Appendix: Commonly Abused Drugs
See latest version online - Commonly Abused Drugs Chart (2002)
Substance |
Examples of Proprietary or Street Names |
Medical Uses |
Route of Administration |
DEA Schedule* |
Period of Detection |
Stimulants |
Amphetamine |
Biphetamine, Dexedrine; Black Beauties, Crosses, Hearts |
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), obesity, narcolepsy |
Injected, oral, smoked, sniffed |
II |
1-2 days |
Cocaine |
Coke, Crack, Flake, Rocks, Snow |
Local anesthetic, vasoconstrictor |
Injected, smoked, sniffed |
II |
1-4 days |
Methamphetamine |
Desoxyn; Crank, Crystal, Glass, Ice, Speed |
ADHD, obesity, narcolepsy |
Injected, oral, smoked, sniffed |
II |
1-2 days |
Methylphenidate |
Ritalin |
ADHD, narcolepsy |
Injected, oral |
II |
1-2 days |
Nicotine |
Habitrol patch, Nicorette gum, Nicotrol spray, Prostep patch; Cigars, Cigarettes, Smokeless tobacco, Snuff, Spit tobacco |
Treatment for nicotine dependence |
Smoked, sniffed, oral, transdermal |
Not Scheduled |
1-2 days |
Hallucinogens and Other Compounds |
LSD |
Acid, Microdot |
None |
Oral |
I |
8 hours |
Mescaline |
Buttons, Cactus, Mesc, Peyote |
None |
Oral |
I |
2-3 days |
Phencyclidine & Analogs |
PCP; Angel Dust, Boat, Hog, Love Boat |
Anesthetic (veterinary) |
Injected, oral, smoked |
I, II |
2-8 days |
Psilocybin |
Magic Mushroom, Purple Passion, Shrooms |
None |
Oral |
I |
8 hours |
Amphetamine variants |
DOB, DOM, MDA, MDMA; Adam, Ecstasy, STP, XTC |
None |
Oral |
I |
1-2 days |
Marijuana |
Blunt, Grass, Herb, Pot, Reefer, Sinsemilla, Smoke, Weed |
None |
Oral, smoked |
I |
1 day - 5 weeks |
Hashish |
Hash |
None |
Oral, smoked |
I |
1 day - 5 weeks |
Tetrahydrocannabinol |
Marinol, THC |
Antiemetic |
Oral, smoked |
I, II |
1 day - 5 weeks |
Anabolic Steroids |
Testosterone (T/E ratio), Stanazolol, Nandrolene |
Hormone Replacement Therapy |
Oral, injected |
III |
Oral: up to 3 weeks (for testosterone and others); Injected: up to 3 months (Nandrolene up to 9 months) |
Opioids and Morphine Derivatives |
Codeine |
Tylenol w/codeine, Robitussin A-C, Empirin w/codeine, Fiorinal w/codeine |
Analgesic, antitussive |
Injected, oral |
II, III, IV |
1-2 days |
Heroin |
Diacetylmorphine; Horse, Smack |
None |
Injected, smoked, sniffed |
I |
1-2 days |
Methadone |
Amidone, Dolophine, Methadose |
Analgesic, treatment for opiate dependence |
Injected, oral |
II |
1 day - 1 week |
Morphine |
Roxanol, Duramorph |
Analgesic |
Injected, oral, smoked |
II, III |
1-2 days |
Opium |
Laudanum, Paregoric; Dover's Powder |
Analgesic, antidiarrheal |
Oral, smoked |
II, III, V |
1-2 days |
Depressants |
Alcohol |
Beer, Wine, Liquor |
Antidote for methanol poisoning |
Oral |
Not Scheduled |
6-10 hours |
Barbiturates |
Amytal, Nembutal, Seconal, Phenobarbital; Barbs |
Anesthetic, anticonvulsant, hypnotic, sedative |
Injected, oral |
II, III, IV |
2-10 days |
Benzodiazepines |
Ativan, Halcion, Librium, Rohypnol, Valium; Roofies, Tranks, Xanax |
Antianxiety, anticonvulsant, hypnotic, sedative |
Injected, oral |
IV |
1-6 weeks |
Methaqualone |
Quaalude, Ludes |
None |
Oral |
I |
2 weeks |
* Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Schedule I and II drugs have a high potential for abuse. They require greater storage security and have a quota on manufacture among other restrictions. Schedule I drugs are available for research only and have no approved medical use. Schedule II drugs are available only through prescription, cannot have refills and require a form for ordering. Schedule III and IV drugs are available with prescription, may have 5 refills in 6 months and may be ordered orally. Most Schedule V drugs are available over the counter.
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