Drug Fact Sheet Drug Fact Sheet

 

 

Substances: 
Category and Name

Examples of Commercial
and Street Names

DEA Schedule*
How Administered**

Intoxication Effects/Potential Health Consequences

Cannabinoids

euphoria, slowed thinking and reaction time, confusion, impaired balance and coordination/cough, frequent respiratory infections; impaired memory and learning; increased heart rate, anxiety; panic attacks; tolerance, addiction

hashish

boom, chronic, gangster, hash, hash oil, hemp

I/swallowed, smoked

marijuana

blunt, dope, ganja, grass, herb, joints, Mary Jane, pot, reefer, sinsemilla, skunk, weed

I/swallowed, smoked

Depressants

reduced anxiety; feeling of well-being; lowered inhibitions; slowed pulse and breathing; lowered blood pressure; poor concentration/fatigue; confusion; impaired coordination, memory, judgment; addiction; respiratory depression and arrest; death

Also, for barbituratesâ€"sedation, drowsiness/depression, unusual excitement, fever, irritability, poor judgment, slurred speech, dizziness, life-threatening withdrawal 

for benzodiazepinesâ€"sedation, drowsiness/dizziness 

for flunitrazepamâ€"visual and gastrointestinal disturbances, urinary retention, memory loss for the time under the drug's effects 

for GHBâ€"drowsiness, nausea/vomiting, headache, loss of consciousness, loss of reflexes, seizures, coma, death 

for methaqualoneâ€"euphoria/depression, poor reflexes, slurred speech, coma

barbiturates

Amytal, Nembutal, Seconal, Phenobarbital:barbs, reds, red birds, phennies, tooies, yellows, yellow jackets

II, III, V/injected, swallowed

benzodiazepines (other than flunitrazepam)

Ativan, Halcion, Librium, Valium, Xanax: candy, downers, sleeping pills, tranks

IV/swallowed, injected

flunitrazepam***

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

IV/swallowed, snorted

GHB***

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

I/swallowed

methaqualone

Quaalude, Sopor, Parest:ludes, mandrex, quad, quay

I/injected, swallowed

Dissociative Anesthetics

increased heart rate and blood pressure, impaired motor function/memory loss; numbness; nausea/vomiting 

Also, for ketamineâ€"at high doses, delirium, depression, respiratory depression and arrest

for PCP and analogsâ€"possible decrease in blood pressure and heart rate, panic, aggression, violence/loss of appetite, depression

ketamine

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

III/injected, snorted, smoked

PCP and analogs

phencyclidine; angel dust, boat, hog, love boat, peace pill

I, II/injected, swallowed, smoked

Hallucinogens

altered states of perception and feeling; nausea; persisting perception disorder (flashbacks)

Also, Also for LSD and mescalineâ€"increased body temperature, heart rate, blood pressure; loss of appetite, sleeplessness, numbness, weakness, tremors

for for LSDâ€"persistent mental disorders

for for psilocybinâ€"nervousness, paranoia

LSD

lysergic acid diethylamide: acid, blotter, boomers, cubes, microdot, yellow sunshines

I/swallowed, absorbed through mouth tissues

mescaline

buttons, cactus, mesc, peyote

I/swallowed, smoked

psilocybin

magic mushroom, purple passion, shrooms

I/swallowed

Opioids and Morphine Derivatives

pain relief, euphoria, drowsiness/nausea, constipation, confusion, sedation, respiratory depression and arrest, tolerance, addiction, unconsciousness, coma, death

Also, for codeineâ€"less analgesia, sedation, and respiratory depression than morphine

for heroinâ€"staggering gait

codeine

Empirin with Codeine, Fiorinal with Codeine, Robitussin A-C, Tylenol with Codeine: Captain Cody, schoolboy; (with glutethimide) doors & fours, loads, pancakes and syrup

II, III, IV, V/injected, swallowed

fentanyl and fentanyl analogs

Actiq, Duragesic, Sublimaze: Apache, China girl, China white, dance fever, friend, goodfella, jackpot, murder 8, TNT, Tango and Cash

I, II/injected, smoked, snorted

heroin

diacetyl-
morphine:
 brown sugar, dope, H, horse, junk, skag, skunk, smack, white horse

I/injected, smoked, snorted

morphine

Roxanol, Duramorph: M, Miss Emma, monkey, white stuff

II, III/injected, swallowed, smoked

opium

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

II, III, V/swallowed, smoked

oxycodone HCL

Oxycontin: Oxy, O.C., killer

II/swallowed, snorted, injected

hydrocodone bitartrate, acetaminophen

Vicodin: vike, Watson-387

II/swallowed

Stimulants

increased heart rate, blood pressure, metabolism; feelings of exhilaration, energy, increased mental alertness/rapid or irregular heart beat; reduced appetite, weight loss, heart failure, nervousness, insomnia

Also, for amphetamineâ€"rapid breathing/tremor, loss of coordination; irritability, anxiousness, restlessness, delirium, panic, paranoia, impulsive behavior, aggressiveness, tolerance, addiction, psychosis 

for cocaineâ€"increased temperature/chest pain, respiratory failure, nausea, abdominal pain, strokes, seizures, headaches, malnutrition, panic attacks 

for MDMAâ€"mild hallucinogenic effects, increased tactile sensitivity, empathic feelings/impaired memory and learning, hyperthermia, cardiac toxicity, renal failure, liver toxicity 

for methamphetamineâ€"aggression, violence, psychotic behavior/memory loss, cardiac and neurological damage; impaired memory and learning, tolerance, addiction 

for nicotineâ€"additional effects attributable to tobacco exposure; adverse pregnancy outcomes; chronic lung disease, cardiovascular disease, stroke, cancer, tolerance, addiction

amphetamine

Biphetamine, Dexedrine:bennies, black beauties, crosses, hearts, LA turnaround, speed, truck drivers, uppers

II/injected, swallowed, smoked, snorted

cocaine

Cocaine hydrochloride:blow, bump, C, candy, Charlie, coke, crack, flake, rock, snow, toot

II/injected, smoked, snorted

MDMA (methylenedioxy-
methamphetamine)

Adam, clarity, ecstasy, Eve, lover's speed, peace, STP, X, XTC

I/swallowed

methamphetamine

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

II/injected, swallowed, smoked, snorted

methylphenidate (safe and effective for treatment of ADHD)

Ritalin: JIF, MPH, R-ball, Skippy, the smart drug, vitamin R

II/injected, swallowed, snorted

nicotine

cigarettes, cigars, smokeless tobacco, snuff, spit tobacco, bidis, chew

not scheduled/smoked, snorted, taken in snuff and spit tobacco

Other Compounds

anabolic steroids

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

III/injected, swallowed, applied to skin

no intoxication effects/hypertension, blood clotting and cholesterol changes, liver cysts and cancer, kidney cancer, 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

Dextromethorphan (DXM)

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

not scheduled/swallowed

Dissociative effects, distorted visual perceptions to complete dissociative effects/for effects at higher doses see 'dissociative anesthetics'

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

stimulation, loss of inhibition; headache; nausea or vomiting; slurred speech, loss of motor coordination; wheezing/unconsciousness, cramps, weight loss, muscle weakness, depression, memory impairment, damage to cardiovascular and nervous systems, sudden death




* Schedule I and II 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; 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.


** Taking drugs by injection can increase the risk of infection through needle contamination with staphylococci, HIV, hepatitis, and other organisms.


*** Associated with sexual assaults.




Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment

More than three decades of scientific research have yielded 13 fundamental principles that characterize effective drug abuse treatment. These principles are detailed in NIDA's Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A Research-Based Guide.

1. No single treatment is appropriate for all individuals. Matching treatment settings, interventions, and services to each patient's problems and needs is critical.

2. Treatment needs to be readily available. Treatment applicants can be lost if treatment is not immediately available or readily accessible.

3. Effective treatment attends to multiple needs of the individual, not just his or her drug use. Treatment must address the individual's drug use and associated medical, psychological, social, vocational, and legal problems.

4. At different times during treatment, a patient may develop a need for medical services, family therapy, vocational rehabilitation, and social and legal services.

5. Remaining in treatment for an adequate period of time is critical for treatment effectiveness. The time depends on an individual's needs. For most patients, the threshold of significant improvement is reached at about 3 months in treatment. Additional treatment can produce further progress. Programs should include strategies to prevent patients from leaving treatment prematurely.

6. Individual and/or group counseling and other behavioral therapies are critical components of effective treatment for addiction. In therapy, patients address motivation, build skills to resist drug use, replace drug-using activities with constructive and rewarding nondrug-using activities, and improve problem-solving abilities. Behavioral therapy also facilitates interpersonal relationships.

7. Medications are an important element of treatment for many patients, especially when combined with counseling and other behavioral therapies. Buprenorphine, methadone and levo-alpha-acetylmethodol (LAAM) help persons addicted to opiates stabilize their lives and reduce their drug use. Naltrexone is effective for some opiate addicts and some patients with co-occurring alcohol dependence. Nicotine patches or gum, or an oral medication, such as buproprion, can help persons addicted to nicotine.

8. Addicted or drug-abusing individuals with coexisting mental disorders should have both disorders treated in an integrated way.

9. Medical detoxification is only the first stage of addiction treatment and by itself does little to change long-term drug use. Medical detoxification manages the acute physical symptoms of withdrawal. For some individuals it is a precursor to effective drug addiction treatment.

10. Treatment does not need to be voluntary to be effective. Sanctions or enticements in the family, employment setting, or criminal justice system can significantly increase treatment entry, retention, and success.

11. Possible drug use during treatment must be monitored continuously. Monitoring a patient's drug and alcohol use during treatment, such as through urinalysis, can help the patient withstand urges to use drugs. Such monitoring also can provide early evidence of drug use so that treatment can be adjusted.

12. Treatment programs should provide assessment for HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B and C, tuberculosis and other infectious diseases, and counseling to help patients modify or change behaviors that place them or others at risk of infection. Counseling can help patients avoid high-risk behavior and help people who are already infected manage their illness.

13. Recovery from drug addiction can be a long-term process and frequently requires multiple episodes of treatment. As with other chronic illnesses, relapses to drug use can occur during or after successful treatment episodes. Participation in self-help support programs during and following treatment often helps maintain abstinence