drug dealer

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moonlike

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Hi
Could you please help me with this term. "Drug dealer", somebody who sells and buys illegal drugs. I want to make sure if drug here means medicinal drugs, the ones that are too expensive and can't be sold or bought without doctor's superscription? Or does it mean narcotics?
Thanks a million.
 

Chicken Sandwich

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To my knowledge, it usally refers to people who sell illegal drugs such as cannabis, [STRIKE]heroin[/STRIKE], XTC and so on, although it's possible that some people get a kick from using certain types of medicinal drugs. In that case, drug dealers may sell those as well.
 
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bhaisahab

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To my knowledge, it usally refers to people who sell illegal drugs such as cannabis, heroin, XTC and so on, although it's possible that some people get a kick from using certain types of medicinal drugs. In that case, drug dealers may sell those as well.

Heroin is a medicinal drug.
 

emsr2d2

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I think what we need to make clear is that a "drug dealer" is usually someone who sells any kind of drug, pharmaceutical or narcotic, without any kind of licence to do so. For example, they may sell anti-depressants (perfectly legal pharmaceutical drug) as an "upper" (to give the user a high). However, the term is usually reserved for people who sell illegal drugs as opposed to selling drugs illegally.
 

Barb_D

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What is the medicinal use of heroin?
 

emsr2d2

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What is the medicinal use of heroin?

Otherwise known as "diamorphine".

From Wikipedia: Under the chemical names diamorphine and diacetylmorphine, heroin is a legally prescribed controlled drug in the United Kingdom, and is supplied in tablet or injectable form for the same indications as morphine is, often being preferred over morphine due to its lower side-effect profile.
 

SoothingDave

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There is indeed illicit trade in what are otherwise prescribed pharmaceuticals, especially opiates.
 
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