Drug Information
Click on the drug below for quick facts.
Marijuana
What is it?
Mind-altering psychoactive drug. Dry, shredded, green/brown mix of flowers, stems, seeds and leaves from the cannabis sativa plant. THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) is the main ingredient that produces the psychoactive effect. Addictive.
Street Names
Aunt Mary, BC Bud, Chronic, Dope, Gangster, Ganja, Grass, Hash, Herb, Joint, Mary Jane, Mota, Pot, Reefer, Sinsemilla, Skunk, Smoke, Weed, Yerba
How is it used?
Smoked as a cigarette or in pipe or bong
Smoked in blunts (cigar emptied of tobacco and filled with marijuana, and sometimes mixed with additional drugs)
Mixed with food (edibles)
Brewed as tea
How does it affect the body?
Relaxation, disinhibition, increased appetite, sedation, increased sociability
Effects memory and learning
Difficulty in thinking and problem-solving
Hallucinations
Impaired judgment, reduced coordination
Distorted perception
Decreased blood pressure, increased heart rate, dizziness, nausea, tachycardia
Confusion, anxiety, paranoia, drowsiness
Respiratory ailments
Mind-altering psychoactive drug. Dry, shredded, green/brown mix of flowers, stems, seeds and leaves from the cannabis sativa plant. THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) is the main ingredient that produces the psychoactive effect. Addictive.
Street Names
Aunt Mary, BC Bud, Chronic, Dope, Gangster, Ganja, Grass, Hash, Herb, Joint, Mary Jane, Mota, Pot, Reefer, Sinsemilla, Skunk, Smoke, Weed, Yerba
How is it used?
Smoked as a cigarette or in pipe or bong
Smoked in blunts (cigar emptied of tobacco and filled with marijuana, and sometimes mixed with additional drugs)
Mixed with food (edibles)
Brewed as tea
How does it affect the body?
Relaxation, disinhibition, increased appetite, sedation, increased sociability
Effects memory and learning
Difficulty in thinking and problem-solving
Hallucinations
Impaired judgment, reduced coordination
Distorted perception
Decreased blood pressure, increased heart rate, dizziness, nausea, tachycardia
Confusion, anxiety, paranoia, drowsiness
Respiratory ailments
Heroin
What is it?
An opiate (narcotic) drug processed from morphine and extracted from certain poppy plants. Heroin comes in a white or brownish powder, or a black sticky substance known as “black tar heroin.” Often “cut” with other drugs or substances such as sugar or powdered milk. User is unaware how much actual heroin is being used, creating likelihood of overdose.
Street Names
Big H, Black Tar, Chiva, Hell Dust, Horse, Negra, Smack, Thunder
How is it used?
Injected, smoked, or sniffed/snorted. High purity heroin is usually snorted or smoked.
How does it affect the body?
Highly addictive.
Initial surge of euphoria or “rush,” followed by a twilight state of sleep and wakefulness
Physical symptoms of use include: drowsiness, respiratory depression, constricted pupils, nausea, a warm flushing of the skin, dry mouth, and heavy extremities.
Overdose symptoms: slow and shallow breathing, blue lips and fingernails, clammy skin, convulsions, coma, and possible death.
An opiate (narcotic) drug processed from morphine and extracted from certain poppy plants. Heroin comes in a white or brownish powder, or a black sticky substance known as “black tar heroin.” Often “cut” with other drugs or substances such as sugar or powdered milk. User is unaware how much actual heroin is being used, creating likelihood of overdose.
Street Names
Big H, Black Tar, Chiva, Hell Dust, Horse, Negra, Smack, Thunder
How is it used?
Injected, smoked, or sniffed/snorted. High purity heroin is usually snorted or smoked.
How does it affect the body?
Highly addictive.
Initial surge of euphoria or “rush,” followed by a twilight state of sleep and wakefulness
Physical symptoms of use include: drowsiness, respiratory depression, constricted pupils, nausea, a warm flushing of the skin, dry mouth, and heavy extremities.
Overdose symptoms: slow and shallow breathing, blue lips and fingernails, clammy skin, convulsions, coma, and possible death.
Fentanyl
What is it?
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 80-100 times stronger than morphine. Pharmaceutical fentanyl was developed for pain management treatment of cancer patients, applied in a patch on the skin. Because of its powerful opioid properties, Fentanyl is also diverted for abuse. Fentanyl is added to heroin to increase its potency, or be disguised as highly potent heroin. Many users believe that they are purchasing heroin and actually don’t know that they are purchasing fentanyl – which often results in overdose deaths. Clandestinely-produced fentanyl is primarily manufactured in Mexico.
Street Names
Apace, China Girl, China Town, China White, Dance Fever, Goodfellas, Great Bear, He-Man, Poison and Tango & Cash
How is it used?
Clandestine fentanyl is typically injected, or inhaled like heroin.
How does it affect the body?
Intense, short-term high
Temporary feelings of euphoria
Slowed respiration and reduced blood pressure
Nausea
Fainting
Seizures
Death
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 80-100 times stronger than morphine. Pharmaceutical fentanyl was developed for pain management treatment of cancer patients, applied in a patch on the skin. Because of its powerful opioid properties, Fentanyl is also diverted for abuse. Fentanyl is added to heroin to increase its potency, or be disguised as highly potent heroin. Many users believe that they are purchasing heroin and actually don’t know that they are purchasing fentanyl – which often results in overdose deaths. Clandestinely-produced fentanyl is primarily manufactured in Mexico.
Street Names
Apace, China Girl, China Town, China White, Dance Fever, Goodfellas, Great Bear, He-Man, Poison and Tango & Cash
How is it used?
Clandestine fentanyl is typically injected, or inhaled like heroin.
How does it affect the body?
Intense, short-term high
Temporary feelings of euphoria
Slowed respiration and reduced blood pressure
Nausea
Fainting
Seizures
Death
Methamphetamine
What is it?
Stimulant that speeds up body’s system that comes as pill or powder. Available in prescription as Desoxyn® to treat obesity and ADHD. Crystal meth resembles glass fragments and is an illegally altered version of the prescription drug that is cooked with over-the-counter drugs in meth labs.
Street Names
Meth, Speed, Ice, Shards, Bikers Coffee, Stove Top, Tweak, Yaba, Trash, Chalk, Crystal, Crank, Shabu
How is it used?
Powder, pill
Smoked, snorted, injected
To intensify the effects, users may take higher doses of the drug, take it more frequently, or change their method of intake
How does it affect the body?
Highly addictive
Agitation, increased heart rate and blood pressure
Increased respiration and body temperature
Anxiety, paranoia
High doses can cause convulsions, cardiovascular collapse, stroke or death
Stimulant that speeds up body’s system that comes as pill or powder. Available in prescription as Desoxyn® to treat obesity and ADHD. Crystal meth resembles glass fragments and is an illegally altered version of the prescription drug that is cooked with over-the-counter drugs in meth labs.
Street Names
Meth, Speed, Ice, Shards, Bikers Coffee, Stove Top, Tweak, Yaba, Trash, Chalk, Crystal, Crank, Shabu
How is it used?
Powder, pill
Smoked, snorted, injected
To intensify the effects, users may take higher doses of the drug, take it more frequently, or change their method of intake
How does it affect the body?
Highly addictive
Agitation, increased heart rate and blood pressure
Increased respiration and body temperature
Anxiety, paranoia
High doses can cause convulsions, cardiovascular collapse, stroke or death
Cocaine / Crack
What is it?
White, crystalline powder derived from coca leaves. Cocaine base (crack) looks like small, irregularly shaped white rocks.
Street Names
Coca, Coke, Crack, Crank, Flake, Rock, Snow, Soda Cot
How is it used?
Snorted
Dissolved in water and injected
Crack cocaine is smoked
Cocaine users usually binge on the drug until they are exhausted or run out of cocaine.
How does it affect the body?
Smoking or injection creates an intense euphoric “rush”
Tolerance builds quickly, easy to overdose
Cardiac arrhythmias
Increased blood pressure and heart rate
Restlessness, irritability, anxiety, paranoia
Insomnia, loss of appetite
Stroke or death
Sudden cardiac arrest
Convulsion
The crash that follows a high is mental and physical exhaustion, sleep, and depression lasting several days. Following the crash, users crave cocaine again.
White, crystalline powder derived from coca leaves. Cocaine base (crack) looks like small, irregularly shaped white rocks.
Street Names
Coca, Coke, Crack, Crank, Flake, Rock, Snow, Soda Cot
How is it used?
Snorted
Dissolved in water and injected
Crack cocaine is smoked
Cocaine users usually binge on the drug until they are exhausted or run out of cocaine.
How does it affect the body?
Smoking or injection creates an intense euphoric “rush”
Tolerance builds quickly, easy to overdose
Cardiac arrhythmias
Increased blood pressure and heart rate
Restlessness, irritability, anxiety, paranoia
Insomnia, loss of appetite
Stroke or death
Sudden cardiac arrest
Convulsion
The crash that follows a high is mental and physical exhaustion, sleep, and depression lasting several days. Following the crash, users crave cocaine again.
LSD
What is it?
Very strong hallucinogen sold on streets that is odorless and colorless with high potential for abuse.
Street Names
Acid, Blotter Acid, Dots, Mellow Yellow, Window Pane
How is it used?
Added to absorbent paper such as blotter paper divided into square dosage units
Tablets or capsules
Occasionally in liquid form
How does it affect the body?
Hallucinations
Distorted perception of shape and size of objects, colors, and sounds
Acute anxiety and depression
Flashbacks days and even months after
Elevated heart rate, higher body temperature, increased blood pressure, dilated pupils
Overdose symptoms: longer, more intense episodes, psychosis and death.
Very strong hallucinogen sold on streets that is odorless and colorless with high potential for abuse.
Street Names
Acid, Blotter Acid, Dots, Mellow Yellow, Window Pane
How is it used?
Added to absorbent paper such as blotter paper divided into square dosage units
Tablets or capsules
Occasionally in liquid form
How does it affect the body?
Hallucinations
Distorted perception of shape and size of objects, colors, and sounds
Acute anxiety and depression
Flashbacks days and even months after
Elevated heart rate, higher body temperature, increased blood pressure, dilated pupils
Overdose symptoms: longer, more intense episodes, psychosis and death.
Ecstasy (MDMA) & Club Drugs
What is it?
Known as a party drug, ecstasy comes in pill or powder form; pill has a variety of logos and colors.
Street Names
Adam, Beans, Biscuit, Clarity, Disco Biscuit, E, Eve, Go, Hug Drug, Lover’s Speed, MDMA, Peace, STP, X, XTC
How is it used?
Swallowing gel capsules (Molly), pills, tablets
Powder, Crystal, liquid
Crushed or snorted
Occasionally smoked
How does it affect the body?
Increased motor activity, alertness, heart rate, blood pressure
Muscle tension, tremors, teeth clenching, nausea, sweating
Euphoria, empathy, reduced inhibition
Chills, blurred vision
Confusion, anxiety, depression, paranoia, severe dehydration
Sharp increase in body temperature (hyperthermia), which can lead to liver, kidney and cardiovascular failure and death
Known as a party drug, ecstasy comes in pill or powder form; pill has a variety of logos and colors.
Street Names
Adam, Beans, Biscuit, Clarity, Disco Biscuit, E, Eve, Go, Hug Drug, Lover’s Speed, MDMA, Peace, STP, X, XTC
How is it used?
Swallowing gel capsules (Molly), pills, tablets
Powder, Crystal, liquid
Crushed or snorted
Occasionally smoked
How does it affect the body?
Increased motor activity, alertness, heart rate, blood pressure
Muscle tension, tremors, teeth clenching, nausea, sweating
Euphoria, empathy, reduced inhibition
Chills, blurred vision
Confusion, anxiety, depression, paranoia, severe dehydration
Sharp increase in body temperature (hyperthermia), which can lead to liver, kidney and cardiovascular failure and death
Oxyodone
What is it?
Semi-synthetic opioid drug prescribed for pain as Tylox®, Percodan®, OxyContin®. Derived from the poppy plant, has high potential for abuse.
Street Names
Hillbilly Heroin, Kicker, OC, Ox, Roxy, Perc, Oxy
How is it used?
Pills and tablets chewed or swallowed
Inhaling vapors by heating tablet on foil
Crushed and sniffed or dissolved in water and injected
How does it affect the body?
Feelings of relaxation, euphoria, pain relief
Addictive
Chronic use of oxycodone with acetaminophen may cause severe liver damage
Overdose may lead to coma and possible death.
Semi-synthetic opioid drug prescribed for pain as Tylox®, Percodan®, OxyContin®. Derived from the poppy plant, has high potential for abuse.
Street Names
Hillbilly Heroin, Kicker, OC, Ox, Roxy, Perc, Oxy
How is it used?
Pills and tablets chewed or swallowed
Inhaling vapors by heating tablet on foil
Crushed and sniffed or dissolved in water and injected
How does it affect the body?
Feelings of relaxation, euphoria, pain relief
Addictive
Chronic use of oxycodone with acetaminophen may cause severe liver damage
Overdose may lead to coma and possible death.
Inhalants
What is it?
Invisible, volatile substances found in common household products, e.g., felt tip markers, spray paint, air freshener, typewriter correction fluid, butane, computer cleaners, glue. Includes more than 1,000 products that are harmful when inhaled.
Street Names
Huff, Rush, Whippets, Gluey
How is it used?
Inhaled through nose or mouth
Huffing inhalant-soaked rag stuffed in mouth
Inhaling from balloon with nitrous oxide
Sniffing or snorting the substance from a container or dispenser
Inhaling fumes from substances in a bag
How does it affect the body?
Slight stimulation, feeling less inhibition, loss of consciousness
Damages sections of brain controlling thinking, moving, seeing
Slurred speech, loss of coordination, euphoria, dizziness
Long term use may cause damage to nervous system and organs
Sudden sniffing death may occur from suffocation or asphyxiation
Invisible, volatile substances found in common household products, e.g., felt tip markers, spray paint, air freshener, typewriter correction fluid, butane, computer cleaners, glue. Includes more than 1,000 products that are harmful when inhaled.
Street Names
Huff, Rush, Whippets, Gluey
How is it used?
Inhaled through nose or mouth
Huffing inhalant-soaked rag stuffed in mouth
Inhaling from balloon with nitrous oxide
Sniffing or snorting the substance from a container or dispenser
Inhaling fumes from substances in a bag
How does it affect the body?
Slight stimulation, feeling less inhibition, loss of consciousness
Damages sections of brain controlling thinking, moving, seeing
Slurred speech, loss of coordination, euphoria, dizziness
Long term use may cause damage to nervous system and organs
Sudden sniffing death may occur from suffocation or asphyxiation
Methadone
What is it?
Synthetic opiod prescribed as Methadose® and Dolphine®. Tablet, capsule, and liquid, used for detoxification and maintenance of opioid addiction and as a pain reliever for moderate to severe pain.
Street Names
Amidone, Chocolate Chip Cookies, Fizzies, Maria, Pastora, Salvia, Street Methadone, Water
How is it used?
Swallowed as pill or liquid or injected.
How does it affect the body?
Sweating, itchy skin, or sleepiness
Addictive
Overdose effects include shallow breathing, stomach spasms, clammy skin, convulsions, weak pulse, coma, and death
Synthetic opiod prescribed as Methadose® and Dolphine®. Tablet, capsule, and liquid, used for detoxification and maintenance of opioid addiction and as a pain reliever for moderate to severe pain.
Street Names
Amidone, Chocolate Chip Cookies, Fizzies, Maria, Pastora, Salvia, Street Methadone, Water
How is it used?
Swallowed as pill or liquid or injected.
How does it affect the body?
Sweating, itchy skin, or sleepiness
Addictive
Overdose effects include shallow breathing, stomach spasms, clammy skin, convulsions, weak pulse, coma, and death
Anabolic Steroids
What is it?
Synthetically produced versions of testosterone, the male hormone used to promote muscle growth, enhance athletic performance, improve physical appearance.
Street Names
Arnolds, Gear, Gym Candy, Juice, Pumpers, Roids, Stackers, Weight Gainers
How is it used?
Injected intramuscularly
Gels, creams, transdermal patches
Tablets, sublingual-tablets and capsules
How does it affect the body?
Many effects depending on age, sex, the type, length of time used • In males: stunts growth, acne, shrinks testicles, enlarges breasts
In women, deepens voice, increases facial and body hair, acne, menstrual irregularities
Dramatic mood swings, impaired judgment, increased levels of aggression and hostility
Increased risk of heart disease, liver damage
Addiction
Synthetically produced versions of testosterone, the male hormone used to promote muscle growth, enhance athletic performance, improve physical appearance.
Street Names
Arnolds, Gear, Gym Candy, Juice, Pumpers, Roids, Stackers, Weight Gainers
How is it used?
Injected intramuscularly
Gels, creams, transdermal patches
Tablets, sublingual-tablets and capsules
How does it affect the body?
Many effects depending on age, sex, the type, length of time used • In males: stunts growth, acne, shrinks testicles, enlarges breasts
In women, deepens voice, increases facial and body hair, acne, menstrual irregularities
Dramatic mood swings, impaired judgment, increased levels of aggression and hostility
Increased risk of heart disease, liver damage
Addiction
Ketamine
What is it?
General, short-acting anesthetic with hallucinogenic effects. Sometimes used to facilitate sexual assault crimes.
Street Names
Special K, Cat Valium, Kit Kat, K, Super Acid, Super K, Purple, Special La Coke, Jet, Vitamin K
How is it used?
Injected
Liquid mixed with liquids
Powder that is snorted mixed in drinks, or smoked
How does it affect the body?
Hallucinatory effects last 30-60 minutes
Distorts sights and sounds
Induces feelings of calmness and relaxation, relief from pain
Immobility and amnesia
Body feels out of control
Agitation, depression, unconsciousness
Hallucinations
Flashbacks
General, short-acting anesthetic with hallucinogenic effects. Sometimes used to facilitate sexual assault crimes.
Street Names
Special K, Cat Valium, Kit Kat, K, Super Acid, Super K, Purple, Special La Coke, Jet, Vitamin K
How is it used?
Injected
Liquid mixed with liquids
Powder that is snorted mixed in drinks, or smoked
How does it affect the body?
Hallucinatory effects last 30-60 minutes
Distorts sights and sounds
Induces feelings of calmness and relaxation, relief from pain
Immobility and amnesia
Body feels out of control
Agitation, depression, unconsciousness
Hallucinations
Flashbacks