Many drugs can alter a person’s thinking and judgment, and can lead to health risks, including addiction, drugged driving, infectious disease, and adverse effects on pregnancy. 

One of the most devastating truths about drug abuse is that it doesn’t just affect the user; it also affects their friends and their families. Relationships strain and trust can break over the course of the substance abuse.

It’s difficult to pinpoint when recreational drug use triggers an outright addiction, but the physical and psychological risks of drug use are many. It’s important to understand the underlying causes addiction — from prescription drug abuse to an attempt to self-medicate mental illness.

Drug classifications are a way to organize drugs into categories. There are many reasons to do this.

Classifying drugs by chemical similarities is useful because drugs that are chemically similar often have similar impacts and risks. An individual who is addicted to a drug is also more likely to abuse and become addicted to another drug if it is chemically similar. Also, the same treatment is often effective for chemically similar drugs. Despite these generalities, chemically similar drugs may have very different legal and medical impacts.

Many people classify drugs by how they impact the mind and body. For example, some drugs have a tendency to make a user active and energetic while others make an individual feel relaxed and calm. Many of these drug classifications have little basis in chemical similarity or legal outcomes, although there is often overlap.

Most countries have a legal classification system for drugs. These systems determine the circumstances, if any, under which that drug is legal, various requirements for that drug, and any legal penalties associated with possession, distribution, or manufacture of it. Legal classifications are generally based on the perceived medical value of a drug and its perceived risk and danger.

There is a considerable disagreement about how drugs should be classified, even among experts. This means that the same drug may be classified differently under two schemes or two systems may use categories with the same name. Due to these disagreements, it’s impossible to create a “definitive” set of drug classifications. However, some of the most common are listed below.

 

Drug Classifications Based on Chemical Makeup

Alcohol

Alcohol is the most widely abused substance across most of the world, including in the United States. Legal to some extent in all 50 states, alcohol impacts numerous body systems, which in turn causes numerous effects in users. Alcohol creates feelings of euphoria and lowers inhibitions, but it also severely impairs judgment, perception, and reaction times. Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant, but it causes the most severe long-term damage to the liver. There are many forms of alcohol, including:

• Beer
• Wine
• Liquor

Opioids

Also called opiates, opioids are either derived from the drug opium or chemicals designed to mimic it. Opioids work by interacting with neurotransmitters in the brain and blocking the signals that they are sending. This enables opioids to serve as powerful pain killers, but it also can cause feelings of intense pleasure, leading to addiction. Opioid addiction is one of the most serious problems faced by America today. Opioids are some of the most addictive of all known substances, and they are also some of the deadliest. Some of the most well-known opioids include:

• Heroin
• Fentanyl
• Oxycodone

Benzodiazepines

Benzodiazepines, or Benzos, are a class of drugs that function by interacting with the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid-A (GABA-A). Each Benzo interacts with GABA-A differently, which is why each Benzo impacts the body and mind differently. Benzos are prescribed to treat a wide variety of psychiatric and sleep conditions, but they are very commonly abused. Benzos are highly addictive, and can cause numerous medical and psychiatric problems when not used as intended. Examples of Benzos include:

• Ativan
• Valium
• Xanax

Cannabinoids

Cannabinoids are a class of drugs that are chemically similar to tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active agent in marijuana. Cannabinoids create feelings of elation, known as a high, but they also negatively impact mental and physical functioning. Cannabinoids are the most widely abused drugs after alcohol, and they are increasingly gaining legal acceptance. Although considered less addictive than other drug classifications, cannabinoids can seriously damage a person’s mental and physical health. Examples of cannabinoids include:

• Marijuana
• Hashish

Barbiturates

Barbiturates act on the central nervous system by slowing down its functioning. Barbiturates are derivatives of the chemical barbituric acid. Barbiturates were historically popular for the treatment of psychiatric and sleep disorders, and they are still used for anesthesia and treatment of a number of conditions such as epilepsy and headaches. Barbiturates are highly addictive, and they also present a very high overdose risk as they cause many body systems to shut down. Examples of barbiturates include:

• Amytal
• Luminal
• Pentobarbita

Depressants

More commonly referred to as “downers,” depressants create feelings of relaxation and tiredness. While many serve legitimate purposes in the fight against mental illness and sleep deprivation, they are very commonly abused because they may also create feelings of euphoria. Depressants are not only some of the most highly addictive drugs, but they are also some of the most highly dangerous and likely to cause overdose. Examples of depressants include:

• Alcohol
• Opiates
• Barbiturates

Stimulants

Also known as “uppers,” the primary use of stimulants is to increase energy, concentration, and wakefulness. Stimulants are said to provide a “rush.” In the short term, stimulants are believed to increase productivity and performance, while producing an excited high of pleasure. In the long term, stimulants are incredibly addictive and have a very high potential for abuse. Examples of stimulants include:

• Adderall
• Cocaine
• Meth

Hallucinogens

Hallucinogens, sometimes referred to as dissociatives, alter the user’s perception of reality, often resulting in auditory and visual hallucinations, a process known as “tripping.” Although hallucinogens are generally less addictive than other drug classifications, their immediate impacts are generally more severe and dangerous. Examples of hallucinogens include:

• LSD
• Psilocybin Mushrooms
• PCP

Inhalants

Inhalants are a vast range of chemicals that are ingested primarily by breathing them in, or huffing. Most inhalants are commonly used materials that are in no way designed to be ingested by humans. While there is incredibly variety between inhalants, most produce feelings of a high. Inhalants are less studied than most other drugs. While they tend to be less addictive than many other substances, the use of inhalants is incredibly dangerous and causes many serious health effects. Examples of commonly abused inhalants include:

• Paint thinner
• Nail polish remover
• Gasoline

Drug Classifications Based On Legal Definitions

The Federal Government passed the Controlled Substances Act in 1970 in response to the drug epidemic. This act established five drug classifications, or schedules. What schedule a drug is placed in is determined by the legitimacy and value of potential medical uses, along with the potential for abuse and the level of risk of addiction. The exception to this is international treaties. The United States must classify certain drugs in certain schedules to comply with certain diplomatic agreements, such as the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs.

Schedule V

Schedule V drugs have the fewest regulations and lowest penalties of any federal drug classification. Schedule V drugs have a legitimate accepted medical purpose, have a lower potential for abuse than Schedule IV drugs, and have a lower potential for addiction than Schedule IV drugs. Examples include:

• Lomotil
• Motofen
• Lyrica

Schedule IV

Schedule IV drugs have regulations and penalties in between those of Schedule V and Schedule III drugs. Schedule IV drugs have a legitimate accepted medical purpose, have a low potential for abuse, and have a low potential for addiction. Examples include:

• Ambien
• Darvocet
• Tramadol

Schedule III

Schedule III drugs have more regulations and harsher penalties than Schedule IV drugs and fewer regulations and less severe penalties than Schedule II drugs. Schedule III drugs have a legitimate acceptable medical purpose, have a lower abuse potential than Schedule I and II drugs, and have a moderate or low potential for addiction. Examples of Schedule III drugs include:

• Anabolic steroids
• Ketamine
• Vicodin

Schedule II

Schedule II drugs have more regulations and harsher penalties than any drug classification other than Schedule I drugs. Schedule II drugs have a legitimate accepted medical use, a high potential for abuse, and a severe dependence risk. Examples of Schedule II drugs include:

• Codeine
• Methadone
• Ritalin

Schedule I

Schedule I drugs have the most regulations and harshest penalties of any drugs. Schedule I drugs have no legitimate accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. Examples of Schedule I drugs include:

• Ecstasy
• Quaaludes
• GHB

Drugs A to Z

• A

  • A2

    (Piperazines)

  • Acid

    (LSD)

  • Aerosols

    (Glues, gases and aerosols)

  • Agaric

    (Magic mushrooms)

  • Alcohol

    (Booze / Bevvy)

    Alcoholic drinks, such as beer, wine and spirits

  • Alpha-Methyltryptamine

    (AMT)

  • Alprazolam

    (Benzodiazepines)

  • Amani

    (Magic mushrooms)

  • Amphetamine

    (Speed)

  • Amphetamine Sulphate

    (Speed)

  • Amsterdam Gold

    (Synthetic cannabinoids)

  • AMT

    (Alpha-Methyltryptamine / Amt freebase / Amt And 2-(1H-Indol-3-Yl)-1-Methyl-Ethylamine / Indopan)

    A powerful hallucinogen with some stimulant effects, sold in white and coloured powders

  • Amt And 2-(1H-Indol-3-Yl)-1-Methyl-Ethylamine

    (AMT)

  • Amt freebase

    (AMT)

  • Amyls

    (Poppers)

  • Anabolic steroids

    (Roids / Juice / Melanotan / Sildenafil +3 more)

    Tablets or injected liquid that some people take to build muscles or improve sports performance

  • Angel dust

    (PCP)

  • Annihilation

    (Synthetic cannabinoids)

  • Ayahuasca

    (DMT)

  ---

• B

  • Baccy

    (Tobacco)

  • Balloons

    (Nitrous oxide)

  • Banshee dust

    (Methylphenidate)

  • Base

    (Speed)

  • Bath Salts

    (New psychoactive substances)

  • Beans

    (Ecstasy)

  • Benzo Fury

    (Benzofuran compounds)

  • Benzodiazepines

    (Alprazolam / Benzos / Blues / Diazepam +8 more)

    IMPORTANT NOTICE: Illicit or fake benzodiazepines (often called ‘“street benzos’”) have been found to contain some very harmful substances and are causing hospitalisations and deaths in the UK. This includes tablets known as and/or marked with ‘DAN 5620’ (on one side) and ‘10’ (on the other), ‘T-20’, ‘TEM 20’, ‘Bensedin’ and ‘MSJ’, which may contain dangerously potent benzodiazepines, or other dangerous substances not for medical use.

    This page is about illicit drugs sold as benzodiazepines (also known as 'street benzos'). The NHS offers information about prescription benzodiazepines. Benzodiazepines are a type of tranquilliser used to treat anxiety, and also used as muscle relaxants.

  • Benzofuran compounds

    (WhitePearl / Benzo Fury / 6-Apdb / 6-Apb +2 more)

    Stimulants like ecstasy and amphetamines (such as speed) sold in coloured pellets, white powder or coloured capsules

  • Benzos

    (Benzodiazepines)

  • Benzylpiperazine

    (Piperazines)

  • Bevvy

    (Alcohol)

  • Bhang

    (Cannabis)

  • Billy

    (Speed)

  • Black Mamba

    (Synthetic cannabinoids)

  • Blast

    (Piperazines)

  • Blotter

    (LSD)

  • Blow

    (Cocaine)

  • Blue Cheese

    (Synthetic cannabinoids)

  • Blues

    (Benzodiazepines)

  • Bolts Extra Strength

    (Piperazines)

  • Bom-25

    (N-bomb)

  • Bombay Blue Extreme

    (Synthetic cannabinoids)

  • Bonsai

    (Phenazepam)

  • Bonsai supersleep

    (Phenazepam)

  • Booze

    (Alcohol)

  • Bounce

    (Mephedrone)

  • Brown

    (Heroin)

  • Brownies

    (Ecstasy)

  • Bubble

    (Mephedrone)

  • Bud

    (Cannabis)

  • Burst

    (Methylphenidate)

  • Butane

    (Glues, gases and aerosols)

  • Butylone

    (Cathinones)

  • BZP

    (Piperazines)

  ---

• C

  • C

    (Cocaine)

  • Cannabis

    (Weed / Skunk / Sinsemilla / Sensi +14 more)

    Cannabis can be smoked, eaten and vaped – and is the UK’s most widely-used illegal drug

  • Carfentanyl

    (Synthetic opioids)

  • Cathinones

    (Pyrovalerone / Methylone / Mdpv / Magic Crystals +3 more)

    The chemical, cathinone, is a naturally occurring stimulant drug found in the plant, khat

  • Chang

    (Cocaine)

  • Charge

    (Mephedrone)

  • Chargers

    (Nitrous oxide)

  • Charlie

    (Cocaine)

  • Chat

    (Khat)

  • Cheer

    (LSD)

  • Chicken Fever

    (PMA)

  • Chicken Yellow

    (PMA)

  • Ching

    (Cocaine)

  • Ching

    (Methylphenidate)

  • Chroming

    (Glues, gases and aerosols)

  • Ciggies

    (Tobacco)

  • Clockwork Orange

    (Synthetic cannabinoids)

  • Co-codamol

    (Codeine)

  • Cocaine

    (Blow / Coke / Crack / Charlie +14 more)

    A powerful stimulant that’s snorted as a powder (coke) or smoked from small rocks (crack)

  • Codeine

    (Syrup / Nurofen Plus/Max / Cough Syrup / Codis500 +1 more)

    A painkiller used to treat mild to moderate pain that’s available as tablets, syrup or as a liquid for injecting

  • Codis500

    (Codeine)

  • Coke

    (Cocaine)

  • Cosmic Kelly

    (Piperazines)

  • Cough Syrup

    (Codeine)

  • Cowies

    (Ecstasy)

  • Crack

    (Cocaine)

  • Crank

    (Methamphetamine)

  • Crystal

    (Ecstasy)

  • Crystal Meth

    (Methamphetamine)

  
  

  ---

• D

  • D2Pm

    (2-DPMP)

  • Desoxypipradrol

    (2-DPMP)

  • Devil's Weed

    (Synthetic cannabinoids)

  • Diamorphine

    (Opiate/Opioid painkillers)

  • Diazepam

    (Benzodiazepines)

  • Dimethocaine

    (New psychoactive substances)

  • Dimitri

    (DMT)

  • Dizzle

    (Ecstasy)

  • DMT

    (DMT / Dimitri / Ayahuasca)

    A powerful hallucinogenic drug found in several plants that can be smoked, snorted or mixed with ayahuasca

  • DMT

    (DMT)

  • Dolphins

    (Ecstasy)

  • Donkey Dust

    (Ketamine)

  • Dope

    (Cannabis)

  • Dots

    (LSD)

  • Double Stacked

    (PMA)

  • Downers

    (Benzodiazepines)

  • Dr Death

    (PMA)

  • Draw

    (Cannabis)

  • Drone

    (Mephedrone)

  • Drop

    (LSD)

  • Dusting

    (Glues, gases and aerosols)

  ---

• E

  • E

    (Ecstasy)

  • Eclipse

    (Salvia)

  • Ecsess

    (Synthetic cannabinoids)

  • Ecstasy

    (Dizzle / Xtc / Superman / Rolexs +13 more)

    A popular club drug that’s sold in pills (ecstasy) or as a powder (MDMA)

  • Energy-1

    (Naphyrone)

  • Energy1

    (Naphyrone)

  • Eric 3

    (New psychoactive substances)

  • Esp

    (Piperazines)

  • Ethylphenidate

    (Methylphenidate)

  • Etizolam

    (Benzodiazepines)

  • Euphoria

    (Piperazines)

  • Evoke

    (Methylphenidate)

  • Exodus

    (Piperazines)

  • Exodus Damnation

    (Synthetic cannabinoids)

  ---

• F

  • Fags

    (Tobacco)

  • Fake cocaine

    (Methylphenidate)

  • Fast Lane

    (Piperazines)

  • Fenazepam

    (Phenazepam)

  • Fentanyl

    (Synthetic opioids)

  • Flake

    (Cocaine)

  • Flash

    (LSD)

  • Freebase

    (Cocaine)

  • Frenzy

    (Piperazines)

  ---

• G

  • Gabapentin

    (Neurontin)

    A prescription only medicine used to treat epilepsy and neuropathic pain

  • Ganja

    (Cannabis)

  • Gas

    (Glues, gases and aerosols)

  • Gases

    (Glues, gases and aerosols)

  • Gbh

    (GHB & GBL)

  • Gbl

    (GHB & GBL)

  • Gear

    (Heroin)

  • Geebs

    (GHB & GBL)

  • GHB & GBL

    (Gbl / Gbh / Liquid Ecstasy / 1 +2 more)

    Closely related drugs with similar sedative and anaesthetic effects. When consumed, GBL is converted into GHB in the body

  • Glass

    (Methamphetamine)

  • Glue sniffing

    (Glues, gases and aerosols)

  • Glues

    (Glues, gases and aerosols)

  • Glues, gases and aerosols

    (Whippets / Volatile substances / Tooting / Solvents +11 more)

    A wide range of glues, gases and aerosols containing volatile substances, which people sniff to get high

  • Gogaine

    (Methylphenidate)

  • Grass

    (Cannabis)

  • Green

    (Ketamine)

  ---

• H

  • H

    (Heroin)

  • Happy Pills

    (Piperazines)

  • Hash

    (Cannabis)

  • Hashish

    (Cannabis)

  • Hawk

    (LSD)

  • Herb

    (Cannabis)

  • Heroin

    (Smack / Skag / Horse / H +2 more)

    A powerful opiate that’s usually sold as a white or brown powder.

  • Hippie Crack

    (Nitrous oxide)

  • Hog

    (PCP)

  • Holy sage

    (Salvia)

  • Hookah

    (Tobacco)

  • Horse

    (Heroin)

  • Hubble bubble

    (Tobacco)

  • Huffing

    (Glues, gases and aerosols)

  ---

• I

  • Ice

    (Methamphetamine)

  • Image and performance enhancing drug (IPEDs)

    (Melanotan / Sildenafil / Viagra / Smart drugs +1 more)

    Drugs that can change a person’s appearance or body weight – such as steroids, diet drugs, erectile dysfunction drugs and ‘smart drugs’

  • Indopan

    (AMT)

  • Inhalants

    (Glues, gases and aerosols)

  • Ivory wave

    (2-DPMP)

  ---

• J

  • Juice

    (Anabolic steroids)

  ---

• K

  • K

    (Ketamine)

  • Ket

    (Ketamine)

  • Ketamine

    (VitaminK / Super K / Special K / K +4 more)

    Ketamine is a hallucinogenic dissociative normally sold on the street as a grainy white powder

  • Khat

    (Quat / Qat / Qaadka / Chat)

    A leafy green plant containing stimulant drugs

  • Killer

    (PMA)

  • Kix

    (Poppers)

  ---

• L

  • L

    (LSD)

  • Laughing Gas

    (Nitrous oxide)

  • Legal E

    (Piperazines)

  • Legal X

    (Piperazines)

  • Liberties

    (Magic mushrooms)

  • Liberty Caps

    (Magic mushrooms)

  • Lightning Flash

    (LSD)

  • Linctus

    (Methadone)

  • Liquid Acid

    (LSD)

  • Liquid Ecstasy

    (GHB & GBL)

  • Liquid Gold

    (Poppers)

  • LSD

    (Window / Trips / Tripper / Tab +16 more)

    A chemical hallucinogen usually sold as small squares of paper, a liquid, or pellets (micro-dots)

  • Lucy

    (LSD)

  • Lyrica

    (Pregabalin)

  ---

  

• M

  • M-CAT

    (Mephedrone)

  • M-Smack

    (Mephedrone)

  • M1

    (Cathinones)

  • Magic Crystals

    (Cathinones)

  • Magic mushrooms

    (Shrooms / Philosopher's Stones / Mushies / Magics +4 more)

    Wild mushrooms with hallucinogenic effects

  • Magics

    (Magic mushrooms)

  • Mandy

    (Ecstasy)

  • Marijuana

    (Cannabis)

  • Mary Joy

    (Synthetic cannabinoids)

  • MC

    (Mephedrone)

  • MD

    (Ecstasy)

  • Mdat

    (New psychoactive substances)

  • MDMA

    (Ecstasy)

  • Mdpv

    (Cathinones)

  • Melanotan

    (Anabolic steroids)

  • Melanotan

    (Image and performance enhancing drug (IPEDs))

  • Meow Meow

    (Mephedrone)

  • Meph

    (Mephedrone)

  • Mephedrone

    (White Magic / Miow / Meph / Meow Meow +8 more)

    A powerful stimulant that’s often compared to drugs like cocaine and ecstasy

  • Mescaline

    (PeyoteButtons / Peyote)

    A hallucinogen that comes from button shaped seeds found in the peyote cactus

  • Meth

    (Methamphetamine)

  • Methadone

    (Physeptone / Mixture / Linctus)

    A synthetic opiate used as an alternative to heroin

  • Methamphetamine

    (Yaba / Tina And Christine / Meth / Ice +3 more)

    Part of the amphetamine family of stimulant drugs

  • Methoxetamine (MXE)

    (Roflcoptr / Rhino ket / Mxe / Moxy +3 more)

    A white powder, chemically related to dissociative anaesthetics like ketamine and PCP, with similar effects

  • Methylnaphthidate

    (Methylphenidate)

  • Methylone

    (Cathinones)

  • Methylphenidate

    (Ritalin / Propylphenidate / Posh / Nopaine +8 more)

    A stimulant and a medication used to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

  • Mexican magic mint

    (Salvia)

  • Mexxy

    (Methoxetamine (MXE))

  • Mexy

    (Methoxetamine (MXE))

  • Micro Dot

    (LSD)

  • Miow

    (Mephedrone)

  • Mitsubishi Turbo

    (PMA)

  • Mitsubishis

    (Ecstasy)

  • Mixture

    (Methadone)

  • Mket

    (Methoxetamine (MXE))

  • Molly

    (Ecstasy)

  • Monkey Dust

    (Cathinones)

  • Morphine

    (Opiate/Opioid painkillers)

  • Moxy

    (Methoxetamine (MXE))

  • Mushies

    (Magic mushrooms)

  • Mxe

    (Methoxetamine (MXE))

  ---

• N

  • N-bomb

    (SmileyPaper / Bom-25 / 2C-I-Nbome / 25I-Nbome +1 more)

    A powerful hallucinogen, similar to LSD, sold as tiny squares of paper

  • Naphyrone

    (Rave / Nrg1 / Nrg-1 / Energy1 +1 more)

    A stimulant drug closely related to the cathinone family, which includes mephedrone

  • Nemesis

    (Piperazines)

  • Neurontin

    (Gabapentin)

  • New psychoactive substances

    (PlantFood / Nps / Mdat / Eric 3 +2 more)

    Drugs containing one or more chemical substances that produce similar effects to drugs like cocaine, cannabis and ecstasy – and formerly known as 'legal highs'

  • Nitrous oxide

    (Balloons / Nos / Whippits / Laughing Gas +3 more)

    A colourless gas that people inhale, usually via a balloon

  • Nootropics

    (Anabolic steroids)

  • Nootropics

    (Image and performance enhancing drug (IPEDs))

  • Nopaine

    (Methylphenidate)

  • Nos

    (Nitrous oxide)

  • Noz

    (Nitrous oxide)

  • Nps

    (New psychoactive substances)

  • Nrg-1

    (Naphyrone)

  • Nrg1

    (Naphyrone)

  • Nurofen Plus/Max

    (Codeine)

  ---

• O

  • Opiate/Opioid painkillers

    (Morphine / Diamorphine)

    Medicines with effects similar to opium, available in a wide range of forms of various colours

  ---

  

• P

  • Paper Mushrooms

    (LSD)

  • Party Pills

    (Piperazines)

  • Paste

    (Speed)

  • PCP

    (Phencyclidine / Peace pills / Hog / Angel dust)

    An anaesthetic that can stop people feeling pain, but also cause hallucinations

  • Peace pills

    (PCP)

  • Pebbles

    (Cocaine)

  • Pep

    (Piperazines)

  • Pep Love

    (Piperazines)

  • Pep Stoned

    (Piperazines)

  • Pep Twisted

    (Piperazines)

  • Percy

    (Cocaine)

  • Petrol

    (Glues, gases and aerosols)

  • Peyote

    (Mescaline)

  • PeyoteButtons

    (Mescaline)

  • Phenazepam

    (Fenazepam / Bonsai supersleep / Bonsai)

    A powerful benzodiazepine that provides sedative effects, mainly sold either as a fine white powder or as a liquid

  • Phencyclidine

    (PCP)

  • Philosopher's Stones

    (Magic mushrooms)

  • Physeptone

    (Methadone)

  • Pills

    (Ecstasy)

  • Pink Ecstasy

    (PMA)

  • Pink Mcdonalds

    (PMA)

  • Pink Superman

    (Ecstasy)

  • Piperazines

    (The Good Stuff / Smileys / Silver Bullet / Rapture +20 more)

    A broad class of chemical compounds which mimic the effects of ecstasy

  • PlantFood

    (New psychoactive substances)

  • PMA

    (Red Mitsubishi / Pmma / Pink Mcdonalds / Pink Ecstasy +6 more)

    PMA is sometimes sold as ecstasy so people take it without knowing it. It can kill at lower doses than [ecstasy]/MDMA. It also takes longer to kick in so people may think it hasnt worked and take more which is very dangerous.

  • Pmma

    (PMA)

  • Pollen

    (Cannabis)

  • Poppers

    (TNT / Thrust / Rock Hard / Ram +3 more)

    A liquid chemical sold in a small bottle, usually sniffed

  • Posh

    (Methylphenidate)

  • Pot

    (Cannabis)

  • Pregabalin

    (Lyrica)

    A prescription only medicine used to treat epilepsy, neuropathic pain and anxiety.

  • Propylphenidate

    (Methylphenidate)

  • Puff

    (Cannabis)

  • Purple wave

    (2-DPMP)

  • Pyrovalerone

    (Cathinones)

  ---

• Q

  • Qaadka

    (Khat)

  • Qat

    (Khat)

  • Quat

    (Khat)

  ---

• R

  • Rainbows

    (LSD)

  • Ram

    (Poppers)

  • Rapture

    (Piperazines)

  • Rave

    (Naphyrone)

  • Red Mitsubishi

    (PMA)

  • Resin

    (Cannabis)

  • Rhino ket

    (Methoxetamine (MXE))

  • Ritalin

    (Methylphenidate)

  • Rock Hard

    (Poppers)

  • Rocks

    (Cocaine)

  • Roflcoptr

    (Methoxetamine (MXE))

  • Rohypnol

    (Benzodiazepines)

  • Roids

    (Anabolic steroids)

  • Rolexs

    (Ecstasy)

  • Roll-ups

    (Tobacco)

  • Rollies

    (Tobacco)

  • Roofies

    (Benzodiazepines)

  ---

  

• S

  • Salvia

    (Mexican magic mint / Holy sage / Eclipse)

    A Mexican plant with leaves containing psychoactive chemicals that produce hallucinations when chewed or smoked

  • Sensi

    (Cannabis)

  • Seventh-Heaven

    (2C)

  • Shisha

    (Tobacco)

  • Shrooms

    (Magic mushrooms)

  • Sildenafil

    (Anabolic steroids)

  • Sildenafil

    (Image and performance enhancing drug (IPEDs))

  • Silver Bullet

    (Piperazines)

  • Sinsemilla

    (Cannabis)

  • Skag

    (Heroin)

  • Skunk

    (Cannabis)

  • Smack

    (Heroin)

  • Smart drugs

    (Anabolic steroids)

  • Smart drugs

    (Image and performance enhancing drug (IPEDs))

  • SmileyPaper

    (N-bomb)

  • Smileys

    (Piperazines)

  • Smilies

    (LSD)

  • Smokes

    (Tobacco)

  • Sniff

    (Cocaine)

  • Snow

    (Cocaine)

  • Solvents

    (Glues, gases and aerosols)

  • Special K

    (Ketamine)

  • Speed

    (Whizz / Sulph / Paste / Billy +3 more)

    A powerful stimulant that keeps people alert, usually sold as an off-white or pinkish powder – that sometimes look like small crystals

  • Spice

    (Synthetic cannabinoids)

  • Stars

    (LSD)

  • Stones

    (Cocaine)

  • Sulph

    (Speed)

  • Super K

    (Ketamine)

  • Superman

    (Ecstasy)

  • Synthetic cannabinoids

    (X / Tai High Hawaiian Haze / Spice / Mary Joy +9 more)

    Chemicals designed to act like the main psychoactive chemical in cannabis

  • Synthetic opioids

    (Fentanyl / Carfentanyl)

    Man-made drugs that mimic the effects of natural opioids (such as opium or heroin). Most synthetic opioids are class A drugs which means they're illegal to have for yourself, give away or sell.

  • Syrup

    (Codeine)

  ---

• T

  • T-7

    (2C)

  • Tab

    (LSD)

  • Tai High Hawaiian Haze

    (Synthetic cannabinoids)

  • Temazepam

    (Benzodiazepines)

  • The Good Stuff

    (Piperazines)

  • Thrust

    (Poppers)

  • Tina And Christine

    (Methamphetamine)

  • TNT

    (Poppers)

  • Tobacco

    (Smokes / Fags / Ciggies / Rollies +5 more)

    Tobacco is found in cigarettes which are smoked and shisha which is smoked through a waterpipe (hookah). Tobacco contains the addictive substance nicotine.

  • Toot

    (Cocaine)

  • Tooting

    (Glues, gases and aerosols)

  • Tramadol

    (Ultram / Tramal)

    A prescription painkiller that people can get addicted to and abuse

  • Tramal

    (Tramadol)

  • Tripper

    (LSD)

  • Trips

    (LSD)

  • Tripstacy

    (2C)

  • Tryptamines

    A family of drugs that share a similar chemical structure and can produce hallucinations

    These drugs appear to be no longer widely used

  ---

• U

  • Ultram

    (Tramadol)

  ---

• V

  • Valium

    (Benzodiazepines)

  • Vallies

    (Benzodiazepines)

  • VanillaSky

    (2-DPMP)

  • Viagra

    (Anabolic steroids)

  • Viagra

    (Image and performance enhancing drug (IPEDs))

  • VitaminK

    (Ketamine)

  • Volatile substances

    (Glues, gases and aerosols)

  ---

• W

  • Wash

    (Cocaine)

  • Weed

    (Cannabis)

  • Whippets

    (Glues, gases and aerosols)

  • Whippits

    (Nitrous oxide)

  • White

    (Cocaine)

  • White Magic

    (Mephedrone)

  • WhitePearl

    (Benzofuran compounds)

  • Whizz

    (Speed)

  • Window

    (LSD)

  • Wonk

    (Ketamine)

  

  ---

• X

  • X

    (Synthetic cannabinoids)

  • Xanax

    (Benzodiazepines)

  • Xtc

    (Ecstasy)

  ---

• Y

  • Yaba

    (Methamphetamine)

  ---

• 1

  • 1

    (GHB & GBL)

  ---

• 2

  • 2-CB

    (2C)

  • 2-CE

    (2C)

  • 2-CI

    (2C)

  • 2-CP

    (2C)

  • 2-CT

    (2C)

  • 2-Diphenylmethylpyrrolidine

    (2-DPMP)

  • 2-DPMP

    (VanillaSky / Purple wave / Ivory wave / Desoxypipradrol +2 more)

    A powerful stimulant that has amphetamine-like stimulant effects similar to speed

    This drug appears to be no longer widely used

  • 25I

    (N-bomb)

  • 25I-Nbome

    (N-bomb)

  • 2C

    (2-CP / 2-CT / 2-CI / 2-CE +5 more)

    2C drugs – such as 2CB, 2CI and 2CE – have hallucinogenic and stimulant effects

  • 2C-I-Nbome

    (N-bomb)

  ---

• 4

  • 4-Bd

    (GHB & GBL)

  • 4-MMC

    (Mephedrone)

  ---

• 5

  • 5-Apb

    (Benzofuran compounds)

  • 5-Apdb

    (Benzofuran compounds)

  • 5-IT

    (6-it)

    A relatively new type of stimulant sold as light brown or brown powder, tablets and in capsules of various colours

    This drug appears to be no longer widely used

• 6

  • 6-Apb

    (Benzofuran compounds)

  • 6-Apdb

    (Benzofuran compounds)

  • 6-it

    (5-IT)

  ---

• 7

  • 7-UP

    (2C)