Drug Addiction Resources Center

Sedatives

Sedatives are nervous system depressants that slow down the activity of the brain. In doing so, they can successfully treat anxiety and sleep disorders. Sedative addiction is a common problem in the United States, sometimes leading to overdose.

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Stimulants

Stimulants increase the activity of the nervous system, helping people feel more alert, focused, and awake. Examples include caffeine, cocaine, and amphetamines. Improper use of stimulants may lead to feelings of anxiety, panic, aggression, and paranoia.

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Opioids

Opioids are derived from the opium poppy plant and reduce the perception of pain in the brain. This effect makes them powerful and effective prescription painkillers, but opioids are also often used illicitly. Examples of opioids include OxyContin, fentanyl, and heroin.

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Hallucinogens

Hallucinogens are a group of drugs that distort reality, creating sensory perceptions that are not real. They may be derived from plants or mushrooms, like peyote and ayahuasca, or created synthetically in a lab, like LSD, PCP, and Ketamine.

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Dissociatives

Dissociatives are drugs that create distortions of perception and sensation, causing a feeling of detachment from one’s body or environment. At high doses, users report feeling a sense of complete detachment that feels like death. Commonly used dissociatives include salvia, PCP, and DXM.

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Antidepressants

Antidepressants are prescription drugs used to treat major depressive disorders and similar mood disorders. Prolonged use of antidepressants is associated with withdrawal symptoms, and the combination of antidepressants with other drugs can be dangerous.

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Inhalants

Inhalants are substances that can only be used by inhaling. They refer specifically to substances that can be found around the house and sniffed or huffed to achieve a high, such as aerosol sprays, gases, and solvents.

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Prescription Drugs

Prescription drugs are strong medications that require a doctor’s prescription for legal use, including powerful opioids, stimulants, and depressants. When taken improperly, they have high potential for abuse and addiction.

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CANNABINOIDS

Cannabinoids are substances that derive from the cannabis plant including CBD and THC, the mind-altering component found in marijuana. Though marijuana has been legalized in some states, it’s still considered a controlled substance with high potential for abuse.

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SYNTHETIC DRUGS

Synthetic drugs are created in a laboratory using man-made items, though they are typically designed to mimic the effect of natural compounds. This class of drugs includes LSD, methamphetamine, and bath salts. Their potency is often difficult to determine, making them dangerous.

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