Terminology and Information on Drugs

Abstract

This publication is intended to give a brief description of the drugs most frequently manufactured/processed and/or abused, as well as definitions of the most relevant scientific terms used in this context. It is by no means exhaustive, nor is it meant to replace any of the more comprehensive textbooks and encyclopedias on drugs of abuse. Rather, it is an attempt on the part of the Laboratory and Scientific Section to provide to the interested reader some basic, generally accepted information on selected drugs of abuse, their abuse patterns, pharmacological effects and medical use, if any. As the dynamic global drug abuse situation is increasingly characterized by the appearance of new drugs and/or new “marketing” concepts for drugs, these new trends will be reported on as they appear and will be incorporated into updated versions of this publication. This second edition has been amended by inclusion of sections on gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) and tryptamines. Other sections have been revised where necessary. The format of this publication is kept simple to allow for brevity, and to elicit discussion. Comments and suggestions for improving content and/or format of this publication by readers are welcome. INFORMATION FOR READERS: 1. Lists of common substances, illicit forms and street names are not exhaustive listings, but selections. Street names are highly ambiguous, and should never be relied upon to characterize a given drug. 2. The sections on chemical constituents of cannabis plant, coca bush and opium poppy are not comprehensive listings, but focus on those substances which are of interest from a drug control point of view. 3. Average doses are highly dependent on the past drug experience of the user, i.e. in extreme cases they may strongly surpass the dose range given. 4. The lists of pharmacological effects are an attempt to summarize the most widely accepted sought-after, short-term and long-term effects of a given drug or group of drugs. However, since drug abuse implies the use of a given drug in excessive dose levels, over an unjustified long period of time, or outside therapeutic indications, there is little sound scientific data, if any, on the pharmacological effects especially the long-term effects of those substances.