Alcohol is an organic compound that appears in a variety of forms. The ingestible form, for both legitimate and abuse purposes, is ethanol. It is and has been historically used for hygienic, dietary, medicinal, religious, and recreational purposes.

Amphetamine (alpha-methylphenathylamine) is powerful central nervous system (CNS) stimulant used in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy.

Anabolic steroids are drugs that have an effect similar to testosterone in the body, increasing muscle mass and blocking the effects of stress hormones which can break down muscle tissue.

Barbiturates are central nervous system (CNS) depressants with a wide range of effects and uses: mild sedation to total anesthesia, hypnotics, anticonvulsants (epilepsy), migraine treatment (in fioricet), capital punishment, and assisted suicide where legal.

Because of its low opiate effect, buprenorphine has a lower potential for abuse than other opioid drugs, but it can still be abused through crushing of tablets for snorting or for injection preparations.

Cocaine (benzoylmethylecgonine) is a crystalline alkaloid drug obtained from the leaves of the coca plant, native to South America, where the leaves are chewed as a mild stimulant.

Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid analgesic with a rapid onset and short duration of action. It can also be used in combination with benzodiazepines as an anesthetic.

GHB is abused as an intoxicant, often in the club, rave and party scene, to produce euphoria and sociability. Small doses can act as a stimulant and aphrodisiac. It is also notorious for use as a date rape drug, although studies have indicated that it is not used as frequently for that purpose as other drugs, such as cocaine.

K2 and Spice are common street names for synthetic marijuana, produced by combining artificial cannabinoids with traditionally used medicinal herbs and other legal substances.

Ketamine is an anesthetic drug used in human and veterinary medicine, primarily for general anesthesia, although it is sometimes used as a sedative for seriously injured patients and as a painkiller in cases of extreme pain.

Marijuana is a preparation of the cannabis plant for use as a psychoactive drug and as medicine. The principal psychoactive constituent of marijuana is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), one of hundreds of compounds in the plant.

Methadone is a synthetic opioid used for pain and to treat addiction in patients with opioid dependence. It is chemically closely related to heroin and morphine and has many of the same effects, yet, if used correctly, it is medically safe.

Methamphetamine is psychostimulant in the amphetamine class. It has medical uses in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and obesity. It has a high potential for abuse and medical use comes with tightly controlled regulatory restrictions.

MDMA is synthesized drug in the amphetamine class. It is classed as an empathogenic drug, meaning it produces emotional and social effects that tend to increase a sense of intimacy and diminished anxiety with others, while possibly inducing euphoria and mild hallucinogenic effects.

While opiate and opioid are often used interchangeably, true opiates are a group of opioid drugs found only in the poppy plant: morphine (and its derivative, heroin), codeine and thebaine.

Oxycodone, first developed almost a century ago, is a powerful opioid analgesic with serious addictive potential.

Phencyclidine is a recreational drug that was marketed in the 1950s as an anesthetic pharmaceutical drug. It was taken off the market due to its dissociative hallucinogenic side effects.

Tramadol is an synthetic opioid analgesic with some antidepressant effects. It is used to treat moderate to moderate-severe pain. It is used and metabolized in the body similarly to codeine.

Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) are a very large class of antidepressant drugs. A small sampling includes: amitriptyline (Elavil) amitriptylinoxide (Ambivalon) amoxapine (Asendin)