Bath salts: A fairly new synthetic powder, typically containing the stimulant cathinone, that can be 10 times as potent as cocaine. Highly dangerous from the first use, with violent or psychotic behavior as regular side effects, and multiple deaths reported.

 

Cocaine: White powdery stimulant, usually snorted through the nose to induce a short, powerful rush of energy and euphoria. Highly addictive, and the second-most popular illicit substance on the market.

 

Crack: Also known as freebase cocaine, this is a crystallized form of coke designed to be smoked. It is highly addictive.

 

Crystal meth: Slang term for methamphetamine, a notoriously addictive stimulant that is sold as an odorless yet bitter-tasting white powder. Provide a short, intense euphoric feeling after being snorted, swallowed, or smoked.

 

DMT: Similar to the mythical ayahuasca, this drug purportedly leads users into otherworldly hallucinations when smoked, and is consumed in some cultures as a rite of passage. Users report seeing space, talk to strange creatures and experience other extreme changes to their perceived reality.

 

Ecstasy: A crystalline powder that creates a heavy feeling of euphoria upon being snorted or swallowed. Also known as MDMA and, more recently, “molly,” ecstasy is popular as a club and party drug, with the high lasting several hours followed by an intense comedown period.

 

GHB: An intense depressant that targets the central nervous system, and is sold under the name Xyrem as a treatment for narcolepsy.

Herbal ecstasy: A collection of herbs condensed into pill-form, originally sold over the counter as a natural replacement for the high created by MDMA.

 

Heroin: Synthesized from morphine, it is sold as a powder or black sticky substance, and traditionally taken by injection, snorting or smoking. Once it enters the brain it converts back to morphine, producing a number of strong effects that become very addictive.

 

Inhalants: Any number of household products whose chemical ingredients can cause a high when inhaled, or “huffed.” Glue, gasoline, and spray aerosols are regular examples. Most popular among teenagers, it’s responsible for a number of damaging effects to the brain.

 

Ketamine: Club drug that distorts the senses and creates a feeling of detachment from one’s environment upon being snorted. It’s designed as an anesthetic widely used in the veterinary field.

 

Khat: Stimulant found in the leaves of a certain shrub, which are chewed upon to release its effects. Contains the chemical cathinone, which causes a sense of elation and a heightened alertness.

 

LSD: Intensely potent psychedelic chemical, normally sold in liquid form or on a blotted tab of paper, which is taken orally. Also known as acid, once consumed it can cause trips that last up to 12 hours, involving altered perceptions, hallucinations and mood swings.

 

Marijuana: Dried leaves of the hemp plant containing the chemical THC, which elicits a number of effects when smoked or ingested. Can alter the senses and impair movement for a number of hours. The most widely consumed illegal substance in the world, which has a recent trend of decriminalization in certain areas.

 

Methamphetamine: See crystal meth.

 

Opium: Derived from the poppy plant’s white liquid, and being formed into a tar-like powder, it can instill a relaxed feeling of euphoria when smoked, injected or swallowed as a pill.

 

PCP: Crystalline white powder originally designed as an intravenous anesthetic. Sold nowadays in capsule or powder form, it can lead to distorted senses and a feeling of invulnerability that can last several hours.

 

Spice/K2: Herbal concoctions originally marketed and sold over the counter as a legal substitute for the high that marijuana provides, though now deemed illegal by the DEA.

 

Steroids: Synthetic testosterone designed to quickly build muscle, prescribed legally to treat some conditions but frequently distributed and abused illegally. They are popular among athletes and bodybuilders.

 

Commonly Used Prescription Drugs

One of the fastest-growing areas of addiction is that of prescription drugs.

 

“Prescription drug abuse is a growing problem affecting people of all ages and backgrounds,” said Shelley Rogers, prevention program coordinator in California, to the Union. “We are very concerned about any misuse or abuse, because it is increasingly deadly.”

 

An estimated 48 million people have used prescription drugs for non-medical reasons at some point in their life. You can easily access drugs like this from a family member’s medicine cabinet, and spiral into a tumultuous relationship with them within days. Oftentimes a patient prescribed these pills will resell them to others looking for a fix. This problem complicates the situation immeasurably, as addiction to prescription drugs is often just as easy to develop, and just as deadly, as one to hard drugs.

 

Commonly abused prescriptions include:

 

Adderall: Stimulant medication containing amphetamine, intended for use among people diagnosed with attention-deficit disorder (ADHD). Increases a user’s focus and wakefulness. Ambien: Popular sleep medication, also known as zolpidem. Extremely sedating and can induce a heavy sleep in as little as 15 minutes.

 

Ativan: Anti-anxiety medication, also known as lorazepam.

 

Codeine: Cough-suppressing opioid that is the common ingredient in many cough syrups. Produces sedating effects, and can cause a state of euphoria when more-than-recommended dosage is consumed.

 

Hydrocodone: Opioid that is synthesized from codeine, often prescribed as a pain reliever and also functioning as a cough suppressant.

 

Klonopin: Reputable brand of the drug clonazepam, an anxiety reliever that is diagnosed to people with panic and seizer disorders.

 

Lunesta: Used to help victims of insomnia, it is a sedative that causes a user to fall asleep and stay asleep.

 

Methadone: Synthetic medication designed to battle withdrawal symptoms and cravings in people addicted to opioids, such as heroin.

 

Oxycodone: Intense opioid that effectively treats moderate-to-severe bouts of pain.

 

Ritalin: Diagnosed primarily to people with ADD or ADHD, it is a stimulant that targets the central nervous system, specifically the areas of hyperactivity and impulse control. Valium: One of a group of drugs called benzodiazepines, which affect chemicals in the brain related to anxiety. It is prescribed to patients with muscle spasms, anxiety disorders and alcohol withdrawal symptoms.

 

Xanax: Brand name for the drug alprazolam, another benzodiazepine that treats symptoms of anxiety. It is routinely prescribed for people with panic disorders and anxiety caused by depression.

 

 

 

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