in …,
sell …,
smuggle …,
supply …,
traffic …,
traffic in …
The country imposes the death penalty for trafficking in marijuana.
The country imposes the death penalty for trafficking in marijuana.
seize …
The heroin seized has an estimated street value of £600 000.
The heroin seized has an estimated street value of £600 000.
… abuse,
… addiction,
… consumption,
… use
Heroin abuse has increased sharply.
Heroin abuse has increased sharply.
… habit (informal),
… problem
She allegedly has a $500-a-day coke habit.
She allegedly has a $500-a-day coke habit.
… overdose
Heroin overdose is a major cause of death among users.
Heroin overdose is a major cause of death among users.
… addict,
… user
heroin users
heroin users
… dealer,
… trafficker,
… smuggler
a cocaine dealer
a cocaine dealer
… production,
… smuggling,
… trade,
… trafficking
The authorities have been accused of active involvement in the narcotics trade.
The authorities have been accused of active involvement in the narcotics trade.
abuse of …,
addiction to …,
dependence on …,
use of …
the use of cocaine
the use of cocaine
trade in …
measures to combat the trade in narcotics
measures to combat the trade in narcotics