(“laughing gas,” “snappers,” “poppers,” “whippets,” “bold,” and “rush”)
• Inhalants are chemicals that can be found in ordinary products that people inhale on purpose. Inhaling the fumes can be harmful to the brain and body and can lead to death, as the fumes can contain a variety of chemicals that may be toxic to the body. Different types of inhalants are an can be found in a variety of products, such as paint thinner, hair sprays, propane tanks, gasoline, and many other household products. Inhalants are used by people breathing in the fumes through their mouths or nose. This can be doing by sniffing the fumes directly from the containers or spraying it directly into their mouths or noses. The chemicals in the fumes are quickly absorbed in the lungs and they produce pleasurable feelings in the brain. It can cause hallucinations, delusions, and can lead to unconsciousness. Long-term damage to the nerve and brain cells is also possible, alongside heart damage and liver failure, which is not reversed when someone stops using inhalants.
– For more information on inhalants, please go to http://teens.drugabuse.gov/drug-facts/inhalants
(“Ecstasy,” “Molly,” “E,” “XTC,” “X,” “Adam,” “hug,” “beans,” “clarity,” “lover’s speed,” and “love drug”)
• An illegal drug more commonly known as “Ecstasy” or “Molly” that is a club drug, often used at nightclubs and parties. It is a man made drug, that when taken, has energizing and mind-altering effects. It is an illegal substance in the US with no medical benefit, has a high potential of being abused, and is addictive. It is taken in the form of a pill, tablet, or capsule that can come in different colors and have images on them. There is also a crystalline power form that is sold in capsules. MDMA can cause increased heart rate and blood pressure, nausea, blurred vision and a higher body temperature, which can lead to heart, liver, and kidney problems.
– For more information on MDMA, please go to http://teens.drugabuse.gov/drug-facts/mdma-ecstasy-or-molly
(“Bloom,” “Cloud Nine,” “Vanilla Sky,” “White Lightning,” and “Scarface”)
• A common name given to drugs that have cathinone in it and is different from regular baths salts, where the products are natural. Cathinone is a stimulant similar to amphetamine. It can look like white or brown crystal power and can be bought online or in drug product stores. They cause severe intoxication, similar to someone being drunk. They can also cause people to become psychotic and violent and in some cases, cause death. They can be swallowed, snorted, inhaled or injected and are highly addictive.
– For more information on bath salts, please go to http://teens.drugabuse.gov/drug-facts/bath-salts
(“coke,” “Coca,” “C,” “snow,” “flake,” “blow,” “bump,” “candy,” “Charlie,” “rock,” and “toot”)
• A powerful and addictive illegal stimulate that comes in two forms: powdered and crack. Powdered cocaine looks like a white powder that can be snorted through the nose or injected with a needle when mixed with water, while crack cocaine looks like a rock crystal that can be smoked using a glass pipe. Cocaine stimulates the brain, causing a build-up of dopamine, the main chemical that makes people feel good when they do something they enjoy. The drug causes intense pleasure and increased energy but when it wears off, people experience a “crash” where they feel tired for days. It also causes a lot of physical problems, such as a decrease in appetite, high blood pressure, and an increased risk of stroke and heart attacks.
– For more information on cocaine, please go to http://teens.drugabuse.gov/drug-facts/cocaine
• Hallucinogens are drugs with different compounds found in some plants and mushrooms. There are four common types of hallucinogens: LSD, peyote, psilocybin, and PCP. While often used in religious and spiritual rituals, these drugs can also be abused. Effects of taking these drugs are fairly unpredictable so that makes them extremely dangerous. LSD (or acid) is a common drug used in nightclubs and can come in tablets, capsules and liquid form. Peyote is small cuts of the peyote root that can be chewed or soaked in water to produce a drink. Psilocybin is mushrooms that can be dried or brewed into a tea. PCP is a white powder that can be dissolved in water or alcohol. It can also be snorted through the nose, smoked or swallowed. All of these drugs can cause people to see, hear or feel sensations that seem real but are not.
– For more information on hallucinogens, please go to http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/hallucinogens-lsd-peyote-psilocybin-pcp
(“shepherdess’s herb,” “diviner’s sage,” “seer’s sage,” “Maria pastora,” “magic mint,” and “Sally-D”)
• Salvia is a herb with chemicals in it, that when taken, can cause intense hallucinations. While not listed as an illegal drug in the US, it is currently a drug that poses a concern for people who use it. The leaves can be chewed or juices can be extracted for drinking. The leaves can also be dried and smoked. Salvia and it effects are not yet fully known but it does cause loss of coordination, dizziness, and slurred speech as well as causing issues with learning and memory.
– For more information on salvia, please go to http://teens.drugabuse.gov/drug-facts/salvia
(“Meth,” “Speed,” “chalk,” and “tina”; or for crystal meth, “ice,” “crank,” “glass,” “fire,” and “go fast”)
• Methamphetamine, more commonly known as “Meth,” is an addictive stimulant drug that is used to boost mood, increase good feelings, increase energy and makes people who take it more alert. It is a man made white and bitter-tasting powder that can come in many forms, like a pill or a white or clear crystal. Meth is a drug with huge potential for abuse. It can be swallowed, snorted, injected with a needle or smoked. Effects from the drug can be high-blood pressure, mood swings, violent behavior, weight loss, and problems with thinking.
– For more information on methamphetamine, please go to http://teens.drugabuse.gov/drug-facts/methamphetamine-meth
(“Smack,” “Junk,” “H,” “Black tar,” “Ska,” and “Horse”)
• A type of drug made from morphine, a mind-altering substance and from the resin of the opium poppy plant. It can look like a white or brown powder or a black and sticky substance (“black tar heroin”). Heroin can be injected with a needle when mixed with water and it can also be smoked and snorted through the nose. It causes increased feelings of pleasure, clouds thinking, and can lead to addiction. Heroine is an illegal drug and can only be bought off the streets, where it is often mixed with other dangerous substances that can cause damage to the body.
– For more information on heroin, please go to http://teens.drugabuse.gov/drug-facts/heroin
Cough and Cold Medicine
(robotripping, robo, tussin, triple c, dex, skittles, candy, velvet, and drank)
• Cough syrup and cold medicine are common household medications. However, several different cough and cold medicine contains ingredients that can alter the state of the mind when taking in more that the recommended doses, which can cause relaxed and pleasurable feelings. These medicines are sold over the counter and come in liquid syrup, capsule or pill form. Youths are more likely to abuse these types of medications because they can be bought without a doctor’s note. High doses and repeated use can lead to addiction.
– For more information on cough and cold medicine, please go to http://teens.drugabuse.gov/drug-facts/cough-and-cold-medicine-dxm-and-codeine-syrup
(“K2,” “fake weed,” “Bliss,” “Black Mamba,” “Bombay Blue,” “Genie,” “Zohai,” “Yucatan Fire,” “Skunk,” and “Moon Rocks”)
• Also known as “K2,” Spice is a mix of different plants and man-made chemicals that can affect the mind. It is also called “synthetic marijuana” as it contains similar chemicals also found in marijuana. Its effects are different than marijuana, as spice is much stronger. It has a high potential for abuse, has no medical benefits and is often sold disguised as incense. It can be smoked, often times mixed with marijuana or it can be made into a tea for drinking. It causes feelings of relaxation, but can also cause anxiety and for individuals to see or hear things that are not real. It can also cause high blood pressure, heart attacks and even death. Spice is still a relatively new drug so its full effects on the brain and body are not yet understood so it has potentially unpredictable and dangerous consequences.
– For more information on spice, please go to http://teens.drugabuse.gov/drug-facts/spice
• Alpha-PDP but more commonly known by “flakka” is the most recent and dangerous trend in drugs that originated in Florida and has been reported throughout the country. It is similar to “bath salts” as it contains cathinone and looks like a white or pink crystal that can be eaten, snorted through the nose, injected with a needle or vaporized through an e-cigarette. It is a drug that alters the mind and causes paranoia and hallucinations that can lead to violent acts and self-injury. It also causes heart attacks, high body temperatures, kidney damage, and death. As it is still an emerging drug, its full effects on the brain and body are not yet understood, so it has potentially unpredictable and dangerous consequences.
– For more information on Alpha-PDP, please go to http://www.drugabuse.gov/drugs-abuse/emerging-trends
(“roids” or “juice”)
• Steroids are man made substances related to testosterone (male sex hormones) that are prescribed by doctors to treat hormone problems in men. It can also be used to treat delayed puberty and muscle loss and is commonly used by athletes and body builders to improve performance, which is neither legal nor safe. There are many types of steroides available and different brands include Androsterone, Oxandrin, Dianabol, Winstrol, Deca-durabolin, and Equipoise. It can be taken in pill form and can also be directly injected into the muscles. Long-term use can cause extreme mood swings and aggressive behavior. It can also cause high blood pressure, cholesterol changes, liver disease and heart attacks.
– For more information on steroids, please go to http://teens.drugabuse.gov/drug-facts/anabolic-steroids