Lists substances of abuse, including tobacco, alcohol, illicit and prescription drugs, listing their common and street names, how they are generally administered, and their potentially harmful health effects.
Revised: March 2011
Author: National Institute on Drug Abuse
Category & Name | Examples of Commercial & Street Names | DEA Schedule | How Administered* |
---|---|---|---|
Nicotine | Found in cigarettes, cigars, bidis, and smokeless tobacco (snuff, spit tobacco, chew) | Not scheduled | Smoked, snorted, chewed |
Acute Effects - Increased blood pressure and heart rate
Health Risks - 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
Category & Name | Examples of Commercial & Street Names | DEA Schedule | How Administered* |
---|---|---|---|
Alcohol (ethyl alcohol) | Found in liquor, beer, and wine | Not scheduled | Swallowed |
Acute Effects - 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
Health Risks - Increased risk of injuries, violence, fetal damage (in pregnant women); depression; neurologic deficits; hypertension; liver and heart disease; addiction; fatal overdose
Category & Name | Examples of Commercial & Street Names | DEA Schedule | How Administered* |
---|---|---|---|
Marijuana | Blunt, dope, ganja, grass, herb, joint, bud, Mary Jane, pot, reefer, green, trees, smoke, sinsemilla, skunk, weed | I ?Schedule I 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. | Smoked, swallowed |
Hashish | Boom, gangster, hash, hash oil, hemp | I ?Schedule I 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. | Smoked, swallowed |
Acute Effects - Euphoria; relaxation; slowed reaction time; distorted sensory perception; impaired balance and coordination; increased heart rate and appetite; impaired learning, memory; anxiety; panic attacks; psychosis
Health Risks - Cough, frequent respiratory infections; possible mental health decline; addiction
Category & Name | Examples of Commercial & Street Names | DEA Schedule | How Administered* |
---|---|---|---|
Heroin | Diacetylmorphine: smack, horse, brown sugar, dope, H, junk, skag, skunk, white horse, China white; cheese (with OTC cold medicine and antihistamine) | I ?Schedule I 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. | Injected, smoked, snorted |
Opium | Laudanum, paregoric: big O, black stuff, block, gum, hop | II, III, V ?Schedule II drugs have a high potential for abuse. They require greater storage security and have a quota on manufacturing, among other restrictions. Schedule II drugs are available only by prescription (unrefillable) and require a form for ordering. Schedule III 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. | Swallowed, smoked |
Acute Effects - Euphoria; drowsiness; impaired coordination; dizziness; confusion; nausea; sedation; feeling of heaviness in the body; slowed or arrested breathing
Health Risks - Constipation; endocarditis; hepatitis; HIV; addiction; fatal overdose
Category & Name | Examples of Commercial & Street Names | DEA Schedule | How Administered* |
---|---|---|---|
Cocaine | Cocaine hydrochloride: blow, bump, C, candy, Charlie, coke, crack, flake, rock, snow, toot | II ?Schedule II drugs have a high potential for abuse. They require greater storage security and have a quota on manufacturing, among other restrictions. Schedule II drugs are available only by prescription (unrefillable) and require a form for ordering. | snorted, smoked, injected |
Amphetamine | Biphetamine, Dexedrine: bennies, black beauties, crosses, hearts, LA turnaround, speed, truck drivers, uppers | II ?Schedule II drugs have a high potential for abuse. They require greater storage security and have a quota on manufacturing, among other restrictions. Schedule II drugs are available only by prescription (unrefillable) and require a form for ordering. | swallowed, snorted, smoked, injected |
Methamph-etamine | Desoxyn: meth, ice, crank, chalk, crystal, fire, glass, go fast, speed | II ?Schedule II drugs have a high potential for abuse. They require greater storage security and have a quota on manufacturing, among other restrictions. Schedule II drugs are available only by prescription (unrefillable) and require a form for ordering. | swallowed, snorted, smoked, injected |
Acute Effects - 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
Health Risks - Weight loss, insomnia; cardiac or cardiovascular complications; stroke; seizures; addiction
Also, for cocaine – Nasal damage from snorting
Also, for methamphetamine – Severe dental problems
Category & Name | Examples of Commercial & Street Names | DEA Schedule | How Administered* |
---|---|---|---|
MDMA (methylene-dioxy-methamph-etamine) | Ecstasy, Adam, clarity, Eve, lover's speed, peace, uppers | I ?Schedule I 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. | swallowed, snorted, injected |
Flunitrazepam ** | Rohypnol: forget-me pill, Mexican Valium, R2, roach, Roche, roofies, roofinol, rope, rophies | IV ?Schedule IV drugs are available by prescription, may have five refills in 6 months, and may be ordered orally. | swallowed, snorted |
GHB ** | Gamma-hydroxybutyrate: G, Georgia home boy, grievous bodily harm, liquid ecstasy, soap, scoop, goop, liquid X | I ?Schedule I 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. | swallowed |
Acute Effects, for MDMA - Mild hallucinogenic effects; increased tactile sensitivity; empathic feelings; lowered inhibition; anxiety; chills; sweating; teeth clenching; muscle cramping
Also, for Flunitrazepam - Sedation; muscle relaxation; confusion; memory loss; dizziness; impaired coordination
Also, for GHB - Drowsiness; nausea; headache; disorientation; loss of coordination; memory loss
Health Risks, for MDMA - Sleep disturbances; depression; impaired memory; hyperthermia; addiction
Also, for Flunitrazepam - Addiction
Also, for GHB - Unconsciousness; seizures; coma
Category & Name | Examples of Commercial & Street Names | DEA Schedule | How Administered* |
---|---|---|---|
Ketamine | Ketalar SV: cat Valium, K, Special K, vitamin K | III ?Schedule III drugs are available by prescription, may have five refills in 6 months, and may be ordered orally. | injected, snorted, smoked |
PCP and analogs | Phencyclidine: angel dust, boat, hog, love boat, peace pill | I, II ?Schedule I & II drugs have a high potential for abuse. They require greater storage security & have a quota on manufacturing. Schedule I drugs are available for research only & have no approved medical use; Schedule II drugs are only by prescription. | swallowed, smoked, injected |
Salvia divinorum | Salvia, Shepherdess's Herb, Maria Pastora, magic mint, Sally-D | Not Scheduled | chewed, swallowed, smoked |
Dextrometh-orphan (DXM) | Found in some cough and cold medications: Robotripping, Robo, Triple C | Not Scheduled | swallowed |
Acute Effects - Feelings of being separate from one’s body and environment; impaired motor function
Also, for ketamine - Analgesia; impaired memory; delirium; respiratory depression and arrest; death
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
Health Risks - Anxiety; tremors; numbness; memory loss; nausea
Category & Name | Examples of Commercial & Street Names | DEA Schedule | How Administered* |
---|---|---|---|
LSD | Lysergic acid diethylamide: acid, blotter, cubes, microdot yellow sunshine, blue heaven | I ?Schedule I 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. | swallowed, absorbed through mouth tissues |
Mescaline | Buttons, cactus, mesc, peyote | I ?Schedule I 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. | swallowed, smoked |
Psilocybin | Magic mushrooms, purple passion, shrooms, little smoke | I ?Schedule I 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. | swallowed |
Acute Effects - Altered states of perception and feeling; hallucinations; nausea
Also, for LSD - Increased body temperature, heart rate, blood pressure; loss of appetite; sweating; sleeplessness; numbness, dizziness, weakness, tremors; impulsive behavior; rapid shifts in emotion
Also, for Mescaline - Increased body temperature, heart rate, blood pressure; loss of appetite; sweating; sleeplessness; numbness, dizziness, weakness, tremors; impulsive behavior; rapid shifts in emotion
Also, for Psilocybin - Nervousness; paranoia; panic
Health Risks, for LSD - Flashbacks, Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder
Category & Name | Examples of Commercial & Street Names | DEA Schedule | How Administered* |
---|---|---|---|
Anabolic steroids | Anadrol, Oxandrin, Durabolin, Depo-Testosterone, Equipoise: roids, juice, gym candy, pumpers | III ?Schedule III drugs are available by prescription, may have five refills in 6 months, and may be ordered orally. | Injected, swallowed, applied to skin |
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 |
Acute Effects, for Anabolic steroids - No intoxication effects
Also, for Inhalants (varies by chemical) - Stimulation; loss of inhibition; headache; nausea or vomiting; slurred speech; loss of motor coordination; wheezing
Health Risks, for Anabolic steroids - 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 characteristics
Also, for Inhalants - Cramps; muscle weakness; depression; memory impairment; damage to cardiovascular and nervous systems; unconsciousness; sudden death
Category & Name | Examples of Commercial & Street Names | DEA Schedule | How Administered* |
---|---|---|---|
CNS Depressants | For more information on prescription medications, please visit the Commonly Abused Prescription Drug Chart | ||
Stimulants | |||
Opioid Pain Relievers |
Notes
* 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.
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