Commonly Abused Drugs

Substances:
Category and Name
Examples of Commercial
and Street Names
DEA Schedule*/
How Administered**
Intoxication Effects / Potential Health Consequences
Cannabinoids 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
hashish boom, chronic, gangster, hash, hash oil, hemp I / swallowed, smoked
marijuana blunt, dope, ganja, grass, herb, joints, Mary Jane, pot, reefer, sinsemilla, skunk, weed I / swallowed, smoked
Depressants reduced anxiety; feeling of well-being; lowered inhibitions; slowed pulse and breathing; lowered blood pressure; poor concentration/fatigue; confusion; impaired coordination, memory, judgment; addiction; respiratory depression and arrest; death

Also, for barbiturates—sedation, drowsiness/depression, unusual excitement, fever, irritability, poor judgment, slurred speech, dizziness, life-threatening withdrawal

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
barbiturates Amytal, Nembutal, Seconal, Phenobarbital:barbs, reds, red birds, phennies, tooies, yellows, yellow jackets II, III, V / injected, swallowed
benzodiazepines (other than flunitrazepam) Ativan, Halcion, Librium, Valium, Xanax:candy, downers, sleeping pills, tranks IV / swallowed, injected
flunitrazepam*** Rohypnol:forget-me pill, Mexican Valium, R2, Roche, roofies, roofinol, rope, rophies IV / swallowed, snorted
GHB*** gamma-
hydroxybutyrate:
G, Georgia home boy, grievous bodily harm, liquid ecstasy
I / swallowed
methaqualone Quaalude, Sopor, Parest:ludes, mandrex, quad, quay I / injected, swallowed
Dissociative Anesthetics 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
ketamine Ketalar SV:cat Valiums, K, Special K, vitamin K III / injected, snorted, smoked
PCP and analogs phencyclidine;angel dust, boat, hog, love boat, peace pill I, II / injected, swallowed, smoked
Hallucinogens altered states of perception and feeling; nausea; persisting perception disorder (flashbacks)

Also, Also for LSD and mescaline—increased body temperature, heart rate, blood pressure; loss of appetite, sleeplessness, numbness, weakness, tremors

for for LSD—persistent mental disorders

for for psilocybin—nervousness, paranoia
LSD lysergic acid diethylamide:acid, blotter, boomers, cubes, microdot, yellow sunshines I / swallowed, absorbed through mouth tissues
mescaline buttons, cactus, mesc, peyote I / swallowed, smoked
psilocybin magic mushroom, purple passion, shrooms I / swallowed
Opioids and Morphine Derivatives pain relief, euphoria, drowsiness/nausea, constipation, confusion, sedation, respiratory depression and arrest, tolerance, addiction, unconsciousness, coma, death

Also, for codeine—less analgesia, sedation, and respiratory depression than morphine

for heroin—staggering gait
codeine Empirin with Codeine, Fiorinal with Codeine, Robitussin A-C, Tylenol with Codeine:Captain Cody, schoolboy; (with glutethimide) doors & fours, loads, pancakes and syrup II, III, IV, V / injected, swallowed
fentanyl and fentanyl analogs Actiq, Duragesic, Sublimaze:Apache, China girl, China white, dance fever, friend, goodfella, jackpot, murder 8, TNT, Tango and Cash I, II / injected, smoked, snorted
heroin diacetyl-
morphine:
brown sugar, dope, H, horse, junk, skag, skunk, smack, white horse
I / injected, smoked, snorted
morphine Roxanol, Duramorph:M, Miss Emma, monkey, white stuff II, III / injected, swallowed, smoked
opium laudanum, paregoric:big O, black stuff, block, gum, hop II, III, V / swallowed, smoked
oxycodone HCL Oxycontin:Oxy, O.C., killer II / swallowed, snorted, injected
hydrocodone bitartrate, acetaminophen Vicodin:vike, Watson-387 II / swallowed
Stimulants increased heart rate, blood pressure, metabolism; feelings of exhilaration, energy, increased mental alertness/rapid or irregular heart beat; reduced appetite, weight loss, heart failure, nervousness, insomnia

Also, for amphetamine—rapid breathing/tremor, loss of coordination; irritability, anxiousness, restlessness, delirium, panic, paranoia, impulsive behavior, aggressiveness, tolerance, addiction, psychosis

for cocaine—increased temperature/chest pain, respiratory failure, nausea, abdominal pain, strokes, seizures, headaches, malnutrition, panic attacks

for MDMA—mild hallucinogenic effects, increased tactile sensitivity, empathic feelings/impaired memory and learning, hyperthermia, cardiac toxicity, renal failure, liver toxicity

for methamphetamine—aggression, violence, psychotic behavior/memory loss, cardiac and neurological damage; impaired memory and learning, tolerance, addiction

for nicotine—additional effects attributable to tobacco exposure; adverse pregnancy outcomes; chronic lung disease, cardiovascular disease, stroke, cancer, tolerance, addiction
amphetamine Biphetamine, Dexedrine:bennies, black beauties, crosses, hearts, LA turnaround, speed, truck drivers, uppers II / injected, swallowed, smoked, snorted
cocaine Cocaine hydrochloride:blow, bump, C, candy, Charlie, coke, crack, flake, rock, snow, toot II / injected, smoked, snorted
MDMA (methylenedioxy-
methamphetamine)
Adam, clarity, ecstasy, Eve, lover's speed, peace, STP, X, XTC I / swallowed
methamphetamine Desoxyn:chalk, crank, crystal, fire, glass, go fast, ice, meth, speed II / injected, swallowed, smoked, snorted
methylphenidate (safe and effective for treatment of ADHD) Ritalin:JIF, MPH, R-ball, Skippy, the smart drug, vitamin R II / injected, swallowed, snorted
nicotine cigarettes, cigars, smokeless tobacco, snuff, spit tobacco, bidis, chew smoked, snorted, taken in snuff and spit tobacco
Other Compounds
anabolic steroids Anadrol, Oxandrin, Durabolin, Depo-
Testosterone, Equipoise:
roids, juice
III / injected, swallowed, applied to skin no intoxication effects/hypertension, blood clotting and cholesterol changes, liver cysts and cancer, kidney cancer, hostility and aggression, acne; in 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
Dextromethorphan (DXM) Found in some cough and cold medications; Robotripping, Robo, Triple C swallowed Dissociative effects, distorted visual perceptions to complete dissociative effects/for effects at higher doses see 'dissociative anesthetics'
inhalants Solvents (paint thinners, gasoline, glues), gases (butane, propane, aerosol propellants, nitrous oxide), nitrites (isoamyl, isobutyl, cyclohexyl):laughing gas, poppers, snappers, whippets inhaled through nose or mouth 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



* 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. Some 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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