Street and Club Drugs
A designer drug is a structural or functional analog of a controlled substance that has been designed to mimic the pharmacological effects of the original drug but avoids being classified as illegal, avoids detection in standard drug test, and are available online for a lower cost than illegal substances. The use of these drugs can result in chronic psychiatric and medical conditions as well as complicated withdrawal symptoms.
Stimulants
Drugs of this class produce amphetamine-like euphoria in addition to anxiety, agitation, insomnia, hallucinations, and decreased appetite. They include:
Piperazines – Sold in pill form as “herbal ecstasy.”
Cathinones – Also known as bath salts and appears as white or brown crystalline powder sold in small plastic or foil packages. They can be bought online or in drug paraphernalia stores under a variety of brand names, such as Ivory Wave, Bloom, Cloud Nine, and Scarface.
Hallucinogens
Tryptamines (eg, LSD, psilocybin)
Phenethylamines (eg, mescaline, the 2C family, the NBOMe series, the DO series, FLYs)
MDMA Dissociatives – Long term use can cause cognitive impairment, memory loss, attention problems, and manic, psychotic and depressive symptoms.
Ketamine – Recreationally used to achieve the state of derealization, described as a near-birth experience.
Dextromethorphan – A cough medication. Effects are dose dependent.
Synthetic cannabinoids (“fake weed”) – Sold as Spice, K2, and Crazy Monkey. Compared to marijuana, synthetic cannabinoids produce more significant agitation/irritability and is associated with seizures.
Salvia – The leaf form can be chewed or brewed in drinks or smoked from pipes or water bongs. It has hallucinogenic effects, in addition to disrupting space and time and causing and agitated delirium.
Sedatives
γ-Hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) – Used recreationally and as an aphrodisiac at raves to induce symptoms of euphoria, relaxation, and disinhibition. In large amounts, it can cause confusion, respiratory depression, and coma, and if combined with other respiratory depressants it can cause death.
Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) – The leaves are chewed or it can be consumed as processed capsules. Results in stimulant effects at lower dosages and opioid-like effects at higher dosages.