Commonly Abused Drugs

Street or other
name

Signs/Symptoms Intoxication

Signs/Symptoms
Withdrawal

Nursing considerations

Found in liquor,
beer and wine

Alcohol poisoning = large amounts of

alcohol consumed quickly over time
Low doses: Euphoria, mild stimulation,
relaxation, lowered inhibitions
High doses: drowsiness, slurred speech,
nausea, emotional volatility, loss of
coordination, visual distortions, impaired
memory, sexual dysfunction, LOC

- Signs develop within a

few hours after cessation
- Peaks at 24-48 hrs
Alcohol delirium
=EMERGENCY!!! ; can
result in death
(See pg. 421)

Legal for adults

Naltrexone (ReVia)
= Reduces or eliminates alcohol craving
Acamprosate (Campral)= Helps client
abstain from alcohol
Topiramate (Topamax) = Works to decrease
alcohol cravings
Disulfiram (Antabuse)
= Alcohol-disulfiram reaction causes
unpleasant physical eects

Marijuana

Blunt, dope, ganja,

grass, herb, joint,
bud, Mary Jane,
pot, reefer, green,
trees, smoke,
sinsimella, skunk,
weed

Euphoria: relaxation; slowed reaction

time; distorted sensory perception;
impaired balance and coordination;
increased HR and appetite; impaired
learning, memory; anxiety; panic attacks;
psychosis/cough

Hashhish

Boom, ganster,
hash, hash oil,
hemp

Frequenty respiratory infections;

possible mental decline; addiction

Drug

Alcohol

Cannabinoids

DEA status Schedule I. Medical

Marijuana in many states. CO and
WA decriminalized for small
amounts.

Drug

Street or other name

Signs/Symptoms Intoxication

Heroin

Diacetylmorphine: smack,
horse, brown sugar, dope,
H., junk, skag, skunk,
white horse, Chine white;
cheese

Euphoria; drowsiness; impaired

coordination; dizziness; confusion;
nausea; sedation; feeling of
heaviness in the body; slowed or
arrested breathing

Opium

Landanum, paregoric; big Constipation, endocarditis;

O, black stu, block, gum, hepatitis; HIV; addiction; fatal
hop
overdose

Signs/Symptoms
Nursing considerations
Withdrawal

Opioids

Morphine

Codeine

Fentanyl

Meperidine

Others

Pharm: Naltrexone hydrochloride (Trexan)

Drug

Street or other name

Signs/Symptoms Intoxication

Signs/Symptoms
Withdrawal

Central Nervous System Stimulants

Cocaine

Cocaine hydrochloride;
blow, bump, C, candy,
Charlie, coke, crack,
flake, rock, snow, toot

Amphetamine

Biphetamine, Dexedrine:
bennies, black beauties,
crosses, hearts, LA
turnaround, speed, truck
drivers, upppers

Methamphetamine

Desoxyn: meth, ice,

For cocaine: nasal damage from snorting
crank, chalk, crystal, fire,
For meth: severe dental problems
glass, go fast, speed

Increased: HR, BP, temperature,

metabolism; feelings of exhilaration;
increased energy, mental alertness,
tremors; reduced appetite; irritability;
anxiety; panic;l paranoia; violent
behavior; psychosis

Hallucinogens
Lysergic acid
diethylamide (LSD)

Mescaline

Psilocybin

Lyseric acid diethylamide:

acid, blotter, cubes,
Altered states of perception and feeling,
microdot, yellow
hallucinations: nausea: increased body
sunshine, blue heaven
temperature, HR, BP, loss of appetite;
sweating; sleeplessness; numbness;
dizziness; weakness; tremors; impulsive
Buttons, cactus, mec,
behavior; rapid shifts in emotion
peyote

Magic mushrooms,
Altered states of perception and feeling,
purple passion, shrooms, hallucinations: nausea; nervousness;
little smoke
paranoia; panic

Flashbacks,
Hallucinogen
Persisting Perception
Disorder

Nursing considerations

Drug

Street or other name

Signs/Symptoms Intoxication

Signs/Symptoms
Withdrawal

Feelings of being separate from ones

body and environment; impaired motor
function; analgesia; psychosis;
aggression; violence; slurred speech;
loss of coordinationl hallucination
Feelings of being separate from ones
body and environment; impaired motor
function; analgesia; impaired memory;
delirium; respiratory depression and
arrest; death

Anxiety, tremors,
numbness, memory
loss, nausea

Mild hallucinogenic eects; increased

tactile sensitivity, empathic feelings;
lowered inhibition; anxiety; chills;
sweating; teeth clenching; muscle
cramping

Sleep disturbances,
depression, impaired
memory, hyperthermia,
addiction

Nursing considerations

Dissociative Drugs
Phencyclidine
piperidine (PCP)

Ketamine

Phencycylidine: angel
dust, boat, hog, love
boat, peace pill

Ketalar SV: cat Valiumm

Special K, vitamin K

Club Drugs
MDMA

Ecstatsy, Adam, clarity,

Eve, lovers speed
peace, uppers

Rohypnol: forget-me pill,

Sedation; muscule relaxation;
Mexican Valium, R2,
confusion; memory loss; dizziness;
roach, Roche, roofies,
impaired coordination
roofinol, rope, rophies
Gamma-hydroxbutyrate:
G, Georgia home boy,
Drowsiness; nausea; headache;
GHB
grievous bodily harm,
disorientation; loss of coordination;
liquid ecstasy, soap,
memory loss
scoop, goop, liquid X
Sedatives, hypnotics and anxiolytics = TREATMENT
Flunitrazepam/
Rohypnol

Benzodiazepines
(-pam & lam)
Action: Promotes the activity
of GABA by binding to a
specific receptor on the
GABAa receptor.
= CALMing effect

Short Acting
Sedative- Hypnotic
Sleep Agents
(Z-drugs)

diazepam (Valium)
clonazepam (Klonopin)
alprazolam (Xanax)
lorazepam (Ativan)
flurazepam (Dalmane)
temazepam (Restoril)
triazolam (Halcoin)
estazolam (ProSom)
quazepam (Doral)

zolpidem (Ambien)
zaleplon (Sonata)
eszopiclone (Lunesta)

Addiction

Date rape drug

Unconsciousness,
seizures, coma

Date rape drug

Decrease Anxiety;
Sedation/Hypnotic;
Anticonvulsant

=
CAUTION: w/ engaging in
activities that could be
dangerous if reflexes and
attention are impaired.
- Older adults = Rx for falls
- Client with COPD
Sleeplessness (Insomnia) = - Teach pt. about QUICK
ONSET - Take when going to BED

Drug

Street or other name

Signs/Symptoms
Intoxication

Signs/Symptoms Withdrawal

Nursing considerations

Miscellaneous

Anabolic steroids

Anadrol, Oxandrin,
Durabolin, DepoTestosterone, Equipoise: No intoxification aects
roids, juice, gym candy,
pumpers

HTN, blood clotting and

cholesterol changes; liver cysts;
hostility and aggression; acne;
in teens - premature stoppage
of growth; in males-prostate
cancer, reduced sperm
production, shrunken testicles,
breast enlargement; in femalesmenstral irregularities,
development of beard and
other masculine characteristics

Inhalants (Volatile
Organic
Compounds)

Solvents (paint thinners,

gasoline, glues); gases
(butane, propaen,
aerosol, propellants,
nitrious oxide); nitrates
(isoamyl, isobutyl,
cyclohexyl): laughing
gas, poppers, snappers,
whippets

Varies by chemical stimulation; loss of

inhibition; headache; N/V;
slurred speech; loss of
motor coordination;
wheezing

Cramps, muscle weakness;

depression, memory
impairment; damage to
cardiovascular and nervous
systems; unconsciousness;
sudden death

Nicotine

Found in cigarettes,
cigars, bids, and
smokeless tobacco
(snu, spit tobacco,
chew)

Increased BP & HR

Chronic lung dx; cardiovascular

dx; cancers of the mouth,
pharynx, larynx, esophagus,
stomach, pancreas, cervix,
kidney, bladder, and acute
myeliod leukemia; adverse
pregnancy outcomes; addiction

Caeine

- Dilation of the pupils

- Dyrness of the oronasal
cavity
- Excessive motor activity

Legal for adults

Pharm: Varenicline (Chantix &
Rimonabant (Zimulti) &
Bupropion (Zyban)

Legal