The Clinical Effects and Symptoms of Drug Abuse
Symptoms of Drug Abuse
Compiled below are the effects of drug abuse. Each table explains how the major classes of abused drugs can be diagnosed just by looking at how these drugs are used and abused.
The drug groups listed include Amphetamines, Barbiturates, Benzodiazepines, Cannabinoids, Cocaine, Methadone, MDMA-Ecstasy, Opiates, Opioids, Phencyclidine, Propoxyphene, Club Drugs, and Hallucinogens.
For more detailed information, the Common Drugs of Abuse Quick Reference Chart has data on many types of illicit substances.
Effects and Symptoms of Drug Abuse for Alcohol.
Enjoying alcohol in moderation may not be bad for you; it has health benefits that could prolong your life. Overuse of alcohol as an escape route for social, personal, or career pressures may result in alcoholism. Abuse of alcohol or more alcohol than the body can handle can lead to liver damage.
Drug: | Alcohol, ethyl alcohol, ethyl glucuronide. |
Controlled Substance Schedule: | None. |
Trade Names: | Numerous. |
Street Names: | Liquor, beer, and wine. |
Classification: | Depressant-high, stimulant-low. |
Dependence: | High. |
Method of Abuse: | Swallowed. |
Physical Appearance: | Liquid. |
Detection Time in Urine: | Approx 3 to 80 hours. |
Clinical Effects or Symptoms: | Anxiety, euphoria, general discontent, guilt, or loneliness, nausea, vomiting, blackout, dizziness, shakiness, craving, or sweating. |
Effects and Symptoms of Drug Abuse for Amphetamines.
Amphetamines are a potent central nervous system stimulant with high abuse potential. They produce an initial euphoric state followed by restlessness, agitation, irritability, and sometimes extreme paranoia. Tolerance develops rapidly; physical dependence and psychological dependence is very high. Amphetamines are used in the treatment of obesity, attention disorder, hyperactivity, and narcolepsy. Still, because of high abuse potential, these compounds’ use is a last resort in these treatments.
Drug: | Methamphetamine, Amphetamine. |
Controlled Substance Schedule: | Schedule II. |
Trade Names: | Desoxyn, Dexedrine, Biphetamine, Adderall. |
Street Names: | Uppers, pep pills, bennies, moth, crank, speed, meth, crystal, dexies, hearts, whites, black beauties. |
Classification: | Central nervous system stimulants. |
Dependence: | Possible/high. |
Method of Abuse: | Swallowed or injected. |
Physical Appearance: | Coarse powders, crystals, “chunks,” capsules, or tablets of various sizes and colors. |
Detection Time in Urine: | Approx 24 to 48 hours. |
Clinical Effects or Symptoms: | Palpitations, tachycardia, hypertension, restlessness, dizziness, insomnia, loss of appetite, and hallucinations. |
Effects and Symptoms of Drug Abuse for Barbiturates.
There are a variety of these sedative-hypnotic drugs. However, all are derivatives of barbituric acid. Depending on the derivation, the particular drug may be long-acting, phenobarbital, or short-acting with pentobarbital. The long-acting barbiturate phenobarbital selectively reduces firing neurons’ excitability and is, therefore, an effective anticonvulsant drug. Low doses produce sedation, drowsiness, sleep, and also impaired judgment. Anesthesia is likely at high doses. Very high doses can cause stupor, convulsions, and death.
Drug: | Phenobarbital, Secobarbital, Pentobarbital, Amobarbital, Butalbital. |
Controlled Substance Schedule: | Schedule II, III, and V. |
Trade Names: | Seconal, Nembutal, Amytal, Fiorinal, Luminal, Phenobarbital. |
Street Names: | Barbs, downers, goofballs, reds, yellow jackets, blue devils. |
Classification: | Depressants/sedative-hypnotic. |
Dependence: | High/moderate. |
Method of Abuse: | Swallowed or injected. |
Physical Appearance: | Tablets, capsules, liquid (injectable), white powder. |
Detection Time in Urine: | Approx Short-acting 1 day – Long-acting 2 to 3 weeks. |
Clinical Effects or Symptoms: | Confusion, slurred speech, drowsiness, deep sleep, coma, respiratory depression. |
Effects and Symptoms of Drug Abuse for Benzodiazepines.
Among this group of drugs, the most prominent is Valium. Benzodiazepines are used therapeutically as minor tranquilizers. Doses between 2.5 and 10mg produce a calming effect. Drug addicts utilize Valium in high doses to counter the excitatory effects of other drugs or as a means of inducing tranquil states. Benzodiazepine overdose may produce drowsiness, confusion, seizures, and coma. Rarely, hypertension, respiratory depression, and cardiac arrest may occur. Chronically, physical and psychological dependence occurs. The drug’s sudden discontinuation may lead to anxiety, sweating, irritability, hallucination, diarrhea, and seizures.
Drug: | Chlordiazepoxide, Diazepam, Oxazepam, Lorazepam, Flurazepam, Clorazepate. |
Controlled Substance Schedule: | Schedule IV. |
Trade Names: | Librium, Valium, Serax, Ativan, Dalmane, Tranxene. |
Street Names: | Tranks, downers, blues, yellows. |
Classification: | Minor tranquilizers, anti-anxiety sedatives. |
Dependence: | Moderate. |
Method of Abuse: | Swallowed or injected. |
Physical Appearance: | White or pale yellow crystalline powders, tablets, capsules, liquid (injectable). |
Detection Time in Urine: | Approx 3 days (therapeutic dose). |
Clinical Effects or Symptoms: | Hypnotic, anti-anxiety, anticonvulsant, drowsiness, confusion, stupor, coma. |
Effects and Symptoms of Drug Abuse for Cannabinoids.
Marijuana consists of the dried leaves and flowering tops of the Cannabis sativa plant and is a psychoactive agent; the principal one is delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (D9-THC). The gastrointestinal tract and the respiratory system rapidly absorb this drug after oral or inhalation routes of ingestion. The drug is quickly and extensively metabolized and detected in the urine within a couple of hours and for as long as several days after use. Regular users report feelings of euphoria, hallucinations, and relaxed inhibitions.
Drug: | Marijuana, Hashish, Hashish Oil. |
Controlled Substance Schedule: | Schedule I. |
Trade Names: | N/A |
Street Names: | Grass, pot, joint, weed, ragweed, Columbian, sinsemilla, Acapulco gold, ace, hash, Lebanese blond, Nepalese fingers, black afghan. |
Classification: | Hallucinogen. |
Dependence: | Moderate. |
Method of Abuse: | Swallowed or smoked. |
Physical Appearance: | Dry crushed leaves (marijuana), hand-rolled cigarettes (joints), hard chunks of resin in various colors (hashish), dark viscous liquid (hashish oil). |
Detection Time in Urine: | Approx 1 to 2 joints – 2-3 days. Chronic use or more than five joints per day – 14 to 18 days. Oral ingestion – 1 to 5 days. |
Clinical Effects or Symptoms: | Hallucinations, euphoria, relaxed inhibitions. |
Effects and Symptoms of Drug Abuse for Cocaine.
Cocaine is a central nervous system stimulant. It usually appears in a fine crystal-like powder, although it can come in larger pieces called rocks. It may be injected, snorted, or smoked as a free base. The effects of the drug begin within minutes and peak within 15 to 20 minutes. The symptoms include dilated pupils, increased blood pressure, heart rate, breathing rate, and body temperature. The dangers of cocaine use vary depending on how the drug is used, the dose, and the individual. Some regular users report feelings of restlessness, irritability, anxiety, and sleeplessness. Even low doses of cocaine may create psychological problems. The use of high doses over prolonged periods may lead to paranoia, which includes hallucinations of touch, sight, smell, and taste.
Drug: | Cocaine. |
Controlled Substance Schedule: | Schedule II. |
Trade Names: | N/A |
Street Names: | Coke, snow, nose candy, toot, crack, Stardust, flake, white lady, blow, cola, Bolivian rock, mother of pearl. |
Classification: | Stimulant/local anesthetic. |
Dependence: | Possible/high. |
Method of Abuse: | Sniffed, swallowed, or injected. |
Physical Appearance: | Odorless, white crystalline powder with a bitter numbing taste. |
Detection Time in Urine: | Approx 2-4 days. |
Clinical Effects or Symptoms: | Euphoria, motor, and verbal hyperactivity, mood elevation, inflated self-esteem, grandiose delusions. |
Effects and Symptoms of Drug Abuse for Methadone.
Methadone is a non-bicyclic drug, which binds competitively with morphine receptors in the brain. Although it can become addictive, the effects are less the those of equivalent concentrations of heroin. Thus, the administration of methadone to heroin addicts allows them to experience the impact of heroin but in a modulated manner. A gradual lowering of the dose reduces physical dependence; however, methadone addiction can also occur.
Drug: | Methadone. |
Controlled Substance Schedule: | Schedule II. |
Trade Names: | Dolophine, Methadone. |
Street Names: | Dolly. |
Classification: | Stimulant/local anesthetic. |
Dependence: | High. |
Method of Abuse: | Swallowed or injected. |
Physical Appearance: | White crystalline powder, tablets, liquid (injectable). |
Detection Time in Urine: | Approx 3 days. |
Clinical Effects or Symptoms: | Euphoria, drowsiness. |
Effects and Symptoms of Drug Abuse for Ecstasy.
MDMA is 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine. It was initially manufactured as a weight loss product but never marketed because of its side effects. The white powder/solid comes in the form of capsules or tablets, which are accessible to counterfeit, leading to contaminated or substituted products. MDMA effects last 3 to 6 hours, and the doses are often ‘piggy-backed,’ leading to cases of severe overheating and cardiac emergencies. Depression, anxiety, disruption of sleep, and paranoia have been reported to occur days or weeks after use. Symptoms of toxicity include confusion, agitation, hallucinations, seizures, hyperpyrexia, coma, and hypertension. Large doses can cause malignant hypertension.
Drug: | MethyleneDioxyMethamphetamine (MDMA – Ecstasy). |
Controlled Substance Schedule: | Schedule II. |
Trade Names: | MDMA. |
Street Names: | Hug drug, Ecstasy, XTC, clarity, essence, Adam. |
Classification: | Stimulant/psychedelic. |
Dependence: | Possible/high. |
Method of Abuse: | Swallowed. |
Physical Appearance: | Tablets or capsules. |
Detection Time in Urine: | Approx 24 to 72 hours. |
Clinical Effects or Symptoms: | Short-term: Euphoria, Empathy, reduction of inhibition, hyperthermia. Long-term: selective and permanent brain damage, confusion, depression. |
Effects and Symptoms of Drug Abuse for Opiates.
Opiates are drugs such as heroin, codeine, and morphine, producing a very high physical and or psychological dependence by users. Users report feelings of euphoria, analgesia, drowsiness, and respiratory depression.
Drug: | Morphine, Heroin, Codeine, Hydromorphone, Hydrocodone. |
Controlled Substance Schedule: | Schedule I, II, III, V. |
Trade Names: | Morphine Sulphate, Codeine, Dilaudid, Vicodin, Lortabs. |
Street Names: | M, morp, miss Emma, smack, junk, horse, H, gum, dust, Mexican brown, china white, schoolboy juice, dillies, S’s, No. 2’s No. 4’s Percs. |
Classification: | Narcotic analgesic. |
Dependence: | Morphine-high, Heroin-high. Codeine-moderate, hydromorphone-high. |
Method of Abuse: | Swallowed or injected. |
Physical Appearance: | White, brown or black powder, liquids (injectable), tablets, capsules. |
Detection Time in Urine: | Approx 72 hours. |
Clinical Effects or Symptoms: | Euphoria, analgesia, drowsiness, respiratory depression. |
Effects and Symptoms of Drug Abuse for Phencyclidine.
Phencyclidine is almost like a drug of abuse. It is a dissociative drug. It has numerous effects on a variety of different neural pathways and hence a wide range of symptoms. Because of its actions, clinically acute manifestations vary from depression to euphoria and induce catatonia, violence, rage, and visual hallucinations. Abuse of this drug can lead to hyperventilation, tachycardia, shivering, seizures, coma, and death. PCP was brought to market in the 1950s as an anesthetic pharmaceutical drug but discontinued in 1965.
Drug: | Phencyclidine. |
Controlled Substance Schedule: | Schedule II, III. |
Trade Names: | N/A |
Street Names: | PCP, angel dust, killer weed, Supergrass, hog, peace pill. |
Classification: | Hallucinogen, a dissociative anesthetic. |
Dependence: | High. |
Method of Abuse: | Smoked, swallowed or injected. |
Physical Appearance: | Pills, powders of various colors, white crystalline powder. |
Detection Time in Urine: | Approx 2 to 8 days. |
Clinical Effects or Symptoms: | Psychedelic reaction, hallucinations, catatonia, combativeness. |
Effects and Symptoms of Drug Abuse for Propoxyphene.
Propoxyphene is an analgesic drug that has very similar pharmacologic properties to morphine. A primary cause of drug-related deaths is Propoxyphene overdose either alone or in combination with CNS depressants like barbiturates and alcohol. Toxic symptoms are similar to those seen with opiate overdoses—examples: respiratory depression, cardiac arrhythmias, seizures, pulmonary edema, and coma.
Drug: | Propoxyphene. |
Controlled Substance Schedule: | Schedule II, III, V. |
Trade Names: | Darvon, Darvocet. |
Street Names: | N/A |
Classification: | Narcotic, analgesic, opioid. |
Dependence: | High. |
Method of Abuse: | Swallowed. |
Physical Appearance: | Capsules, tablets of various sizes and colors, white powder. |
Detection Time in Urine: | Approx 6 hours to 2 days. |
Clinical Effects or Symptoms: | Analgesic, euphoria, intoxication. |
Effects and Symptoms of Drug Abuse for Club Drugs.
Club drugs are often known as date rape drugs because of their ability to sedate their victims heavily—feelings of being separate from one’s body and environment and impaired motor function.
Drug: | Flunitrazepam, GHB, Ketamine. |
Controlled Substance Schedule: | Schedule V, schedule I, schedule III. |
Trade Names: | Flunitrazepam, Rohypnol, Ketamine. |
Street Names: | Flunitrazepam: forget-me pill, Mexican Valium, R2, roach, Roche, roofies, roofinol, rope, rophies. GHB: Gamma-hydroxybutyrate: G, Georgia home boy, grievous bodily harm, liquid ecstasy, soap, scoop, goop, liquid X. |
Classification: | Tranquilizers, sedatives. |
Dependence: | High. |
Method of Abuse: | Swallowed. |
Physical Appearance: | Tablet or powder (often dissolved in alcohol). |
Detection Time in Urine: | Approx 3 to 8 hours. |
Clinical Effects or Symptoms: | Sedation; muscle relaxation; confusion; memory loss; dizziness; impaired coordination, drowsiness; nausea; a headache; disorientation; loss of coordination; memory loss. |
Effects and Symptoms of Drug Abuse for Hallucinogens.
These drugs cause altered states of perception and feeling, with hallucinations, and often have a persisting perception disorder associated with them.
Drug: | LSD – Lysergic acid diethylamide. Mescaline / Psilocybin. |
Trade Names: | N/A |
Controlled Substance Schedule: | Schedule I. |
Street Names: | LSD-acid, blotter, cubes, microdot yellow sunshine, blue heaven. Mescaline-Buttons, cactus, mesc, peyote. Psilocybin-Magic mushrooms, purple passion, shrooms, little smoke. |
Classification: | Hallucinogen. |
Dependence: | High. |
Method of Abuse: | Swallowed or injected. |
Physical Appearance: | Tablet or powder (often dissolved in alcohol). |
Detection Time in Urine: | Approx 3 to 8 hours. |
Clinical Effects or Symptoms: | Increased body temperature, heart rate, blood pressure; loss of appetite; sweating; sleeplessness; numbness, dizziness, weakness, tremors, impulsive behavior, rapid shifts in emotion, paranoia. |
Effects and Symptoms of Drug Abuse for Opioids and Opiates.
Fentanyl and Oxycodone are analgesic drugs that have very similar pharmacologic properties to morphine.
Drug: | Oxycodone/Fentanyl |
Controlled Substance Schedule: | Schedule I. |
Trade Names: | Fentanyl: Actiq, Duragesic, Sublimaze. Oxycodone: Tylox, Oxycontin, Percodan, Percocet. |
Street Names: | Fentanyl: Apache, China girl, China white, dance fever, friend, goodfella, jackpot, murder 8, TNT, Tango, and Cash. Oxycodone: Oxy, O.C., oxycontin oxycet, hillbilly, heroin, percs. |
Classification: | Narcotic, analgesic, opioid |
Dependence: | High |
Method of Abuse: | Swallowed or injected |
Physical Appearance: | Tablet or powder |
Detection Time in Urine: | Approx 3 to 18 hours |
Clinical Effects or Symptoms: | Analgesic, euphoria, intoxication |