Introduction to Psychology

Table 5.2 Popular Recreational Drugs and Their Safety Ratios

Drug Description Street or brand names

Safety ratio

Heroin Strong depressant Smack, junk, H 6

GHB (Gamma hydroxy
butyrate)

“Rave” drug (not Ecstacy), also used as a “date rape” drug.

Georgia home boy, liquid ecstasy, liquid X, liquid G, fantasy 8

Isobutyl nitrite Depressant and toxic inhalant Poppers, rush, locker room 8

Alcohol Active compound is ethanol
10

DXM (Dextromethorphan)

Active ingredient in over-the- counter cold and cough medicines 10

Methamphetamine May be injected or smoked Meth, crank 10

Cocaine May be inhaled or smoked Crack, coke, rock, blue 15

MDMA (methylene-
dioxymethamphetamine) Very powerful stimulant Ecstasy 16

Codeine Depressant
20
Methadone Opioid
20

Mescaline Hallucinogen
24

Benzodiazepine Prescription tranquilizer

Centrax, Dalmane, Doral, Halcion, Librium, ProSom, Restoril, Xanax, Valium 30

Ketamine Prescription anesthetic Ketanest, Ketaset, Ketalar 40

DMT (Dimethyltryptamine) Hallucinogen
50

Phenobarbital

Usually prescribed as a sleeping pill

Luminal (Phenobarbital), Mebaraland, Nembutal, Seconal, Sombulex 50

Prozac Antidepressant
100

Nitrous oxide

Often inhaled from whipped cream dispensers Laughing gas 150

Lysergic acid diethylamide
(LSD)
Acid 1,000