Final answer:
Ipecac is a medication classified as an emetic, used to induce vomiting via stomach muscle contractions regulated by the medulla. Contrastingly, anesthetics like ketamine are used to induce anesthesia and can be abused illicitly.
Step-by-step explanation:
Ipecac is a medication used to induce vomiting and is classified as an emetic. An emetic is a substance that causes vomiting when ingested. Vomiting, or emesis, is the process of expelling the contents of the stomach through the mouth. This reflex is often a response to various irritants affecting the digestive tract. The medulla plays a crucial role in regulating this emesis reflex. Vomiting involves strong contractions of the stomach muscles to force contents outwards and is a common body defense against ingestion of harmful substances.
In contrast, anesthetics are drugs used to induce a loss of sensation or consciousness and range from local anesthetics, which numb a specific area, to general anesthetics, which cause full unconsciousness. Injectable anesthetics serve for initiating and maintaining this state. Regarding illicit use, ketamine, an anesthetic with hallucinogenic properties, is sometimes abused and even used in acts of crime due to its amnesic effects.