Donate

Commonly 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, toot	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

Dissociative 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

Hallucinogens
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/swallowed, smoked
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

Last updated: April 14, 2017