Types of Drugs

• Anabolic Steroids - These drugs are related to male sex hormones. They are abused to enhance athletic performance, strength or physical appearance. They may cause strange behavior, delusions, hallucinations or over-aggressiveness ("steroid rage").
• Club Drugs - These drugs are very popular in the dance-club setting and among young adults. The most well-known one is Ecstasy (MDMA), a designer amphetamine. It is a stimulant and a hallucinogen. Users describe initial anxiety and nausea, followed by relaxation and euphoria. Abuse of this drug can lead to death associated with hyperthermia (over-heating).
• Dextromethorphan - Dextromethorphan (DM) is present in over-the-counter cough medicines. It can cause a LSD-like picture (i.e., visual hallucinations, confusion, agitation and excitation). Abuse can also lead to coma and death.
• Hallucinogens (e.g., LSD, mescaline) - This group of drugs can cause visual hallucinations, perceptual alterations and a dream-like state.
• Inhalants - Vapors of various household products are inhaled by some people because of their mind-altering effects. Users may experience giddiness or euphoria. Abuse can also cause unconsciousness and rarely may cause sudden death from cardiac arrhythmias. Examples of inhalants are toluene (Glue), gasoline, butane, trichlorethane (Typewriter correction fluid), and air freshener.
• Marijuana - Marijuana is the most commonly used illegal drug. Marijuana sold on the streets today is much stronger than it was in the 1960's/1970's. Marijuana causes euphoria and in higher concentrations can be associated with paranoia, delusions, and hallucinations.
• Narcotics - Narcotics are addictive and are also referred to as opiates. Examples include heroin, morphine, codeine, pentazocine, and methadone. Narcotics cause sedation and euphoria. Overdose can cause breathing to slow or stop, coma, and death. Withdrawal from opiates is not life-threatening. However, the withdrawal symptoms are extremely uncomfortable (i.e., yawning, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle cramps)
• Sedative-Hypnotics - Abuse of these drugs can cause sedation, drowsiness and euphoria. Overdose can lead to coma and death. Examples of drugs in this group are barbiturates, benzodiazepines (e.g., Valium), and tranquilizers.
• Stimulants - Examples include cocaine, crack cocaine, amphetamine, and methamphetamine. These drugs cause hyper-alertness, stimulation, restlessness and euphoria. They can also cause stroke, coma, arrhythmias, and death.