Substances:
Category and Name |
Examples of Commercial
and Street Names |
DEA Schedule*/
How Administered** |
Intoxication Effects/Potential Health Consequences |
Tobacco |
Nicotine |
Found in cigarettes, cigars, bidis, and smokeless tobacco (snuff, spit tobacco, chew) |
Not scheduled/smoked, snorted, chewed |
Increased blood pressure, and heart rate/chronic lung disease; cardiovascular disease; stroke; cancers of the mouth, pharynx, larynx, esophagus, stomach, pancreas, cervix, kidney, bladder, and acute myeloid leukemia; adverse pregnancy outcomes; addiction |
Alcohol |
Alcohol (ethyl alcohol) |
Found in liquor, beer, and wine |
Not scheduled/swallowed |
In low doses, euphoria, mild stimulation, relaxation, lowered inhibitions; in higher doses, 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 |
Cannabinoids |
Hashish |
Boom, gangster, hash, hash oil, hemp |
I/swallowed, smoked |
Euphoria; relaxation; slowed reaction time; distorted sensory perception; impaired balance and coordination; increased heart rate and appetite; impaired learning, memory; anxiety; panic attacks; psychosis/cough, frequent respiratory infections; possible mental health decline; addiction |
Marijuana |
Blunt, dope, ganja, grass, herb, joint, bud, Mary Jane, pot, reefer, green, trees, smoke, sinsemilla, skunk, weed |
I/swallowed, smoked |
Opioids |
Heroin |
Diacetylmorphine: smack, horse, brown sugar, dope, H, junk, skag, skunk, white horse, China white; cheese (with OTC cold medicine and antihistamine) |
I/injected, smoked, snorted |
Euphoria; drowsiness; impaired coordination; dizziness; confusion; nausea; sedation; feeling of heaviness in the body; slowed or arrested breathing/constipation; endocarditis; hepatitis; HIV; addiction; fatal overdose |
Opium |
Laudanum, paregoric: big O, black stuff, block, gum, hop |
II, III, V/swallowed, smoked |
Stimulants |
Cocaine |
Cocaine hydrochloride: blow, bump, C, candy, Charlie, coke, crack, flake, rock, snow, toot |
II/snorted, smoked, injected |
Increased heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, metabolism; feelings of exhilaration; increased energy, mental alertness; tremors; reduced appetite; irritability; anxiety; panic; paranoia; violent behavior; psychosis/weight loss, insomnia; cardiac or cardiovascular complications; stroke; seizures; addiction; nasal damage from snorting;
severe dental problems |
Amphetamine |
Biphetamine, Dexedrine: bennies, black beauties, crosses, hearts, LA turnaround, speed, truck drivers, uppers |
II/swallowed, snorted, smoked, injected |
Methamphetamine |
Desoxyn: meth, ice, crank, chalk, crystal, fire, glass, go fast, speed |
II/ swallowed, snorted, smoked, injected |
Club Drugs |
MDMA
(methylenedioxy-methamphetamine) |
Ecstasy, Adam, clarity, Eve, lover's speed, peace, uppers |
I/swallowed, snorted, injected |
MDMA—mild hallucinogenic effects; increased tactile sensitivity; empathic feelings; lowered inhibition; anxiety; chills; sweating; teeth clenching; muscle cramping/sleep disturbances; depression; impaired memory; hyperthermia; addictionFlunitrazepam—sedation; muscle relaxation; confusion; memory loss; dizziness; impaired coordination/addiction
GHB—drowsiness; nausea; headache; disorientation; loss of coordination; memory loss/unconsciousness; seizures; coma |
Flunitrazepam*** |
Rohypnol: forget-me pill, Mexican Valium, R2, roach, Roche, roofies, roofinol, rope, rophies |
IV/swallowed, snorted |
GHB*** |
Gamma-
hydroxybutyrate: G, Georgia home boy, grievous bodily harm, liquid ecstasy, soap, scoop, goop, liquid X |
I/swallowed |
Dissociative Drugs |
Ketamine |
Ketalar SV: cat Valium, K, Special K, vitamin K |
III/injected, snorted, smoked |
Ketamine - Feelings of being separate from one’s body and environment; impaired motor function/anxiety; tremors; numbness; memory loss; nausea; analgesia; impaired memory; delirium; respiratory depression and arrest; deathPCP - analgesia; psychosis; aggression; violence; slurred speech; loss of coordination; hallucinationsDXM—euphoria; slurred speech; confusion; dizziness; distorted visual perceptions |
PCP and analogs |
Phencyclidine: angel dust, boat, hog, love boat, peace pill |
I, II/swallowed, smoked, injected |
Salvia divinorum |
Salvia, Shepherdess’s Herb, Maria Pastora, magic mint, Sally-D |
Not scheduled/chewed, swallowed, smoked |
Dextromethorphan (DXM) |
Found in some cough and cold medications: Robotripping, Robo, Triple C |
Not scheduled/swallowed |
Hallucinogens |
LSD |
Lysergic acid diethylamide: acid, blotter, cubes, microdot yellow sunshine, blue heaven |
I/swallowed, absorbed through mouth tissues |
Altered states of perception and feeling; hallucinations; nauseaLSD and mescaline–increased body temperature, heart rate, blood pressure; loss of appetite; sweating; sleeplessness; numbness, dizziness, weakness, tremors; impulsive behavior; rapid shifts in emotion
LSD–Flashbacks, Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder
psilocybin–nervousness; paranoia; panic |
Mescaline |
Buttons, cactus, mesc, peyote |
I/swallowed, smoked |
Psilocybin |
Magic mushrooms, purple passion, shrooms, little smoke |
I/swallowed |
Other Compounds |
Anabolic steroids |
Anadrol, Oxandrin, Durabolin, Depo-
Testosterone, Equipoise: roids, juice, gym candy, pumpers |
III/injected, swallowed, applied to skin |
Steroids--no intoxication effects/hypertension; blood clotting and cholesterol changes; liver cysts; 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 characteristicsInhalants (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 |
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 |
Prescription Medications |
CNS Depressants |
For more information on prescription medications, please visit http://www.nida.nih.gov/DrugPages/PrescripDrugsChart.html |
Stimulants |
Opioid Pain Relievers |
|
* 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.
** Some of the health risks are directly related to the route of drug administration. For example, injection drug use can increase the risk of infection through needle contamination with staphylococci, HIV, hepatitis, and other organisms.
*** Associated with sexual assaults.
Source: The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
http://www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/DrugsofAbuse.html
Revised: October 2010
Reviewed by athealth.com on February 1, 2014 |