Commonly Abused Drugs
Visit NIDA at www.drugabuse.gov
Substances: Category and Name Examples of Commercial and Street Names DEA Schedule*/ How Administered** Acute Effects/Health Risks
Increased blood pressure and heart rate/chronic lung disease; cardiovascular disease;
Nicotine Found in cigarettes, cigars, bidis, and smokeless tobacco Not scheduled/smoked, snorted, chewed stroke; cancers of the mouth, pharynx, larynx, esophagus, stomach, pancreas, cervix,
(snuff, spit tobacco, chew) kidney, bladder, and acute myeloid leukemia; adverse pregnancy outcomes; addiction
In low doses, euphoria, mild stimulation, relaxation, lowered inhibitions; in higher doses,
Alcohol (ethyl alcohol) Found in liquor, beer, and wine Not scheduled/swallowed drowsiness, slurred speech, nausea, emotional volatility, loss of coordination, visual
distortions, impaired memory, sexual dysfunction, loss of consciousness/ increased risk
of injuries, violence, fetal damage (in pregnant women); depression; neurologic
deficits; hypertension; liver and heart disease; addiction; fatal overdose
Euphoria; relaxation; slowed reaction time; distorted sensory perception; impaired
Marijuana Blunt, dope, ganja, grass, herb, joint, bud, Mary Jane, pot, reefer, green, trees, I/smoked, swallowed balance and coordination; increased heart rate and appetite; impaired learning,
smoke, sinsemilla, skunk, weed memory; anxiety; panic attacks; psychosis/cough; frequent respiratory infections;
Hashish Boom, gangster, hash, hash oil, hemp I/smoked, swallowed possible mental health decline; addiction
Euphoria; drowsiness; impaired coordination; dizziness; confusion; nausea; sedation;
Heroin Diacetylmorphine: smack, horse, brown sugar, dope, H, junk, skag, skunk, white I/injected, smoked, snorted feeling of heaviness in the body; slowed or arrested breathing/constipation;
horse, China white; cheese (with OTC cold medicine and antihistamine) endocarditis; hepatitis; HIV; addiction; fatal overdose
Opium Laudanum, paregoric: big O, black stuff, block, gum, hop II, III, V/swallowed, smoked
Increased heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, metabolism; feelings of
Cocaine Cocaine hydrochloride: blow, bump, C, candy, Charlie, coke, crack, flake, rock, II/snorted, smoked, injected exhilaration; increased energy, mental alertness; tremors; reduced appetite; irritability;
snow, toot anxiety; panic; paranoia; violent behavior; psychosis/weight loss; insomnia; cardiac or
Amphetamine Biphetamine, Dexedrine: bennies, black beauties, crosses, hearts, LA turnaround, II/swallowed, snorted, smoked, injected cardiovascular complications; stroke; seizures; addiction
speed, truck drivers, uppers Also, for cocaine—nasal damage from snorting
Methamphetamine Desoxyn: meth, ice, crank, chalk, crystal, fire, glass, go fast, speed II/swallowed, snorted, smoked, injected Also, for methamphetamine—severe dental problems
MDMA
—mild hallucinogenic effects; increased tactile sensitivity, empathic feelings;
MDMA Ecstasy, Adam, clarity, Eve, lover’s speed, peace, uppers I/swallowed, snorted, injected lowered inhibition; anxiety; chills; sweating; teeth clenching; muscle cramping/
(methylenedioxymethamphetamine) sleep disturbances; depression; impaired memory; hyperthermia; addiction
Flunitrazepam*** Rohypnol: forget-me pill, Mexican Valium, R2, roach, Roche, roofies, roofinol, IV/swallowed, snorted
Flunitrazepam
—sedation; muscle relaxation; confusion; memory loss; dizziness;
rope, rophies impaired coordination/addiction
GHB*** Gamma-hydroxybutyrate: G, Georgia home boy, grievous bodily harm, liquid I/swallowed
GHB
—drowsiness; nausea; headache; disorientation; loss of coordination; memory loss/
ecstasy, soap, scoop, goop, liquid X unconsciousness; seizures; coma
Feelings of being separate from one’s body and environment; impaired motor
Ketamine Ketalar SV: cat Valium, K, Special K, vitamin K III/injected, snorted, smoked function/anxiety; tremors; numbness; memory loss; nausea
PCP and analogs Phencyclidine: angel dust, boat, hog, love boat, peace pill I, II/swallowed, smoked, injected
Also, for ketamine
— analgesia; impaired memory; delirium; respiratory depression
Salvia divinorum Salvia, Shepherdess’s Herb, Maria Pastora, magic mint, Sally-D Not scheduled/chewed, swallowed, smoked and arrest; death
Dextromethorphan (DXM) Found in some cough and cold medications: Robotripping, Robo, Triple C Not scheduled/swallowed
Also, for PCP and analogs
—analgesia; psychosis; aggression; violence; slurred
speech; loss of coordination; hallucinations
Also, for DXM
—euphoria; slurred speech; confusion; dizziness; distorted visual
perceptions
Altered states of perception and feeling; hallucinations; nausea
LSD Lysergic acid diethylamide: acid, blotter, cubes, microdot, yellow sunshine, I/swallowed, absorbed through mouth tissues
Also, for LSD and mescaline
—increased body temperature, heart rate, blood pressure;
blue heaven loss of appetite; sweating; sleeplessness; numbness; dizziness; weakness; tremors;
Mescaline Buttons, cactus, mesc, peyote I/swallowed, smoked impulsive behavior; rapid shifts in emotion
Psilocybin Magic mushrooms, purple passion, shrooms, little smoke I/swallowed
Also, for LSD
—Flashbacks, Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder
Also, for psilocybin
—nervousness; paranoia; panic
Steroids
—no intoxication effects/hypertension; blood clotting and cholesterol changes;
Anabolic steroids Anadrol, Oxandrin, Durabolin, Depo-Testosterone, Equipoise: roids, juice, III/injected, swallowed, applied to skin liver cysts; hostility and aggression; acne; in adolescents––premature stoppage of growth;
gym candy, pumpers in males––prostate cancer, reduced sperm production, shrunken testicles, breast
Inhalants Solvents (paint thinners, gasoline, glues); gases (butane, propane, aerosol Not scheduled/inhaled through nose or mouth enlargement; in females––menstrual irregularities, development of beard and other
propellants, nitrous oxide); nitrites (isoamyl, isobutyl, cyclohexyl): laughing masculine characteristics
gas, poppers, snappers, whippets
Inhalants
(varies by chemical)—stimulation; loss of inhibition; headache; nausea or
vomiting; slurred speech; loss of motor coordination; wheezing/cramps; muscle
weakness; depression; memory impairment; damage to cardiovascular and nervous
systems; unconsciousness; sudden death
Tobacco
National Institutes of Health
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
NIH... Turning Discovery Into Health
Alcohol
Cannabinoids
Opioids
Stimulants
Club Drugs
Dissociative Drugs
Hallucinogens
Other Compounds
Resume Templates 1210 Document(s)
