There are a number of common drugs of abuse. A common drug of abuse is any drug that is used by a large percentage of the population. The most commonly used drugs of abuse today are THC, Methamphetamines, Cocaine, Opiates, PCP, MDMA, Amphetamines, Barbiturates and Nicotine. The chart below in not all inclusive, but represents the most common drugs of abuse. Drugs of Abuse Information includes synonyms, street names, trade names for prescription drugs, therapeutic drugs class, drug description, and drug/metabolite excretion information. The following specific drugs are discussed:
| 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 |
|
| 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 |
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| 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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 | |
| 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 | |
| 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 |
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| Biphetamine, Dexedrine: bennies, black beauties, crosses, hearts, LA turnaround, speed, truck drivers, uppers | II injected, swallowed, smoked, snorted | ||
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
| Cigarettes, cigars, smokeless tobacco, snuff, spit tobacco, bidis, chew | Not scheduled smoked, snorted, taken in snuff and spit tobacco | ||
| Other Compounds | |||
| 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 |
Where To Buy A Drug Test
* 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.