How to Identify Common
Drugs of Abuse

The table below references the most common drugs of abuse. The table lists the Drug class, Prescription Drug name, and Street name or slang term. The table includes the Schedule as dictated by the DEA, the method of ingestion, how addictive it is, the metabolite of each drug after ingestion, and the period of time a drug can be detected in urine and oral saliva.

These common drugs of abuse reference tables are very useful for anyone who wants to know more about abuse. Parents and employers should use this as an educational guide. It is a useful guide to help identify drugs of abuse, the effects, how they are abused, etc. Note, some detection times are for lab tests only.

Quick Reference Drugs of Abuse Table

Drug	Drug name	Street name	Schedule	Method	Addiction	Metabolite	Detection time: urine	Detection time: oral fluid
Alcohol	N/A	Booze	None	Oral	Low-to-high risk of physical or psychological dependence.	Alcohol, Ethyl glucuronide (EtG), Ethyl sulfate (EtS)	Alcohol: 1-2 days Blood alcohol decreases .02 mg% per hour EtG/EtS: up to 80 hours	6-24 hours

Drug	Drug name	Street name	Schedule	Method	Addiction	Metabolite	Detection time: urine	Detection time: oral fluid
Opiates
Codeine	Tylenol® #3	Schoolboy	II or III	Oral	Moderate-to-low risk of physical or psychological dependence.	Codeine, Morphine	1-3 days	1-2 days
Hydrocodone	Lorcet®, Lortab®, Hycodan®, Norco®, Vicodin®, Vicoprofen®	Hydros, Dones, Vics, Itchies	II or III	Oral	Moderate potential of physical or psychological dependence.	Hydrocodone, Hydromorphone, Norhydrocodone	1-3 days	1-2 days
Hydromorphone	Dilaudid®, Hymorphan®	Juice, Dillies, M2s, Hospital heroin	II	Oral	Moderate-to-high risk of physical or psychological dependence.	Hydromorphone	1-3 days	1-2 days
Morphine	Avinza®, Kadian®, MS Contin®, MSIR®, Roxanol®, Embeda®	M, Morph	II	Smoking; Oral	High potential for physical or psychological dependence.	Morphine	1-3 days	1-2 days
Oxycodone	Tylox®, Percocet®, Percodan®, OxyContin®, OxyIR®, Roxicodone®	Oxy-cofﬁns, Killers, Percs	II	Oral	Moderate-to-high risk of physical or psychological dependence.	Oxycodone, Oxymorphone, Roxycodone	1-3 days	1-2 days
Oxymorphone	Opana ER®, Opana IR®, Numorphan®	Blues, Nu-blues, Biscuits, Blue heaven	II	Intravenous; Oral	High risk of physical or psychological dependence.	Oxymorphone	1-3 days	1-2 days

Drug	Drug name	Street name	Schedule	Method	Addiction	Metabolite	Detection time: urine	Detection time: oral fluid
Opioids
Buprenorphine	Suboxone®, Subutex®, Buprenex®, Butrans®	N/A	III	Sublingual	Risk of physical and psychological dependence with prolonged use.	Buprenorphine, Norbuprenorphine	3-5+ days	1-2+ days
Fentanyl	Actiq®, Fentora®, Onsolis®, Duragesic®, Sublimaze®	N/A	II	Oral	Moderate-to-high risk of physical or psychological dependence.	Fentanyl, Norfentanyl	1-4 days	1-3 days
Meperidine	Demerol®	Demmies, Painkiller	II	Oral	Due to rapid onset, meperidine is more likely to be abused than other prescription opioids.	Meperidine, Normeperidine	1-3 days	1-2 days
Methadone	Methodose®, Dolophine®	Dollies, Meth	II	Oral	According to some physicians, methadone causes less of a euphoric high.	Methadone, EDDP	1-7 days	1-2 days
Pentazocine	Talwin®	T’s	III	Oral	Moderate-to-low physical dependence risk. May have risk of psychological dependence.	Pentazocine	1-3 days	1-2 days
Propoxyphene	Darvocet®, Darvon®	Painkiller	IV	Oral	Risk of limited physical or psychological dependence with prolonged use.	Norpropoxyphene, Propoxyphene	1-7 days	1-2 days
Tapentadol	Nucynta®	N/A	II	Oral	High risk of physical or psychological dependence.	Tapentadol, Desmethyltapentadol	1-3 days	1-2 days
Tramadol	Ryzolt®, Ultracet®, Ultram®	N/A	IV	Oral	Risk of limited physical or psychological dependence with prolonged use.	Tramadol, O-desmethyltramadol	1-3 days	1-2 days

Drug	Drug name	Street name	Schedule	Method	Addiction	Metabolite	Detection time: urine	Detection time: oral fluid
Stimulants
Amphetamine	Adderall®, Benzedrine®, Dexedrine®	Aimies, Back dex, Bennies, Black beauties, Brain pills, Bumblebees, Dartwheels, Dexies, Marathons, Pep pills, Pixies, Road dope, Speed, Truck drivers, Uppers	II	Oral	Risk of limited physical or psychological dependence with prolonged use.	Amphetamine	2-4+ days	1-3 days
Methylphenidate	Ritalin®, Concerta®, Methylin®, Provigil®	N/A	II	Oral	High risk of physical or psychological dependence.	Methylphenidate, Ritalinic acid	2-4 days	1-2 days
Nicotine	Nicorette®, Nicoderm®	N/A	None	Smoking; Oral	High potential for physical or psychological dependence.	Cotinine, 3-OH-cotinine	2-4 days	2-4 days

Drug	Drug name	Street name	Schedule	Method	Addiction	Metabolite	Detection time: urine	Detection time: oral fluid
Benzodiazepines
Alprazolam	Xanax®, Niravam®, Xanor®	Downs, Nerve pills, Tranks	IV	Oral	Risk of limited physical or psychological dependence with prolonged use.	Alprazolam, α-hydroxy alprazolam	2-8 days	1-2 days
Chlordiazepoxide	Angirex®, Elenium®, Klopoxid®, Librax®, Libritabs®, Librium®, Mesural®, Mul-tum®, Novapam®, Risolid®, Silibrin®, Sonimen®, Tropium®	Downs, Nerve pills, Tranks	IV	Oral	Risk of limited physical or psychological dependence with prolonged use.	Nordiazepam, Oxazepam	1-7 days	1-2 days
Clonazepam	Klonopin®	Downs, Nerve pills, Tranks	IV	Oral	Risk of limited physical or psychological dependence with prolonged use.	Clonazepam, 7-amino clonazepam	3-14 days	1-2 days
Clorazepate	Tranxene®, Novo-Clopate®	Downs, Nerve pills, Tranks	IV	Oral	Risk of limited physical or psychological dependence with prolonged use.	Nordiazepam, Oxazepam	1-7 days	1-2 days
Diazepam	Valium®	Downs, Nerve pills, Tranks	IV	Oral	Risk of limited physical or psychological dependence with prolonged use.	Diazepam, Temazepam, Nordiazepam, Oxazepam	3-14 days	1-2 days
Flurazepam	Dalmane®, Dalmadorm®	Downs, Nerve pills, Tranks	IV	Oral	Risk of limited physical or psychological dependence with prolonged use.	N1-desalkyl-ﬂurazepam, hydroxyethyl-ﬂurazepam	1-3 days	1-2 days
Lorazepam	Ativan® Lorax®, Emotavil®	Downs, Nerve pills, Tranks	IV	Oral	Risk of limited physical or psychological dependence with prolonged use.	Lorazepam	2-5 days	1-2 days
Midazolam	Versed, Dormicum, Hypnovel®	Downs, Nerve pills, Tranks	IV	Oral	Risk of limited physical or psychological dependence with prolonged use.	α-Hydroxymidazolam	1-3 days	1-2 days
Oxazepam	Murelax®, Serax®, Serepax®, Alepam®, Adumbran®	Downs, Nerve pills, Tranks	IV	Oral	Risk of limited physical or psychological dependence with prolonged use.	Oxazepam	1-3 days 4-6 weeks Chronic use*	1-2 days
Temazepam	Restoril®, Tenox®, Euhypnos®	King Kong pills, jellies, jelly, Edinburgh eccies, tams, terms, mazzies, temazies, tammies, temmies, beans, eggs, green eggs, wobbly eggs, knockouts, hardball, norries, oranges, rugby balls, ruggers, terminators, red and blue, no-gos, blackout, green devils, drunk pills, brainwash, mind erasers, tem-tems, mommy’s big helper, vitamin T, bit T, TZ	IV	Oral	Risk of limited physical or psychological dependence with prolonged use.	Temazepam, Oxazepam	1-4 days	1-2 days

Drug	Drug name	Street name	Schedule	Method	Addiction	Metabolite	Detection time: urine	Detection time: oral fluid
Muscle Relaxants
Carisoprodol	Soma®, Soprodal®	Dance, DS, Las Vegas cocktail, Soma coma, Wallace 200s	IV	Oral	Risk of limited physical or psychological dependence with prolonged use.	Carisoprodol, Meprobamate	2-5 days	1-2 days
Meprobamate	Miltown®, Equanil®, Meprospan®	Dance, DS, Las Vegas cocktail, Soma coma, Wallace 200s	IV	Oral	Risk of limited physical or psychological dependence with prolonged use.	Meprobamate	2-5 days	2-3 days

Drug	Drug name	Street name	Schedule	Method	Addiction	Metabolite	Detection time: urine	Detection time: oral fluid
Barbiturates
Amobarbital	Amytal®	Yellow jackets, Angels, Downers, Red birds, Phennies, Yellows, Tootsies	III	Oral	Risk of physical and psychological dependence with prolonged use.	Amobarbital	3-10 days	1-2 days
Butabarbital	Butisol®, Butibel®	Yellow jackets, Angels, Downers, Red birds, Phennies, Yellows, Tootsies	III	Oral	Risk of physical and psychological dependence with prolonged use.	Butabarbital	1 day–3 weeks	1-2 days
Butalbital	Fiorinal®, Fioricet®	Yellow jackets, Angels, Downers, Red birds, Phennies, Yellows, Tootsies	III	Oral	Risk of physical and psychological dependence with prolonged use.	Butalbital	3-10 days	1-2 days
Pentobarbital	Nembutal®	Yellow jackets, Angels, Downers, Red birds, Phennies, Yellows, Tootsies	III	Oral	Risk of physical and psychological dependence with prolonged use.	Pentobarbital	3-10 days	1-2 days
Phenobarbital	Belladonna®, Luminal®	Yellow jackets, Angels, Downers, Red birds, Phennies, Yellows, Tootsies	III	Oral	Risk of physical and psychological dependence with prolonged use.	Phenobarbital	1 day–4 weeks	1-2 days
Secobarbital	Seconal®	Yellow jackets, Angels, Downers, Red birds, Phennies, Yellows, Tootsies, Barbs, reds	III	Oral	Risk of physical and psychological dependence with prolonged use.	Secobarbital	3-10 days	1-2 days

Drug	Drug name	Street name	Schedule	Method	Addiction	Metabolite	Detection time: urine	Detection time: oral fluid
Tricyclic Antidepressants
Amitriptyline	Elavil®, Endep®	N/A	None	Oral	Little to no risk of physical or psychological dependence.	Amitriptyline, Nortriptyline	2-14 days	1-2 days
Desipramine	Norpramin®	N/A	None	Oral	Little to no risk of physical or psychological dependence.	Desipramine	3-15 days	1-2 days
Doxepin	Sinaquan®, Adapin®	N/A	None	Oral	Little to no risk of physical or psychological dependence.	Doxepin, Desmethyldoxepin	2-8 days	1-2 days
Imipramine	Tofranil®, Tofranil-PM (desipramine metabolite)	N/A	None	Oral	Little to no risk of physical or psychological dependence.	Imipramine, Desipramine	1-6 days	1-2 days
Maprotiline	Ludiomil®, Deprilept®, Psymion®	N/A	None	Oral	Little to no risk of physical or psychological dependence.	Maprotiline	7-10 days	1-2 days
Nortriptyline	Pamelor®, Aventyl® (amitriptyline metabolite)	N/A	None	Oral	Little to no risk of physical or psychological dependence.	Nortriptyline, Hydroxynortriptyline	4-21+ days	1-2 days

Drug	Drug name	Street name	Schedule	Method	Addiction	Metabolite	Detection time: urine	Detection time: oral fluid
Neuropathic
Gabapentin	Neurontin®	N/A	V	Oral	Abuse may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence.	Gabapentin	1-3 days	1-2 days
Pregabalin	Lyrica®	Lycia	V	Ora	Abuse may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence.	Pregabalin	1-3 days	1-2 day

Drug	Drug name	Street name	Schedule	Method	Addiction	Metabolite	Detection time: urine	Detection time: oral fluid
Sedatives
Methaqualone	Quaalude	Ludes	IV	Oral	Risk of limited physical or psychological dependence with prolonged use.	Methaqualone	2-4 days	No data
Zaleplon	Sonata®, Starnoc®	N/A	IV	Oral	Risk of limited physical or psychological dependence with prolonged use.	Zaleplon	2-4 days	No data
Zolpidem	Ambien®, Stilnox®, Sublinox®	A-minus, Zombie pills, No-go pills	IV	Oral	Risk of limited physical or psychological dependence with prolonged use.	Zolpidem, Carboxyzolpidem	1-2 days	1-2 days
Zopiclone	Imovane®	Zimmers, Zimmies, Zim-zims, Zoppies	IV	Oral	Risk of limited physical or psychological dependence with prolonged use.	Zopiclone	1-2.5 days	No data

Drug	Drug name	Street name	Schedule	Method	Addiction	Metabolite	Detection time: urine	Detection time: oral fluid
Illicit drugs
Cathinones	Bath salts, or veiled as ecstasy	N/A	I	Oral	High potential for abuse and physical or psychological dependence.	MDPV, Pyrovalerone, 3-ﬂuoro-methcathinone, Butylone, Ethylone, MDAI, Methylone, Naphyrone, Buphedrone, Mephedrone, Methe-drone, Eutylone, PVP	2-3 days	1-2 days
Cocaine	N/A	Aunt nora, barbs, blow, coke, dream, foo-foo dust, her, king’s habit, Peruvian lady, snow, stardust, witch, zip	II	Topical; Oral	High risk of physical or psychological dependence.	Benzoylecgonine	1-7 days	1-2 days
Dextromethorphan	N/A	Dex, DXM, robo, skittles, syrup, triple-c, vitamin D, tussin	None	Oral	Low potential for physical or psychological dependence.	Dextromethorphan	24 hours	N/A
Heroin	N/A	Dragon, dope, hera, H, big H, white, China white, white nurse, white lady, white horse, boy, black tar, black pearl, black stuff, black eagle, brown crystal, brown sugar, brown tape, brown rhine, Mexican brown, Mexican mud, Mexican horse, junk, tar, snowball, snow, white boy, smack, scag, scat, sack, skunk, number 3, 4, 8	I	Inhalation; Oral	High potential for physical or psychological dependence.	6-MAM, Morphine, Codeine	6-MAM- 6-8 hours 1-3 days	8 hours
Ketamine	Ketanest®, Ketaset®, Ketalar®	K, ket, special K, vitamin K, vit K, kit kat, keller, kelly’s day, green, blind squid, cat valium, purple, special la coke, super acid, super C	III	Oral	Moderate risk of physical or psychological dependence.	Ketamine, Norketamine	2-4 days	No data
Kratom	Mitragyna speciosa	Krathom, Biak-biak, Cratom, Mitragyne, Gratom	None	Smoking; chewing	Abuse risk debated.	7-hydroxymitragynine	No data	No data
Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD)	N/A	LSD, acid	I	Oral	High potential of abuse despite low addiction potential.	N-Desmethyl-LSD, hydroxy- LSD, 2-oxo-LSD, 2-oxo-3-hydroxy-LSD	1.5-5 days	1-2 days
Marijuana (THC)	Marinol®, Marijuana, Pot, Reefer	Weed, pot, reefer, grass, dope, ganja, mary jane, hash, herb, aunt mary, skunk, boom, chronic, cheeba, blunt, ashes, baby bhang, bammy, blanket, bomber, boom, broccoli, cripple, dagga, dinkie dow, ding, dona juana, ﬂower, ﬂower tops, gasper, giggle smoke, good giggles, good butt, hot stick, jay, jolly green, joy smoke, joy stick, roach	I	Smoking; Oral	High risk of physical or psychological dependence.	11-OH-THC, 11-nor-9-carboxy-THC (plus more than 100 possible others)	Single use: 3 days; moderate use: 5-7 days; daily use: 10-15 days; long term: >30 days	24+ hours
Methylenedioxy-methamphet-amine (MDMA)	Ecstasy	X, E, XTC, adam, beans, candy, dancing shoes, disco biscuits, doves, e-bombs, egg rolls, happy pill, hug drug, love drug, macolm, scooby snacks, smartees, sweets, skittles, thizz, vitamin E, vitamin X, vowels	I	Oral	High potential for abuse despite low physical addiction potential.	MDMA, MDA	1-3 days	1-2 days
Methamphetamine	Methadrine, Desoxyn®, Desfedrin®, Ampedroxyn®	&Crystal meth, crystal, meth, christina, tina, cris, cristy, ice, crank, speed, geep, geeter, getgo, go fast, poor man’s coke, redneck cocaine, working man’s cocaine, trash, garbage, wash	II	Oral	High potential for abuse and physical or psychological dependence.	Methamphetamine, Amphetamine	1-4+ days	1-3 days
Methylene-dioxy-amphetamine (MDA)	N/A	MDA, Love drug	I	Oral	High potential for abuse despite low physical addiction potential.	MDA	1-3 days	1-2 days
Phencyclidine	PCP	Hog, Angel dust, Loveboat, Lovely	II	Smoking; Oral	High risk of abuse and physical dependence.	PCP	2-30 days	1-2 days
Piperazines	“Bath salts,” or veiled as ecstasy	N/A	I	Oral	High potential for abuse and physical or psychological dependence.	meta-Chlorophenylpiperazine (mCPP), 3-triﬂuoromethylphenylpi-perazine (TFMPP), Benzylpiperazine (BZP)	2-3 days	1-2 days
Synthetic cannabinoids	K2, Spice	K2, Spice, Synthetic marijuana, Fake pot	I	Smoking, infusion	High risk of abuse.	AKB-48, AM-1248, AM-2201, AM-694, JWH-018, JWH-019, JWH-073, JWH-081, JWH-122, JWH-200, JWH-203, JWH-210, JWH-250, JWH-398, MAM-2201, RCS-4, RCS-8, UR-144, XLR-11	1-3 days (single dose only)	12-48 hours

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