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Drugs: Everything You Wanted to Know But Were Afraid to Ask

It may seem like a simple step, but talking to your teen about the risks of drugs may help keep your teen drug-free. In fact, teens who learn about the dangers of drugs from their parents are up to 50% less likely to try drugs than are teens who learn nothing at home. So check out this guide to slang terms and potential harmful effects for commonly abused drugs -- and use it to open up the lines of communication with your teen.


Drug Slang/Street Names How It's Used Potential Effects
hashish boom, chronic, gangster, hash, hash oil, hemp swallowed, smoked slowed thinking and reaction time; confusion; impaired balance and coordination; cough; frequent respiratory infections; impaired memory and learning; increased heart rate; anxiety; panic attacks; tolerance; addiction
marijuana blunt, dope, ganja, grass, herb, joints, Mary Jane, pot, reefer, sinsemilla, skunk, weed, boom, gangster smoked, swallowed slowed thinking and reaction time; confusion; impaired balance and coordination; cough; frequent respiratory infections; impaired memory and learning; increased heart rate; anxiety; panic attacks; tolerance; addiction
barbiturates barbs, reds, red birds, phennies, tooies, yellows, yellow jackets injected, swallowed reduced feelings of pain and anxiety; feeling of well-being; lowered inhibitions; slowed pulse and breathing; lowered blood pressure; poor concentration; confusion; fatigue; impaired coordination, memory, judgment; respiratory arrest; addiction
Methaqualone ludes, mandrex, quad, quay injected, swallowed reduced feelings of pain and anxiety; feeling of well-being; lowered inhibitions; slowed pulse and breathing; lowered blood pressure; poor concentration; confusion; fatigue; impaired coordination, memory, judgment; respiratory arrest; depression; poor reflexes; slurred speech; coma; addiction
PCP and analogs angel dust, boat, hog, love boat, peace pill injected, swallowed, smoked possible decrease in blood pressure and heart rate; panic; aggression; violence; loss of appetite; depression
ketamine cat, Valiums, K, Special K, vitamin K injected, snorted, smoked increased heart rate and blood pressure; impaired motor function; memory loss; numbness; nausea/vomiting
LSD acid, blotter, boomers, cubes, microdot, yellow sunshines swallowed, absorbed through mouth tissues altered states of perception and feeling; nausea; chronic mental disorders; increased temperature, heart rate, blood pressure; loss of appetite; sleeplessness; numbness; weakness; tremors
mescaline buttons, cactus swallowed, smoked altered states of perception and feeling; flashbacks; nausea; chronic mental disorders; increased temperature, heart rate, blood pressure; loss of appetite; sleeplessness; numbness; weakness; tremors
psilocybin magic mushroom, purple passion, shrooms swallowed altered states of perception and feeling; flashbacks; nausea; chronic mental disorders; nervousness; paranoia
fentanyl Apache, China girl, China white, dance fever, goodfella, jackpot, murder 8, TNT, Tango and Cash injected, smoked, snorted euphoria; drowsiness; respiratory arrest; nausea; confusion; constipation; sedation; unconsciousness; coma; tolerance; addiction
heroin brown sugar, dope, H, horse, junk, skag, skunk, smack, white horse injected, smoked, snorted euphoria; drowsiness; respiratory arrest; nausea; confusion; constipation; sedation; unconsciousness; coma; tolerance; addiction
morphine M, Miss Emma, monkey, white stuff injected, swallowed, smoked euphoria; drowsiness; respiratory arrest; nausea; confusion; constipation; sedation; unconsciousness; coma; tolerance; addiction
opium big O, black stuff, block, gum, hop swallowed, smoked euphoria; drowsiness; respiratory arrest; nausea; confusion; constipation; sedation; unconsciousness; coma; tolerance; addiction
amphetamine bennies, black beauties, crosses, hearts, L.A. turnaround, speed, truck drivers, uppers injected, swallowed increased heart rate, blood pressure, metabolism; feelings of exhilaration; increased mental alertness; rapid or irregular heart beat; reduced appetite; weight loss; heart failure; rapid breathing; hallucinations; loss of coordination; irritability; anxiousness; restlessness; panic; paranoia, impulsive behavior; aggressiveness; tolerance; addiction
cocaine blow, bump, C, candy, Charlie, coke, crack, flake, rock, snow, toot injected, smoked, snorted increased heart rate, blood pressure, metabolism; feelings of exhilaration; increased mental alertness; rapid or irregular heart beat; reduced appetite; weight loss; headaches; heart failure; respiratory failure; nausea; abdominal pain; strokes; seizures
MDMA (methylenedioxy-methamphetamine) Adam, clarity, ecstasy, Eve, lover's speed, peace, STP, X, XTC swallowed increased heart rate, blood pressure, metabolism; feelings of exhilaration; increased mental alertness; rapid or irregular heart beat; reduced appetite; weight loss; heart failure; mild hallucinogenic effects; increased tactile sensitivity; impaired memory and learning
methamphetamine chalk, crank, crystal, fire, glass, go, fast, ice, meth, speed injected, swallowed, smoked, snorted increased heart rate, blood pressure, metabolism; feelings of exhilaration; increased mental alertness; rapid or irregular heart beat; reduced appetite; weight loss; heart failure; aggression; violence; memory loss; cardiac and neurological damage; impaired memory and learning; tolerance; addiction
methylphenidate (Ritalin) JIF, MPH, R-ball, Skippy, the smart drug, vitamin R injected, swallowed, snorted increased heart rate, blood pressure, metabolism; feelings of exhilaration; increased mental alertness; rapid or irregular heart beat; reduced appetite; digestive problems; loss of appetite; weight loss; heart failure
inhalants (solvents such as paint thinner or gases such as propane) laughing gas, poppers, snappers, whippets inhaled through nose or mouth stimulation; headache; nausea or vomiting; slurred speech; loss of motor coordination; wheezing; unconsciousness; cramps; weight loss; muscle weakness; depression; memory impairment; damage to cardiovascular systems


Sources: National Institute on Drug Abuse; The Partnership for a Drug-Free America
Comments :
By troubledteens, 04/18/2009, 1:55 AM EDT

It is an informative article with detailed information on teens drug addictions and its effects. Most of the teens are experiencing this problem due to various mental reasons. Parents need to help their teens by providing various useful services which makes them feel comfortable. Parents need to gain possible information for better parenting. http://www.troubledteensguide.com/parnetingquestions/Drug-and-Alcohol-Abuse/index.html

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