Commonly Abused Drugs
Substance:
Category and Name
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Examples of Commercial
and Street Names
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DEA Schedule*/
How Administered**
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Intoxication Effects/Potential Health Consequences
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Cannabinoids
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euphoria, slowed thinking and reaction time, confusion, impaired balance and coordination/cough, frequent respiratory infections; impaired memory and learning; increased heart rate, anxiety; panic attacks; tolerance, addiction
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hashish
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boom, chronic, gangster, hash, hash oil, hemp
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I/swallowed, smoked
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marijuana
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blunt, dope, ganja, grass, herb, joints, Mary Jane, pot, reefer, sinsemilla, skunk, weed
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I/swallowed, smoked
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Depressants
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reduced pain and anxiety; feeling of well-being; lowered inhibitions; slowed pulse and breathing; lowered blood pressure; poor concentration/confusion, fatigue; impaired coordination, memory, judgment; respiratory depression and arrest, addiction
Also, for barbiturates—sedation, drowsiness/depression, unusual excitement, fever, irritability, poor judgment, slurred speech, dizziness
for benzodiazepines—sedation, drowsiness/dizziness
for flunitrazepam—visual and gastrointestinal disturbances, urinary retention, memory loss for the time under the drug's effects
for GHB—drowsiness, nausea/vomiting, headache, loss of consciousness, loss of reflexes, seizures, coma, death
for methaqualone—euphoria/depression, poor reflexes, slurred speech, coma
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barbiturates
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Amytal, Nembutal, Seconal, Phenobarbital; barbs, reds, red birds, phennies, tooies, yellows, yellow jackets
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II, III, V/injected, swallowed
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benzodiazepines (other than flunitrazepam)
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Ativan, Halcion, Librium, Valium, Xanax; candy, downers, sleeping pills, tranks
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IV/swallowed
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flunitrazepam***
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Rohypnol; forget-me pill, Mexican Valium, R2, Roche, roofies, roofinol, rope, rophies
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IV/swallowed, snorted
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GHB***
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gamma-hydroxybutyrate; G, Georgia home boy, grievous bodily harm, liquid ecstasy
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under consideration/swallowed
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methaqualone
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Quaalude, Sopor, Parest; ludes, mandrex, quad, quay
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I/injected, swallowed
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Dissociative Anesthetics
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increased heart rate and blood pressure, impaired motor function/memory loss; numbness; nausea/vomiting
Also, for ketamine—at high doses, delirium, depression, respiratory depression and arrest
for PCP and analogs—possible decrease in blood pressure and heart rate, panic, aggression, violence/loss of appetite, depression
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ketamine
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Ketalar SV; cat Valiums, K, Special K, vitamin K
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III/injected, snorted, smoked
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PCP and analogs
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phencyclidine; angel dust, boat, hog, love boat, peace pill
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I, II/injected, swallowed, smoked
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Hallucinogens
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altered states of perception and feeling; nausea/chronic mental disorders, persisting perception disorder (flashbacks)
Also, for LSD and mescaline—increased body temperature, heart rate, blood pressure; loss of appetite, sleeplessness, numbness, weakness, tremors
for psilocybin—nervousness, paranoia
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LSD
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lysergic acid diethylamide; acid, blotter, boomers, cubes, microdot, yellow sunshines
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I/swallowed, absorbed through mouth tissues
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mescaline
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buttons, cactus, mesc, peyote
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I/swallowed, smoked
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psilocybin
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magic mushroom, purple passion, shrooms
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I/swallowed
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Opioids and Morphine Derivatives
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pain relief, euphoria, drowsiness/respiratory depression and arrest, nausea, confusion, constipation, sedation, unconsciousness, coma, tolerance, addiction
Also, for codeine—less analgesia, sedation, and respiratory depression than morphine
for heroin—staggering gait
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codeine
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Empirin with Codeine, Fiorinal with Codeine, Robitussin A-C, Tylenol with Codeine; Captain Cody, Cody, schoolboy; (with glutethimide) doors & fours, loads, pancakes and syrup
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II, III, IV/injected, swallowed
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fentanyl
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Actiq, Duragesic, Sublimaze; Apache, China girl, China white, dance fever, friend, goodfella, jackpot, murder 8, TNT, Tango and Cash
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II/injected, smoked, snorted
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heroin
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diacetylmorphine; brown sugar, dope, H, horse, junk, skag, skunk, smack, white horse
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I/injected, smoked, snorted
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morphine
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Roxanol, Duramorph; M, Miss Emma, monkey, white stuff
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II, III/injected, swallowed, smoked
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opium
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laudanum, paregoric; big O, black stuff, block, gum, hop
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II, III, V/swallowed, smoked
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Stimulants
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increased heart rate, blood pressure, metabolism; feelings of exhilaration, energy, increased mental alertness/rapid or irregular heart beat; reduced appetite, weight loss, heart failure
Also, for amphetamine—rapid breathing; hallucinations/ tremor, loss of coordination; irritability, anxiousness, restlessness, delirium, panic, paranoia, impulsive behavior, aggressiveness, tolerance, addiction
for cocaine—increased temperature/chest pain, respiratory failure, nausea, abdominal pain, strokes, seizures, headaches, malnutrition
for MDMA—mild hallucinogenic effects, increased tactile sensitivity, empathic feelings, hyperthermia/impaired memory and learning
for methamphetamine—aggression, violence, psychotic behavior/memory loss, cardiac and neurological damage; impaired memory and learning, tolerance, addiction
for methylphenidate—increase or decrease in blood pressure, psychotic episodes/digestive problems, loss of appetite, weight loss
for nicotine—tolerance, addiction;additional effects attributable to tobacco exposure - adverse pregnancy outcomes, chronic lung disease, cardiovascular disease, stroke, cancer
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amphetamine
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Adderall, Biphetamine, Dexedrine; bennies, black beauties, crosses, hearts, LA turnaround, speed, truck drivers, uppers
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II/injected, swallowed, smoked, snorted
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cocaine
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Cocaine hydrochloride; blow, bump, C, candy, Charlie, coke, crack, flake, rock, snow, toot
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II/injected, smoked, snorted
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MDMA (methylenedioxy-
methamphetamine)
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DOB, DOM, MDA; Adam, clarity, ecstasy, Eve, lover's speed, peace, STP, X, XTC
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I/swallowed
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methamphetamine
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Desoxyn; chalk, crank, crystal, fire, glass, go fast, ice, meth, speed
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II/injected, swallowed, smoked, snorted
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methylphenidate
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Ritalin; JIF, MPH, R-ball, Skippy, the smart drug, vitamin R
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II/injected, swallowed, snorted
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nicotine
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bidis, chew, cigars, cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, snuff, spit tobacco
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not scheduled/smoked, snorted, taken in snuff and spit tobacco
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Other Compounds
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anabolic steroids
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Anadrol, Oxandrin, Durabolin, Depo-Testosterone, Equipoise; roids, juice
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III/injected, swallowed, applied to skin
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no intoxication effects/hypertension, blood clotting and cholesterol changes, liver cysts and cancer, kidney cancer, hostility and aggression, acne; adolescents, premature stoppage of growth; in males, prostate cancer, reduced sperm production, shrunken testicles, breast enlargement; in females, menstrual irregularities, development of beard and other masculine characteristics
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inhalants
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Solvents (paint thinners, gasoline, glues), gases (butane, propane, aerosol propellants, nitrous oxide), nitrites (isoamyl, isobutyl, cyclohexyl); laughing gas, poppers, snappers, whippets
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not scheduled/inhaled through nose or mouth
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stimulation, loss of inhibition; headache; nausea or vomiting; slurred speech, loss of motor coordination; wheezing/unconsciousness, cramps, weight loss, muscle weakness, depression, memory impairment, damage to cardiovascular and nervous systems, sudden death
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*Schedule I and II drugs have a high potential for abuse. They require greater storage security and have a quota on manufacturing, among other restrictions. Schedule I drugs are available for research only and have no approved medical use; Schedule II drugs are available only by prescription (unrefillable) and require a form for ordering. Schedule III and IV drugs are available by prescription, may have five refills in 6 months, and may be ordered orally. Most Schedule V drugs are available over the counter.
**Taking drugs by injection can increase the risk of infection through needle contamination with staphylococci, HIV, hepatitis, and other organisms.
***Associated with sexual assaults.
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