List of Commonly Used Illegal Drugs
Stonegate Center Addiction Treatment in TexasCommonly Used Illegal Drugs
Commonly used illegal drugs include marijuana, heroin, cocaine, amphetamines and methamphetamines and club drugs. This list provides examples of their commercial and street names, how they are administered, their effects, health risks and other information.
| Cannabinoids | ||
|---|---|---|
| Substances: 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/smoked, swallowed |
| Hashish | Boom, gangster, hash, hash oil, hemp | I/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
| Opioids | ||
|---|---|---|
| Substances: 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/injected, smoked, snorted |
| Opium | Laudanum, paregoric: big O, black stuff, block, gum, hop | II, III, V/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
| Stimulants | ||
|---|---|---|
| Substances: Category & Name | Examples of Commercial & Street Names | DEA Schedule*/ How Administered** |
| Cocaine | Cocaine hydrochloride: blow, bump, C, candy, Charlie, coke, crack, flake, rock, snow, too | II/snorted, smoked, injected |
| 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 |
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
| Club Drugs | ||
|---|---|---|
| Substances: Category & Name | Examples of Commercial & Street Names | DEA Schedule*/ How Administered** |
| Mdma (Methylenedioxymethamphetamine) | Ecstasy, Adam, clarity, Eve, lovers’ speed, Molly, peace, uppers | I/swallowed, snorted, injected |
| Flunitrazepam*** | Rohypnol (date rape drug): 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 |
Acute Effects:
- MDMA – mild hallucinogenic effects; increased tactile sensitivity, empathic feelings; lowered inhibition; anxiety; chills; sweating; teeth clenching; muscle cramping
- Flunitrazepam – sedation; muscle relaxation; confusion; memory loss; dizziness; impaired coordination
- GHB – drowsiness; nausea; headache; disorientation; loss of coordination; memory loss
Health Risks:
- MDMA – sleep disturbances; depression; impaired memory; hyperthermia; addiction
- Flunitrazepam – addiction
- GHB – unconsciousness; seizures; coma
| Club Drugs | ||
|---|---|---|
| Substances: Category & Name | Examples of Commercial & Street Names | DEA Schedule*/ How Administered** |
| Ketamine | Ketalar SV: cat Valium, K, Special K, vitamin K | III/injected, snorted, smoked |
| 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 |
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
| Cannabinoids | ||
|---|---|---|
| Substances: Category & Name | Examples of Commercial & Street Names | DEA Schedule*/ How Administered** |
| LSD | Lysergic acid diethylamide: acid, blotter, cubes, microdot, yellow sunshine, blue heaven | I/swallowed, absorbed through mouth tissues |
| Mescaline | Buttons, cactus, mesc, peyote | I/smoked, swallowed |
| Psilocybin | Magic mushrooms, purple passion, shrooms, little smoke | I/swallowed |
Acute Effects: Altered states of perception and feeling; hallucinations; nausea
Also, for LSD and 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: Also, for LSD – Flashbacks, Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder
| Other Compounds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Substances: 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/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
Steroids – no intoxication effects
high blood pressure; 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
Inhalants – (varies by chemical) stimulation; loss of inhibition; headache; nausea or vomiting; slurred speech; loss of motor coordination; wheezing
Health Risks:
Steroids – high blood pressure; blood clotting and cholesterol changes; liver cysts; hostility and aggression; acne;—in adolescentspremature 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
Inhalants – cramps; muscle weakness; depression; memory impairment; damage to cardiovascular and nervous systems; unconsciousness; sudden death
* Schedule I and II drugs have a high potential for misuse. 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: National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2012). Commonly abused drugs. [Online]. Retrieved May 20, 2013 from http://www.drugabuse.gov/sites/default/files/cadchart_2.pdf
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