A-Z Drug List

Inhalants that produce intoxicating chemical vapors — spray paints, deodorant sprays, cooking sprays, and fabric protectors.

Sniffing or snorting fumes from containers or bags (bagging) · Spraying directly into the nose or mouth · Huffing from an inhalant-soaked rag

Effects similar to alcohol or sedatives · Short-lasting high with warmth and excitement · Light-headedness, distorted perception, disorganized thinking

Nausea and vomiting · Confusion and delirium · Dizziness, drowsiness, slurred speech, muscle weakness · Fatal heart failure ('sudden sniffing death')

Prescription stimulants used to treat ADHD and narcolepsy. Misused when taken differently than prescribed or without a prescription.

Swallowing tablets, capsules, or powder

Increased alertness, attention, and energy · Enhanced mental performance · Repeated misuse can cause hostility or paranoia

Long-term misuse may cause psychosis · High doses: dangerously high body temperature, irregular heartbeat · Heart failure or seizures

Synthetic substances similar to testosterone. Prescribed for delayed puberty, muscle loss, and low testosterone. Misused for performance enhancement.

Swallowing tablets or capsules · Injecting · Applying to skin as gels or creams

No euphoria, but changes in mood including anxiety, irritability, and aggression · Claimed faster recovery from muscle strain (inconsistent evidence)

Severe damage to heart, hormonal system, and liver · Early heart attacks, strokes, kidney failure, psychiatric problems · Males: decreased sperm, enlarged breasts, testicular shrinkage · Females: voice deepening, decreased breast size, excess body hair

A tea made from Psychotria viridis (containing DMT) and the vine Banisteriopsis caapi. Historically used by indigenous South Americans for religious and healing rituals.

Drinking as a brewed tea

Temporary changes in thought patterns, mood, and perception of reality · Euphoria and feeling of connectedness · Fear, anxiety, and confusion

Increased heart rate and blood pressure · Nausea and vomiting

Depressants historically used to treat seizures, insomnia, and anxiety. Less commonly prescribed today.

Swallowing tablets or capsules · Injecting

Drowsiness · Feeling calm · Problems with movement and memory

Slow down the central nervous system · Can lower heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure · Large doses can lead to death

Depressants used to treat anxiety, panic disorder, seizures, insomnia, and muscle spasms.

Swallowing tablets or capsules · Snorting crushed tablets

Drowsiness · Feeling calm · Problems with movement and memory

Slowed breathing · Confusion, headache, fainting · Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, tremors · Combining with alcohol or opioids greatly increases risk

Dried leaves, flowers, stems, and seeds of the Cannabis Sativa L plant, containing THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) which produces intoxicating effects.

Inhaling as joints or vaping · Dabbing (concentrated oils) · Edibles · Tinctures · Topical lotions or balms

Feeling relaxed · Increased appetite · Irritability and restlessness · Anxiety, fear, distrust, panic · Hallucinations

Impaired learning, memory, attention, and processing speed · Respiratory issues · Increased risk of stroke, heart attack, arrhythmias · Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain) · Increased risk of earlier psychosis onset in those genetically predisposed · Increased risk of depression and suicidal thoughts in teens

An addictive stimulant made from coca plant leaves. Most cocaine is illegally manufactured.

Rubbing on gums · Snorting · Dissolving in water and injecting · Smoking (crack cocaine)

Euphoria and increased energy · Feeling talkative and mentally alert · Higher doses: irritability, restlessness, panic, paranoia, psychosis

Heart rhythm disturbances and heart attacks · Headaches, seizures, stroke, coma · Bleeding in the brain · Abdominal pain and nausea

A prescription opioid pain reliever used for mild to moderate pain.

Swallowing tablets or oral syrup · Injecting

Pain relief · Euphoria · Drowsiness · Confusion

Nausea, constipation · Increased pain sensitivity (long-term) · Respiratory depression · Overdose and death — reversible with naloxone (Narcan®)

An intoxicating cannabinoid found in the cannabis plant. Products have not been FDA-approved for safe use and are largely unregulated.

Inhaling as joints, vaping, or dabbing · Edibles

Feeling relaxed · Increased appetite · Irritability, restlessness, anxiety, fear, panic, hallucinations

Has led to medical emergencies including breathing and psychiatric problems · Unregulated products may contain unpredictable contaminants · Limited research on health effects and addiction potential

A class of drugs that slow down central nervous system (CNS) activity, producing sedation, relaxation, and drowsiness. Examples include alcohol, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, GHB, and sleep medications. Often prescribed to treat anxiety, seizures, and insomnia.

Swallowing tablets, capsules, or liquid · Injecting · Snorting

Drowsiness and sedation · Reduced anxiety and inhibitions · Slowed thinking, movement, and speech · Euphoria at higher doses

Slowed breathing and heart rate · Low blood pressure · Impaired coordination and memory · High overdose risk — especially when combined with other depressants or opioids · Coma and death

A cough suppressant found in many over-the-counter cold medications. Misused in large doses for intoxicating effects.

Swallowing syrup, tablets, or capsules

Mild stimulation and intoxication at low doses · High doses: hallucinations, feelings of physical distortion, confusion, paranoia, anxiety, aggression

Hyperexcitability, poor motor control, lack of energy · Stomach pain, nausea, vomiting · Vision changes, slurred speech · Increased heart rate and blood pressure, sweating

A class of hallucinogens that distort perceptions of sight, sound, and self — producing feelings of detachment from one's environment and identity. Examples include PCP, ketamine, DXM, and salvia.

Snorting or sniffing · Smoking · Swallowing tablets or liquid · Injecting

Feelings of detachment from reality and one's body · Distorted sensory perceptions · Hallucinations · Dream-like state

Impaired motor function · Memory loss · Anxiety, paranoia, and psychosis · At high doses: respiratory depression and coma

Dimethyltryptamine — a psychedelic compound found in Amazonian plants (used in ayahuasca tea) and synthesized as a white crystalline powder.

Drinking as brewed tea · Smoking as a powder

Altered thought patterns, mood, and perception of reality · Intense happiness and feeling of connectedness · Fear, anxiety, and confusion

Increased heart rate and blood pressure · Nausea and vomiting

A powerful synthetic opioid FDA-approved for severe post-surgical and complex pain. Illicitly manufactured fentanyl is increasingly found in the drug supply and may be unknowingly consumed.

Lozenge, sublingual tablet, film, or blotter paper · Eye drops · Transdermal patch · Nasal spray · Injecting, snorting, or smoking · Often added unknowingly to other drugs

Pain relief · Euphoria · Drowsiness · Confusion

Nausea, constipation · Increased pain sensitivity (long-term) · Respiratory depression · Overdose and death — reversible with naloxone (Narcan®)

A benzodiazepine not FDA-approved for use in the US. Has been used to commit sexual assaults due to its strong sedation effects.

Swallowing tablets or dissolving in liquid · Snorting

Drowsiness · Feeling calm · Problems with movement and memory

Slowed breathing, confusion, headache, fainting · Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, tremors · Combining with alcohol or opioids greatly increases risk

Inhalants that produce intoxicating vapors, including medical anesthetics (nitrous oxide, ether, chloroform) and household products (butane, propane, refrigerants).

Sniffing or snorting fumes from containers · Spraying directly into nose or mouth · Huffing from soaked rag · Inhaling from nitrous oxide-filled balloons

Effects similar to alcohol or sedatives · Short-lasting high with warmth and excitement · Light-headedness and disorganized thinking

Nausea and vomiting · Confusion and delirium · Dizziness, drowsiness, slurred speech, muscle weakness · Fatal heart failure ('sudden sniffing death')

A depressant approved to treat narcolepsy. Misused for euphoric and sedative effects; has been used to commit sexual assaults. Also used as a chemsex drug.

Swallowing as liquid or dissolved powder · Snorting

Euphoria · Drowsiness and relaxation · Problems with movement and memory

Low doses: nausea · High doses: unconsciousness, seizures, slowed breathing/heart rate, coma, death

An opioid made from morphine derived from opium poppy plants. Typically sold as white or brownish powder, or 'black tar' form.

Snorting or sniffing · Smoking · Injecting

Euphoria · Pain relief · Drowsiness · Confusion

Nausea, constipation · Increased pain sensitivity (long-term) · Deteriorates brain's white matter affecting decision-making · Respiratory depression · Overdose and death — reversible with naloxone (Narcan®)

A prescription opioid approved for pain management. Misused when taken differently than prescribed.

Swallowing tablets or capsules

Pain relief · Euphoria · Drowsiness · Confusion

Nausea, constipation · Increased pain sensitivity (long-term) · Respiratory depression · Overdose and death — reversible with naloxone (Narcan®)

A prescription opioid pain reliever used for severe pain.

Swallowing tablets, capsules, or liquid · Injecting

Pain relief · Euphoria · Drowsiness · Confusion

Nausea, constipation · Increased pain sensitivity (long-term) · Respiratory depression · Overdose and death — reversible with naloxone (Narcan®)

A psychedelic compound from the bark of the iboga shrub, used in West African initiation rites. Affects the heart's electrical activity — dangerous for people with heart conditions.

Swallowing dried root bark as powder, capsule, or tablet · Drinking as a tea

Increased energy · Euphoria · Hallucinations · Dream-like state

Nausea, vomiting, poor muscle control, headache · Whole-body tremors, seizures · Cardiac arrest and death (reported in research studies)

A broad category of substances whose chemical vapors are inhaled to produce intoxicating effects. Includes volatile solvents (paint thinners, glues), aerosols (spray paints, deodorants), gases (nitrous oxide, butane), and nitrites (poppers). Most are common household or commercial products.

Sniffing or snorting fumes directly from containers · Spraying directly into nose or mouth · Huffing from a soaked rag · Inhaling from nitrous oxide-filled balloons · Bagging (inhaling from a plastic bag)

Effects similar to alcohol intoxication · Euphoria and light-headedness · Slurred speech and loss of coordination · Hallucinations at high doses

Sudden Sniffing Death Syndrome — fatal heart failure can occur even on first use · Brain, liver, and kidney damage from long-term use · Hearing and vision loss · Loss of coordination and limb spasms · Suffocation risk from displacement of oxygen

FDA-approved for short-term sedation and anesthesia. A derivative (esketamine) is approved for treatment-resistant depression. Also illegally sold as liquid or off-white powder.

Injecting · Swallowing as liquid or in drinks · Snorting · Smoking

Altered perception and happiness · Feelings of detachment from environment · Out-of-body sensations · High doses: extreme detachment ('k-hole')

Headache, dizziness, sleepiness · Numbness, blurred vision, nausea · Long-term heavy use: memory problems, depression, anxiety, abdominal pain, ketamine-induced uropathy

A shrub found in East Africa and Southern Arabia containing the stimulant drugs cathinone and cathine.

Chewing · Drinking as tea · Swallowing as paste or sprinkled on food · Smoking

Effects similar to other stimulants such as amphetamines

Increased blood pressure and heart rate · Insomnia · Gastrointestinal symptoms

A Southeast Asian tree (Mitragyna speciosa) whose leaves are marketed as herbal supplements. Has both opioid-like and stimulant-like effects.

Swallowing capsules, powder, or liquid extract · Mixing into food or drinks · Drinking as tea

Stimulant effects: increased energy, alertness, rapid heart rate · Opioid/sedative effects: relaxation, pain relief, confusion

Nausea, constipation, dizziness, drowsiness

An over-the-counter anti-diarrheal medication. An opioid designed not to enter the brain, but large doses or combinations with other substances can produce opioid-like effects.

Swallowing tablets, capsules, or liquid

Relaxation or happiness similar to opioids · Some use it to lessen opioid cravings and withdrawal

Fainting, stomach pain, constipation, eye changes · Loss of consciousness, rapid/erratic heartbeat · Kidney problems

Lysergic acid diethylamide — a clear or white, odorless synthetic substance derived from fungi that grow on rye and other grains.

Swallowing tablets, 'micro-dots,' or clear liquid · Swallowing saturated blotter paper squares

Strong emotions including intense happiness and connectedness · Fear, anxiety, and confusion · Vivid hallucinations (shapes, colors, scenes) · Reliving vivid memories

Headache, nausea, changes in heart rate

A synthetic drug with stimulant effects similar to methamphetamine; also mildly alters visual and time perception. Some researchers classify it as a psychedelic.

Swallowing tablets, capsules, or liquid · Snorting crushed tablets

Increased energy and alertness · Increased sense of well-being, warmth, and openness · Increased sensitivity to sights, sounds, touch, and smells

Increased heart rate and blood pressure, elevated body temperature · Involuntary jaw clenching, nausea, vomiting, restless legs · Long-term: poor sleep, confusion, depression, anxiety, paranoia, memory problems · Heart valve damage from long-term recreational use

A prescription opioid pain reliever used for severe, acute pain.

Swallowing tablets or syrup · Injecting

Pain relief · Euphoria · Drowsiness · Confusion

Nausea, constipation · Increased pain sensitivity (long-term) · Respiratory depression · Overdose and death — reversible with naloxone (Narcan®)

The active ingredient in peyote, a small cactus native to America's Southwest and northern Mexico. Can also be lab-made.

Swallowing capsules or liquid · Chewing · Smoking

Strong emotions including intense happiness and connectedness · Fear, anxiety, and confusion · Vivid hallucinations

Headache, nausea, changes in heart rate

A highly addictive synthetic stimulant. Crystal form ('crystal meth') appears as shiny bluish-white rocks. Contributes to the US overdose crisis, alone and combined with fentanyl.

Smoking (crystal meth) · Swallowing tablets · Snorting · Injecting

Euphoria and increased alertness and energy · Decreased appetite · Confidence, increased sex drive · Paranoia and anxiety

Rapid/irregular heartbeat, increased blood pressure, kidney damage · Long-term: heart disease, stroke, psychosis, insomnia, cognitive decline · 'Meth mouth' (tooth decay and loss) · Increased risk of bacterial infections, HIV, viral hepatitis

A prescription stimulant used to treat ADHD. Misused to get high, improve academic performance, or reduce appetite.

Swallowing tablets, capsules, or liquid · Snorting · Injecting · Transdermal patch

Increased wakefulness and energy · Repeated misuse: hostility, paranoia, psychosis

Gastrointestinal symptoms, insomnia, nervousness, headaches

A prescription opioid pain reliever for severe, acute pain.

Swallowing tablets or liquid · Injecting

Pain relief · Euphoria · Drowsiness · Confusion

Nausea, constipation · Increased pain sensitivity (long-term) · Respiratory depression · Overdose and death — reversible with naloxone (Narcan®)

Synthetic chemical compounds originally developed for brain research. Sometimes sold as LSD but more potent with higher risk of severe effects.

Various methods; often similar to LSD administration

Strong emotions including intense happiness and connectedness · Fear, anxiety, and confusion · Vivid hallucinations

Headache, nausea, changes in heart rate

A highly addictive chemical compound found in the tobacco plant (also available synthetically). Found in all tobacco products and increasingly in tobacco-free products such as vaping solutions and nicotine pouches.

Smoking cigarettes, hookahs, cigars, cigarillos · Inhaling vapor (e-cigarettes) · Chewing tobacco or nicotine gum · Inhaler or dry snuff · Nasal spray · Lozenge · Nicotine pouches (e.g. Zyn®)

A 'buzz' from epinephrine release increasing blood pressure and heart rate · Feelings of pleasure and relaxation

Impaired lung function, increased risk of oral health problems · Increased risk of depression and insomnia · Increased risk of certain cancers · In teens: altered brain development, mood disorders, impulse control problems

Inhalants producing intoxicating vapors. Not FDA-approved but sold as air fresheners, leather cleaners, and other products online and in adult novelty stores.

Inhaling from glass vials (poppers)

Mild euphoria · Increased blood flow · Relaxed muscles

Nausea, vomiting, confusion, dizziness · Fatal heart failure ('sudden sniffing death')

A class of drugs that act on opioid receptors in the brain to reduce pain and produce euphoria. Includes prescription pain relievers (oxycodone, hydrocodone, codeine, morphine), synthetic opioids (fentanyl), and illegal drugs (heroin). Opioids are a major driver of the US overdose crisis.

Swallowing tablets, capsules, or liquid · Injecting · Snorting or sniffing · Smoking · Transdermal patch or lozenge

Pain relief · Euphoria and relaxation · Drowsiness and sedation · Reduced anxiety

Respiratory depression and overdose — potentially fatal · Nausea and constipation · Increased pain sensitivity with long-term use · High risk of physical dependence and addiction · Overdose reversible with naloxone (Narcan®)

A prescription opioid pain reliever used for severe, acute pain.

Swallowing tablets, capsules, or liquid · Injecting (dissolved tablets) · Sniffing crushed tablets · Inhaling smoke or vapor

Pain relief · Euphoria · Drowsiness · Confusion

Nausea, constipation · Increased pain sensitivity (long-term) · Respiratory depression · Overdose and death — reversible with naloxone (Narcan®)

A synthetic dissociative drug originally developed as an IV anesthetic; discontinued due to serious negative effects.

Powder dissolved in alcohol or water, tablets, capsules, or liquid · Tobacco or cannabis cigarettes laced with PCP

Altered perception of reality · Feelings of disconnection from body and environment · Delusions, hallucinations, paranoia, aggression, anxiety

Increased heart rate/blood pressure, rapid eye movement, elevated body temperature · Seizures, memory loss, coma, death · Linked to self-injury, prolonged psychosis, and PCP-induced depression with high suicide rate

Medications obtained legally with a prescription that are misused by taking them differently than prescribed, using someone else's prescription, or taking them solely for the feeling they cause. The three most commonly misused classes are opioids (pain relievers), CNS depressants (sedatives and anti-anxiety medications), and stimulants (ADHD medications).

Swallowing tablets or capsules · Snorting crushed tablets · Injecting dissolved tablets · Transdermal patches

Varies by drug class: pain relief, sedation, or stimulation

Varies by drug class · Combining with other substances significantly increases overdose risk · Long-term misuse can lead to physical dependence and addiction

The active psychedelic ingredient in certain mushroom species. Belongs to the hallucinogen class of drugs that alter perception of reality.

Swallowing raw, dried, or powdered mushrooms · Drinking as tea · Adding to other foods

Altered perception · Euphoria · Extreme fear, anxiety, panic, or paranoia · Feelings of disconnection · Confusion and agitation

Increased blood pressure and heart rate · Vomiting or nausea · Risk of misidentifying and consuming a toxic mushroom

A class of drugs that alter perception, thought, mood, and consciousness — producing hallucinations, intensified sensory experiences, and an altered sense of time and self. Classic psychedelics include LSD, psilocybin, DMT, mescaline, and ayahuasca. They primarily act on the serotonin system.

Varies by substance: swallowing, drinking, smoking, or placing on tongue

Visual and auditory hallucinations · Intensified emotions and sensory experiences · Altered sense of time and self · Feelings of connectedness and spiritual insight · Anxiety and panic ('bad trip') at high doses

Increased heart rate and blood pressure · Nausea · Risk of accidents due to impaired perception · Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder (HPPD) — lasting visual disturbances · May exacerbate underlying mental health conditions

A plant (Salvia divinorum) found in southern Mexico. Its active ingredient salvinorin A acts on kappa opioid receptors, unlike most psychedelics.

Swallowing liquid extract · Chewing · Smoking · Vaporizing

Dysphoria (negative emotions) · Hallucinations · Feelings of detachment from environment · Out-of-body sensations and colorful visions

Loss of coordination, dizziness, slurred speech

Prescribed to treat insomnia. Thought to have fewer side effects and less dependence risk than benzodiazepines, though both risks exist.

Swallowing tablets, capsules, or liquid

Drowsiness · Reduced sleep latency (time to fall asleep) · Improved sleep quality

Headaches, dizziness, nausea · Rare but serious: sleepwalking, sleep driving, complex sleep behaviors — some resulting in death

A class of drugs that speed up the central nervous system, increasing alertness, attention, and energy. Prescription stimulants (amphetamines, methylphenidate) are used to treat ADHD and narcolepsy. Illicit stimulants include cocaine and methamphetamine.

Swallowing tablets, capsules, or powder · Snorting · Smoking (crystal meth, crack cocaine) · Injecting

Increased alertness, energy, and confidence · Decreased appetite · Euphoria · Increased heart rate and blood pressure

Heart rhythm disturbances, elevated blood pressure, and raised body temperature · Risk of heart attack or stroke at high doses · Paranoia, psychosis, and aggression · Long-term: weight loss, dental problems, cognitive decline

Lab-made substances chemically similar to cannabis compounds, but often producing stronger effects. Added to liquid cartridges for vaping or to dried shredded plant material for smoking.

Inhaling by vaping or smoking

Similar to cannabis but stronger: relaxation, increased appetite, irritability, anxiety, panic, hallucinations

Increased heart rate and blood pressure · Unconsciousness, tremors and seizures, nausea and vomiting · Numbness and tingling · Death by heart attack or organ failure · Accidental overdose deaths reported

Lab-made stimulants chemically related to substances in the khat plant. May be used intentionally or unknowingly as contaminants in other drugs.

Sniffing or snorting · Swallowing tablets or capsules · Smoking · Injecting

Euphoria, increased alertness and energy · Confusion, agitation, hallucinations, aggression

Increased heart rate and blood pressure · Elevated body temperature, sweating, headaches · Dizziness, seizures

Lab-made substances engineered to mimic the effects of controlled drugs while evading legal restrictions. Includes synthetic cannabinoids (Spice/K2), synthetic cathinones (bath salts), NBOMes, and fentanyl analogs. Often more potent and unpredictable than the substances they imitate.

Varies by substance: smoking, snorting, swallowing, injecting, or vaping

Varies by substance and intended effect: stimulant, depressant, hallucinogenic, or opioid-like

Unpredictable potency and contamination risk — high accidental overdose rate · Unknown long-term health effects · Severe psychiatric reactions reported · Some have caused deaths even on first use

An antidepressant not approved for use in the US. Sold in dietary supplements marketed as cognitive enhancers in convenience stores and online.

Swallowing tablets, capsules, or liquid

Euphoria similar to opioids

At high doses: dangerous drops in blood pressure, heart rate, or breathing (opioid-like)

A plant with leaves cured, aged, and processed in various ways. Contains nicotine, which is highly addictive.

Smoking cigarettes, hookahs, cigars, cigarillos · Chewing · Inhaling through nose (dry snuff) · Dipping (mouth placement)

A 'buzz' from epinephrine release · Feelings of pleasure and relaxation

Significantly increased risk of cancer (especially lung, oral) · Lung diseases: chronic bronchitis, emphysema, COPD · Increased risk of heart disease, oral health problems, depression, insomnia · In teens: altered brain development, mood disorders, impulse control issues

A prescription opioid pain reliever used for mild to moderate pain.

Swallowing tablets or syrup

Pain relief · Euphoria · Drowsiness · Confusion

Nausea, constipation · Increased pain sensitivity (long-term) · Respiratory depression · Overdose and death — reversible with naloxone (Narcan®)

An illegally made synthetic opioid approximately 7.5 times the strength of morphine.

Swallowing tablets · Snorting powder · Injecting

Pain relief · Euphoria · Drowsiness · Confusion

Nausea, constipation · Increased pain sensitivity (long-term) · Respiratory depression · Overdose and death — reversible with naloxone (Narcan®)

Battery-operated devices used to inhale aerosol containing nicotine, flavorings, and other chemicals. May look like cigarettes, pens, or USB drives.

Inhaling through a cartridge or tank filled with liquid

A 'buzz' from epinephrine release · Feelings of pleasure and relaxation

Increased blood pressure, respiration, and heart rate · Increased risk of heart health problems · Damaged lung tissue and airways · Increased risk of respiratory irritation and lung injuries · In teens: altered brain development, mood disorders, impulse control issues

Liquids that vaporize at room temperature, including paint thinners, dry-cleaning fluids, degreasers, gasoline, glues, correction fluids, and felt-tip markers.

Sniffing or snorting fumes from containers (bagging) · Spraying directly into nose or mouth · Huffing from soaked rag

Effects similar to alcohol or sedatives · Short-lasting high with warmth and excitement · Light-headedness and disorganized thinking

Nausea and vomiting · Confusion and delirium · Dizziness, drowsiness, slurred speech, muscle weakness · Fatal heart failure ('sudden sniffing death')

A veterinary tranquilizer, pain reliever, and CNS depressant. Not approved for human use. Often mixed with illegally made opioids, most frequently fentanyl.

Injecting (typically mixed with opioids)

Drowsiness · Slowed brain activity · Relaxed muscles

Slowed heart rate and breathing — potentially life-threatening at certain doses · Repeated use causes painful, difficult-to-treat skin and muscle sores that can grow, become infected, lead to dead tissue, and may require amputation