Nida Commonly Abused Drugs Chart printable pdf download

Commonly Abused Drugs

National Institutes of Health

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

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NIH... Turning Discovery Into Health

Substances: Category and Name

Examples of Commercial and Street Names

DEA Schedule*/ How Administered**

Acute Effects/Health Risks

Tobacco

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

Alcohol

In low doses, euphoria, mild stimulation, relaxation, lowered inhibitions; in higher doses,

drowsiness, slurred speech, nausea, emotional volatility, loss of coordination, visual

Alcohol (ethyl alcohol)

Found in liquor, beer, and wine

Not scheduled/swallowed

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

Euphoria; relaxation; slowed reaction time; distorted sensory perception; impaired

balance and coordination; increased heart rate and appetite; impaired learning,

Marijuana

Blunt, dope, ganja, grass, herb, joint, bud, Mary Jane, pot, reefer, green, trees,

I/smoked, swallowed

memory; anxiety; panic attacks; psychosis/cough; frequent respiratory infections;

smoke, sinsemilla, skunk, weed

Hashish

Boom, gangster, hash, hash oil, hemp

I/smoked, swallowed

possible mental health decline; addiction

Opioids

Euphoria; drowsiness; impaired coordination; dizziness; confusion; nausea; sedation;

Diacetylmorphine: smack, horse, brown sugar, dope, H, junk, skag, skunk, white

feeling of heaviness in the body; slowed or arrested breathing/constipation;

Heroin

I/injected, smoked, snorted

horse, China white; cheese (with OTC cold medicine and antihistamine)

endocarditis; hepatitis; HIV; addiction; fatal overdose

Laudanum, paregoric: big O, black stuff, block, gum, hop

Opium

II, III, V/swallowed, smoked

Stimulants

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

Biphetamine, Dexedrine: bennies, black beauties, crosses, hearts, LA turnaround,

Amphetamine

II/swallowed, snorted, smoked, injected

cardiovascular complications; stroke; seizures; addiction

Also, for cocaine

speed, truck drivers, uppers

—nasal damage from snorting

Desoxyn: meth, ice, crank, chalk, crystal, fire, glass, go fast, speed

Also, for methamphetamine

Methamphetamine

II/swallowed, snorted, smoked, injected

—severe dental problems

Club Drugs

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

Rohypnol: forget-me pill, Mexican Valium, R2, roach, Roche, roofies, roofinol,

Flunitrazepam

—sedation; muscle relaxation; confusion; memory loss; dizziness;

Flunitrazepam***

IV/swallowed, snorted

impaired coordination/addiction

rope, rophies

Gamma-hydroxybutyrate: G, Georgia home boy, grievous bodily harm, liquid

GHB

—drowsiness; nausea; headache; disorientation; loss of coordination; memory loss/

GHB***

I/swallowed

ecstasy, soap, scoop, goop, liquid X

unconsciousness; seizures; coma

Dissociative Drugs

Feelings of being separate from one’s body and environment; impaired motor

Ketalar SV: cat Valium, K, Special K, vitamin K

function/anxiety; tremors; numbness; memory loss; nausea

Ketamine

III/injected, snorted, smoked

Phencyclidine: angel dust, boat, hog, love boat, peace pill

Also, for ketamine

— analgesia; impaired memory; delirium; respiratory depression

PCP and analogs

I, II/swallowed, smoked, injected

and arrest; death

Salvia divinorum

Salvia, Shepherdess’s Herb, Maria Pastora, magic mint, Sally-D

Not scheduled/chewed, swallowed, smoked

Found in some cough and cold medications: Robotripping, Robo, Triple C

Also, for PCP and analogs

—analgesia; psychosis; aggression; violence; slurred

Dextromethorphan (DXM)

Not scheduled/swallowed

speech; loss of coordination; hallucinations

Also, for DXM

—euphoria; slurred speech; confusion; dizziness; distorted visual

perceptions

Hallucinogens

Altered states of perception and feeling; hallucinations; nausea

Lysergic acid diethylamide: acid, blotter, cubes, microdot, yellow sunshine,

Also, for LSD and mescaline

—increased body temperature, heart rate, blood pressure;

LSD

I/swallowed, absorbed through mouth tissues

loss of appetite; sweating; sleeplessness; numbness; dizziness; weakness; tremors;

blue heaven

impulsive behavior; rapid shifts in emotion

Mescaline

Buttons, cactus, mesc, peyote

I/swallowed, smoked

Also, for LSD

Psilocybin

Magic mushrooms, purple passion, shrooms, little smoke

I/swallowed

—Flashbacks, Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder

Also, for psilocybin

—nervousness; paranoia; panic

Other Compounds

Steroids

—no intoxication effects/hypertension; blood clotting and cholesterol changes;

Anadrol, Oxandrin, Durabolin, Depo-Testosterone, Equipoise: roids, juice,

Anabolic steroids

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

Solvents (paint thinners, gasoline, glues); gases (butane, propane, aerosol

Inhalants

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

Inhalants

(varies by chemical)—stimulation; loss of inhibition; headache; nausea or

gas, poppers, snappers, whippets

vomiting; slurred speech; loss of motor coordination; wheezing/cramps; muscle

weakness; depression; memory impairment; damage to cardiovascular and nervous

systems; unconsciousness; sudden death

Nida Commonly Abused Drugs Chart

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