I

illicit drug use Any use of substances not legal
to possess. Many illicit drugs are “underground”
drugs that individuals manufacture specifically for
illicit use. Some of these drugs may be legal in
other countries though are not legal in the United
States or in the country in which the person is
using them. As well, illicit drugs may be drugs that
are legal but the person possessing them does not
have legal authorization, such as a physician’s pre-
scription.
A significant health concern with illicit drugs is
their production. Many drugs that come in loose
form (such as HEROIN, COCAINE, METHAMPHETAMINE,
and marijuana) are “cut” with various and often
unknown substances, including other drugs and
sometimes chemicals not intended for human
consumption. These fillers, which dilute the DRUG’s
strength, may alter the actions of the drug or
themselves cause effects in the body that are
unexpected or toxic. The manufacture of illicit
drugs in pill form is also questionable, with
potency and ingredients varying certainly from
batch to batch and often from pill to pill. Many
people who manufacture illicit drugs such as
methamphetamine have little knowledge of
chemistry beyond that required to produce the
drugs, and produce the drugs in less than ideal
and often unsanitary conditions.
Other illicit drugs are produced in countries
where their use is legal; they are smuggled into
the United States and other countries. The pro-
duction circumstances may or may not be of
acceptable standards in terms of the drug’s purity
and consistency and the cleanliness of the manu-
facturing environment. Manufacturing inconsis-
tencies, sanitation, and impurities may all pose
health risks for people who use drugs smuggled
into the United States from other countries. The

other significant risk with illicit drugs is the legal

consequence for their possession, which may

result in jail sentences, fines, and serious conse-

quences for a person’s career, family, and lifestyle.

In the United States the 1970 Controlled Sub-

stances Act (CSA) and its subsequent revisions

establish the legality of drugs. Other countries

have comparable legislative guidelines.

COMMONLY ABUSED ILLICIT DRUGS

ANABOLIC STEROIDS AND STEROID COCAINE

PRECURSORS FLUNITRAZEPAM

GAMMA HYDROXYBUTYRIC ACID hashish

(GHB) HEROIN

LSD marijuana

mescaline METHAMPHETAMINE

METHYLENEDIOXYMETHAMPHETAMINE(MDMA) peyote

See also ADDICTION; CLUB DRUGS; DESIGNER DRUGS;

STIMULANTS; HALLUCINOGENS; NARCOTICS; OPIATES; PRE-

SCRIPTION ABUSE; SCHEDULED DRUGS; SUBSTANCE ABUSE

PREVENTION.

injecting drugs, risks of The potential health

consequences of sharing needles and DRUGpara-

phernalia. Sharing needles allows the passing of

BACTERIAand viruses that are in the BLOODamong

all individuals who use the needles. Rinsing with

water or cleaning with bleach is not enough to

prevent INFECTION with many bloodborne

pathogens.

Intravenous drug users who share needles and

drugs have particularly high risk for infection with

bloodborne viruses such as HEPATITISB, hepatitis C,

HIV/AIDS, and for acquiring bacterial infections

such as TUBERCULOSISand MENINGITIS. It is also pos-

sible to acquire infection with some SEXUALLY

TRANSMITTED DISEASES(STDS).

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