Drug Addiction Database from National Institutes of Health

An excellent government resource for drug abuse, the science of drug addiction and drugs of addiction is at DrugAbuse. gov: http://www.drugabuse.gov/drugpages/

Here you can find the leading abused drugs and a lot of information about the science of addiction and drug abuse.

Here is a chart from the site that shows the most commonly abused drugs:

Commonly Abused Drugs

Substances: Category and Name " align="center" width="105">DEA Schedule*/ How Administered** Examples of Commercial and Street Names 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 barbiturates—sedation, drowsiness/depression, unusual excitement, fever, irritability, poor judgment, slurred speech, dizziness, life-threatening withdrawal for benzodiazepines—sedation, drowsiness/dizziness for flunitrazepam—visual and gastrointestinal disturbances, urinary retention, memory loss for the time under the drug's effects for GHB—drowsiness, nausea/vomiting, headache, loss of consciousness, loss of reflexes, seizures, coma, death for methaqualone—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 ketamine—at high doses, delirium, depression, respiratory depression and arrest for PCP and analogs—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 mescaline—increased body temperature, heart rate, blood pressure; loss of appetite, sleeplessness, numbness, weakness, tremors for for LSD—persistent mental disorders for for psilocybin—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 codeine—less analgesia, sedation, and respiratory depression than morphine for heroin—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 amphetamine—rapid breathing/tremor, loss of coordination; irritability, anxiousness, restlessness, delirium, panic, paranoia, impulsive behavior, aggressiveness, tolerance, addiction, psychosis for cocaine—increased temperature/chest pain, respiratory failure, nausea, abdominal pain, strokes, seizures, headaches, malnutrition, panic attacks for MDMA—mild hallucinogenic effects, increased tactile sensitivity, empathic feelings/impaired memory and learning, hyperthermia, cardiac toxicity, renal failure, liver toxicity for methamphetamine—aggression, violence, psychotic behavior/memory loss, cardiac and neurological damage; impaired memory and learning, tolerance, addiction for nicotine—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.