Abused Drugs

 

Drug Abuse is strongly related to crime and crime scenes. For this reason, it is important not only knowing their existence but also their properties, toxicity, way of administration and street names.

This report is based on National Institute of Drug Abuse's chart which is presented below:

 

Substance:
Category and Name
Examples of Commercial
and Street Names
How Administered
Intoxication Effects /Potential Health Consequences
Cannabinoids euphoria, slowed thinking and reaction time, confusion, impaired balance and coordination /cough, frequent respiratory infections; impaired memory and learning; increased heart rate, anxiety; panic attacks; tolerance, addiction
hashish boom, chronic, gangster, hash, hash oil, hemp swallowed, smoked *
marijuana blunt, dope, ganja, grass, herb, joints, Mary Jane, pot, reefer, sinsemilla, skunk, weed swallowed, smoked *
Depressants reduced anxiety; feeling of well-being; lowered inhibitions; slowed pulse and breathing; lowered blood pressure; poor concentration /fatigue; confusion; impaired coordination, memory, judgment; addiction; respiratory depression and arrest, death

Also, for barbiturates—sedation, drowsiness /depression, unusual excitement, fever, irritability, poor judgment, slurred speech, dizziness, life-threatening withdrawal.

for benzodiazepines—sedation, drowsiness /dizziness

for flunitrazepam —visual and gastrointestinal disturbances, urinary retention, memory loss for the time under the drug's effects

for GHB —drowsiness, nausea/vomiting, headache, loss of consciousness, loss of reflexes, seizures, coma, death

for methaqualone—euphoria /depression, poor reflexes, slurred speech, coma
barbiturates Amytal, Nembutal, Seconal, Phenobarbital; barbs, reds, red birds, phennies, tooies, yellows, yellow jackets injected, swallowed **/***/****
benzodiazepines (other than flunitrazepam) Ativan, Halcion, Librium, Valium, Xanax; candy, downers, sleeping pills, tranks swallowed, injected ****
flunitrazepam (S.A) Rohypnol; forget-me pill, Mexican Valium, R2, Roche, roofies, roofinol, rope, rophies swallowed, snorted ****
GHB (S.A) gamma-hydroxybutyrate; G, Georgia home boy, grievous bodily harm, liquid ecstasy swallowed *
methaqualone Quaalude, Sopor, Parest; ludes, mandrex, quad, quay injected, swallowed *
Dissociative Anesthetics increased heart rate and blood pressure, impaired motor function /memory loss; numbness; nausea/vomiting

Also, for ketamine—at high doses, delirium, depression, respiratory depression and arrest

for PCP and analogs—possible decrease in blood pressure and heart rate, panic, aggression, violence /loss of appetite, depression
ketamine Ketalar SV; cat Valiums, K, Special K, vitamin K injected, snorted, smoked ***
PCP and analogs phencyclidine; angel dust, boat, hog, love boat, peace pill injected, swallowed, smoked */**
Hallucinogens altered states of perception and feeling; nausea ; persisting perception disorder (flashbacks)

Also, for LSD and mescaline—increased body temperature, heart rate, blood pressure; loss of appetite, sleeplessness, numbness, weakness, tremors

for LSD —persistent mental disorders

for psilocybin—nervousness, paranoia
LSD lysergic acid diethylamide; acid, blotter, boomers, cubes, microdot, yellow sunshines swallowed, absorbed through mouth tissues *
mescaline buttons, cactus, mesc, peyote swallowed, smoked *
psilocybin magic mushroom, purple passion, shrooms swallowed *
Opioids and Morphine Derivatives pain relief, euphoria, drowsiness /nausea, constipation, confusion, sedation, respiratory depression and arrest, tolerance, addiction, unconsciousness, coma, death

Also, for codeine—less analgesia, sedation, and respiratory depression than morphine

for heroin—staggering gait
codeine Empirin with Codeine, Fiorinal with Codeine, Robitussin A-C, Tylenol with Codeine; Captain Cody, Cody, schoolboy; (with glutethimide) doors & fours, loads, pancakes and syrup injected, swallowed **/***/****
fentanyl and fentanyl analogs Actiq, Duragesic, Sublimaze; Apache, China girl, China white, dance fever, friend, goodfella, jackpot, murder 8, TNT, Tango and Cash injected, smoked, snorted */**
heroin diacetylmorphine; brown sugar, dope, H, horse, junk, skag, skunk, smack, white horse injected, smoked, snorted *
morphine Roxanol, Duramorph; M, Miss Emma, monkey, white stuff injected, swallowed, smoked **/***
opium laudanum, paregoric; big O, black stuff, block, gum, hop swallowed, smoked **/***/*****
oxycodone HCL Oxycontin; Oxy, O.C., killer swallowed, snorted, injected **
hydrocodone bitartrate, acetaminophen Vicodin; vike, Watson-387 swallowed **
Stimulants increased heart rate, blood pressure, metabolism; feelings of exhilaration, energy, increased mental alertness /rapid or irregular heart beat; reduced appetite, weight loss, heart failure, nervousness, insomnia

Also, for amphetamine—rapid breathing / tremor, loss of coordination; irritability, anxiousness, restlessness, delirium, panic, paranoia, impulsive behavior, aggressiveness, tolerance, addiction, psychosis

for cocaine—increased temperature /chest pain, respiratory failure, nausea, abdominal pain, strokes, seizures, headaches, malnutrition, panic attacks

for MDMA—mild hallucinogenic effects, increased tactile sensitivity, empathic feelings /impaired memory and learning, hyperthermia, cardiac toxicity, renal failure, liver toxicity

for methamphetamine—aggression, violence, psychotic behavior /memory loss, cardiac and neurological damage; impaired memory and learning, tolerance, addiction

for nicotine— additional effects attributable to tobacco exposure, adverse pregnancy outcomes, chronic lung disease, cardiovascular disease, stroke, cancer, tolerance, addiction
amphetamine Biphetamine, Dexedrine; bennies, black beauties, crosses, hearts, LA turnaround, speed, truck drivers, uppers injected, swallowed, smoked, snorted **
cocaine Cocaine hydrochloride; blow, bump, C, candy, Charlie, coke, crack, flake, rock, snow, toot injected, smoked, snorted **
MDMA (methylenedioxy-
methamphetamine) 		Adam, clarity, ecstasy, Eve, lover's speed, peace, STP, X, XTC swallowed *
methamphetamine Desoxyn; chalk, crank, crystal, fire, glass, go fast, ice, meth, speed injected, swallowed, smoked, snorted **
methylphenidate (safe and effective for treatment of ADHD) Ritalin; JIF, MPH, R-ball, Skippy, the smart drug, vitamin R injected, swallowed, snorted **
nicotine cigarettes, cigars, smokeless tobacco, snuff, spit tobacco, bidis, chew not scheduled/smoked, snorted, taken in snuff and spit tobacco
Other Compounds no intoxication effects /hypertension, blood clotting and cholesterol changes, liver cysts and cancer, kidney cancer, hostility and aggression, acne; in adolescents, premature stoppage of growth; in males, prostate cancer, reduced sperm production, shrunken testicles, breast enlargement; in females, menstrual irregularities, development of beard and other masculine characteristics
anabolic steroids Anadrol, Oxandrin, Durabolin, Depo-Testosterone, Equipoise; roids, juice injected, swallowed, applied to skin ***
inhalants Solvents (paint thinners, gasoline, glues), gases (butane, propane, aerosol propellants, nitrous oxide), nitrites (isoamyl, isobutyl, cyclohexyl); laughing gas, poppers, snappers, whippets not scheduled/inhaled through nose or mouth stimulation, loss of inhibition; headache; nausea or vomiting; slurred speech, loss of motor coordination; wheezing /unconsciousness, cramps, weight loss, muscle weakness, depression, memory impairment, damage to cardiovascular and nervous systems, sudden death

Refferences:

* and ** drugs have a high potential for abuse.

* drugs are available for research only and have no approved medical use; ** drugs are available only by prescription (unrefillable) and require a form for ordering. *** and **** drugs are available by prescription, may have five refills in 6 months, and may be ordered orally. Most Schedule ***** drugs are available over the counter.

S.A drugs are related to Sexual Assaults

 

GO BACK TO MAIN MENU / GO BACK TO FORENSIC TOXICOLOGY MENU