Often the break from the addictive behaviors
occurs as a consequence of intervention, either by
family members and friends or through legal
processes such as court-imposed sentencing to a
substance abuse program. Unfortunately, such
intervention all too often comes at the cost of
injury to self or others. Alcohol is a factor in more
than half of MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTSin the United
States. Other substances that alter perception,
judgment, and reaction time further contribute to
traffic accidents, which are the leading cause of
accidental injury and death. These substances
include CANNABIS products (marijuana, hashish,
hash oil), as well as STIMULANTS, BARBITURATES, BEN-
ZODIAZEPINES, and HALLUCINOGENS.
Two thirds of new HIV/AIDS INFECTIONamong
women in the United States result directly or indi-
rectly from injected drug use: either the woman
herself injects illicit drugs or has sexual partners
who inject illicit drugs. Intravenous drug use is
also the leading means of transmitting infection
with HEPATITISB, hepatitis C, and hepatitis D. Intra-
venous drug users face numerous other risks
including ENDOCARDITIS(bacterial infection of the
HEARTvalves), damaged and destroyed veins, cel-
lulitis (infection of the skin and underlying tissue),
MALNUTRITION, and poisoning from the unknown
ingredients illicit drugs contain as fillers.Special Risks: Substance Abuse During Pregnancy
Substance abuse during PREGNANCYposes unique
risks for the developing FETUS, which may experi-
ence health crises at birth and lifelong health con-
sequences. Among the most toxic substances of
abuse is alcohol, which is teratogenic at nearly
every stage of pregnancy. FETAL ALCOHOL SYNDROME312 Substance Abuse
DRUG SLANGDrug Name Slang Names
ALKYL NITRITES rush, locker room, rave, poppers, snappers
AMPHETAMINES speed, go-pill, upper
BARBITURATES yellow jackets, reds, blues, rainbows, downers, barbs, goofballs
COCAINE coke, snow, flake, blow, big C, lady, nose candy, white, party favors
DEXTROMETHORPHAN DXM, skittles, candy, c-c-c, dex, DM, Drex, red devils, tussin, velvet
FLUNITRAZEPAM(Rohypnol) roofies, rophies, roach, rope, forget-me pill
GAMMA HYDROXYBUTYRATE(GHB) liquid ecstasy, soap, easy lay, vita-G, Georgia home boy
HEROIN smack, horse, brown sugar, junk, black tar, big H, bag
KETAMINE special K, vitamin K, super K, keets
lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) acid, blotter, trip, hit, sugar cube, microdot, tab, purple haze
marijuana pot, weed, reefer, mary jane, aunt mary, boom, kif, skunk, herb, dope, gangster
METHAMPHETAMINE speed, crank, crystal, ice, glass, meth, crystal meth
METHYLENEDIOXYMETHAMPHETAMINE(MDMA) XTC, X, hug drug, ecstasy, ecstacy
PHENCYCLIDINE(PCP) angel dust, ozone, wack, rocket fuel, crystal supergrass, embalming fluid, killer joint