Pharmacological effects of illicit drugs

The various drugs of abuse can be classified according to their unique pharmacological mechanisms of action.

Five major categories are discussed:
1) cannabinoids,
2) opiates,
3) stimulants,
4) hallucinogens, and
5) inhalants.

CANNABINOIDS:

• Marijuana and hashish, bag, doobie, dope, grass, hash, hump, jay, joint, Mary Jane, pot, reefer, weed

EFFECTS:

• Red eyes, neglect of appearance, excessive laughter, munchies, loss of interest and motivation, possible weight gain

OPIATES:

• Heroin Black tar, China white, dog food, dreamer, dust, H, horse, junk, smack.

EFFECTS:

• Addiction, severe withdrawal symptoms, loss of appetite, weight loss, death from overdose.

STIMULANTS:

Cocaine, Bernice, blow, C, coke, crank, flake, freeze, snow, stardust

EFFECTS:

• Addiction, hypertension, sleeplessness, restlessness, anxiety, lung and nasal damage, intense high followed by frequent dysphoria, loss of appetite, intense psychological dependence, death from overdose

Amphetamines, crank, crystal, glass, ice, meth

EFFECTS:

• Addiction, hypertension, loss of appetite, paranoia, hallucinations, coma, convulsions, excessive irritability, nervousness, mood swings, hyperactivity, brain damage, death from overdose

HALLUCINOGENS

Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) Acid,  blue heaven

EFFECTS:

• Dilated pupils, hallucinations, illusions, mood swings, flashback, breaks from reality, emotional breakdown

Mescaline and psilocybin Buttons, cactus, magic mushrooms, TMA (a mixture of mescaline, LSD, and marijuana)

EFFECTS:

• Dilated pupils, hallucinations, illusions, mood swings, breaks from reality, emotional breakdown

Phencyclidine (PCP) Angel dust,  crystal

EFFECTS:

• Slurred speech, blurred vision, confusion, agitation, aggression, ataxia, anxiety, depression, impaired memory and perception, acute psychosis, convulsions, increased heart rate and blood pressure, death from accidents or overdose

Methylated amphetamines (“designer drugs”) Adam, China white, ecstasy, Eve, love

EFFECTS:

• Hypertensive crisis, hallucinations, nausea

MDA, X, XTC

EFFECTS:

• Confusion, sleeplessness, increased blood pressure, profuse sweating, mood elevation

INHALANTS

Dry cleaning solution, nail polish remover, gasoline, glass chillers, hair spray, insecticides, model airplane glue, nitrites (amyl and butyl), nitrous oxide, paint thinner, petroleum products, plastic cement, rubber cement, glue, laughing gas, liquid paper, sniff, whippets

EFFECTS:

• Nausea; nosebleeds; poor motor coordination; light-headedness; headache; anemia; anoxia; neuropathy; brain, liver, and bone marrow damage; drastic weight loss; high risk of sudden death; impaired vision, memory.