| | | | Drug | Appearance | Symptoms of Use | Symptoms of Overdose | Symptons of Withdrawal | | Stimulants - Amphetamines (Dexedrine, Ritalin, Preludin, Ionamin, Cylert) General: Amphetamines are a class of synthetic drugs that are strong stimulants of the central nervous system, increasing the heart rate and raising blood pressure. Administered in capsule or tablet form, they increase alertness and reduce hunger. Street names for amphetamines include crank, ice, uppers, bennies, rockets, speed, and black beauties. | capsules, tablets. | agitation, excessive activity, euphoria, insomnia | cardiac irregularities, headache, coma, death | excessive hunger, muscle aches, tremors | | Heroin General: Heroin is derived from the seed of the opium poppy plant and is highly addictive. Heroin, as well as morphine and other opium derivatives, is a powerful analgesic drug. It is known as a narcotic analgesic because it can induce sleep (or, in excessive amounts, coma). Heroin also induces a sense of euphoria through interaction with the brain's opiate receptors. A number of slang names for heroin include chiva, smack, horse, junk, tar, and black tar. | white to dark brown powder, or black tar-like substance that resembles dark caramel. | euphoria, lethargy, constricted pupils, drowsiness | shallow breathing, vomiting, convulsions, coma, death | diarrhea, tremors, chills, shakes, sweating, runny nose and eyes | | Ethyl Alcohol - Beer, Wine, Vodka, Whiskey, Bourbon, Rum General: Ethyl alcohol, also known as ethanol and grain alcohol, is a colorless, flammable liquid. Drinkers may become addicted to any of the above beverages. Additionally, the combination of alcohol and drugs, such as commonly used sleeping pills, tranquilizers, antibiotics, and aspirin, can be fatal, even when both are taken in nonlethal doses. | Bottles or cans. | relaxation, loss of inhibitions, lack of concentration | nausea, vomiting, rapid pulse, coma, death | agitation, anxiety, hallucinations, shakes | | Cocaine General: Cocaine is an alkaloid drug found in the leaves of the coca plant. Street names include coke, snow, blow, nose candy, rock, crack, and base. Cocaine can be injected, inhaled or smoked. Cocaine’s fine white powder is often sniffed. Crack is highly concentrated chemically reconstituted cocaine, in pebblelike shape, that users smoke. | cocaine - white crystalline powder; crack - white to tan pellets or rocks. | euphoria, excitability, talkativeness, dilated pupils, paranoia | hallucinations, convulsions, coma, cardiac arrest, death | apathy, irritability, social withdrawal, fatigue | | Inhalants - Volatile Hydrocarbons, Amyl/Butyl Nitrite, Nitrous Oxide, Halothane General: Some of the street names of inhalants are rush, huff, airplane glue, laughing gas, and spray paint. | aerosol cans, clear or yellowish liquid in ampules, metal cylinder sold with a balloon. | similar to alcohol, slurred speech, lack of inhibitions, nausea | liver, brain, and nerve damage; heart failure, coma, death | anxiety, agitation, anti-social behavior | | Marijuana General: Marijuana (also spelled marihuana) is the common name given to any drug preparation from the hemp plant, Cannabis sativa. Cannabis preparations have acquired a variety of slang names, including grass, pot, hashish, ganga, tea, reefer, weed, and Mary Jane. Cannabis is smoked, eaten in cakes, and/or drunk in beverages. Marijuana is prepared most often as a tobacco-like mixture that is smoked in a pipe or rolled into a cigarette. | similar to dried parsley. | relaxation, talkativeness, lowered inhibitions, euphoria | fatigue, paranoia, delusions, hallucinations | loss of appetite, restlessness, irritability, insomnia | | Depressants - Seconal, Nembutal, Valium, Noctec, Equanil General: Drugs that retard, slow down, or depress signals passing through the central nervous system and produce relaxation, a lowering of anxiety, and, at higher doses, drowsiness and sleep, are called depressants. They include sedatives, such as barbiturates, methaqualone, and tranquilizers, such as Valium. Street names include downers, goofballs, reds, yellow jackets, and mickey finns. | red, yellow, blue or red-and-blue capsules, tablets, powder, liquid | similar to alcohol, relaxation, slurred speech, sleep | shallow respiration, dilated pupils, coma, death | anxiety, sweating, fever, agitation, shakes | | Hallucinogens - LSD, PCP, MDMA, STP, DMT, Mescaline, Psilocybin General: Hallucinogens are a group of plant-derived or synthetic chemical substances, some of which human beings have used, throughout history, to modify their state of consciousness for medicinal, religious, or recreational purposes. The most potent hallucinogen is LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide), often simply called "acid." Other street names for hallucinogens are angel dust, ecstasy, serenity, peace, peyote, and 'shrooms. | tablets, white or off-white crystalline powder, capsules, hard brown disks, fresh or dried mushrooms. | hallucinations, confusion, euphoria, anxiety, panic | hallucinations, agitation, violence, convulsions, death | possible flashbacks | | | | |