Commonly Abused Drugs

1.Depressants- slow down the activity of the brain and CNS -alcohol - #1 mood altering drug in the U.S. -barbiturates – usually prescribed as sleep aid -tranquilizers – valium and Librium -calms emotions without severely decreasing alertness

2. Narcotics- strong pain killers, sometimes classified with depressants; derived from the juice of the opium poppy flower Opium – drug in its pure form is illegal Morphine – legal as a pain killer, illegal otherwise Codeine – prescription pain reliever Heroin – opium in its pure form -20 times more powerful than morphine -illegal in U.S. - extremely addictive

3. Stimulants- speed up the body processes create a feeling of pleasure Nicotine – drug in tobacco - very addictive and poisonous

Caffeine- may be the #1 addicted to drug in U.S. -found in coffee, tea, soda, chocolate -can result in nervousness and insomnia

Amphetamines- synthetic drugs, “uppers”, “speed”, “crank”, “ice” -abuse results in nervousness, insomnia, aggressiveness, loss of appetite, and emotional problems

Cocaine- from the leaves of the coca plant -medically used as a local anesthetic -abuse results in; increased heart rate, increased BP, weight loss, sleeplessness, hallucinations and paranoia, and death from seizures and respiratory failure

Crack- extremely addictive form of cocaine -more addictive because of the way it is processed and it is smoked

4. Hallucinogens- cause hallucinations and intense mood swings LSD- acid -”flashbacks” can occur months or even years after last dose

PCP- angel dust -impairs thought and speech -people on PCP can generate extreme strength, because the drug blocks pain receptors

5. Other Dangerous Drugs Marijuana and Hashish -derived from the hemp plant, THC is the mind altering drug -contains same carcinogens as tobacco plus 150 other chemicals -gateway drug

6. Inhalants (huffing) -household compounds, glues, aerosols, solvents, etc -impairs mental processes and kills brain cells

7. Anabolic Steroids -synthetic testosterone -kidney and liver damage -violence -heart disease and stroke

8. Designer Drugs -ecstasy and other home made drugs.

Drug List for Research Project Marijuana - Cocaine Heroin LSD Amphetamine Methamphetamine Ecstasy THC Rohypnol GHB PCP Codeine Nitrous Oxide Morphine Opium Oxycontin Crack Cocaine Barbiturates Narcotics Inhalants Depressants Stimulants Hallucinogens Anabolic Steroids