Source: NIH: National Institute on Drug Abuse
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
