| the excessive, maladaptive, or addictive use of drugs for nonmedical purposes despite social, psychological, and physical problems that may arise from such use. Abused substances include such agents as anabolic steroids, which are used by some athletes to accelerate muscular development and increase strength and which can cause heart disease... |
| Complete and reliable data on the extent of drug abuse in recent years is simply not available. To specify the size and extent of the drug problem, accurate information as to manufacture, distribution, and sale of drugs would be needed. Complete evaluation would also require knowledge of the incidence of habituation and addiction in the... |
| also called Rediscount Rate, or Bank Rate, interest rate charged by a central bank for loans of reserve funds to commercial banks and other financial intermediaries. This charge originally was an actual discount (an interest charge held out from the amount loaned), but the rate is now a... |
| It was survival of the fittest for retailers in 1996, a year marked by mergers, takeovers, and cutthroat competition. Big companies got bigger by gobbling up rivals, opening new stores, and expanding into international markets. Smaller chains scrambled to boost sales by offering new products and services. Companies that did not adapt quickly... |
| any drug that mimics the action of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. See cholinergic drug. |
