Drugs of Abuse

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

(Opiates)

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

not scheduled

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

not scheduled

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

not scheduled

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