Harmful drug use - drug types

Different drugs contain different chemicals and vary in health effects. Use of a number of drug types can result in tolerance and dependence and some can cause withdrawal when cutting down or stopping use. The below links will take you to a series of fact sheets outlining the individual characteristics of a certain drug type.

Alcohol (PDF 123KB) - booze, grog, piss, liquor, brew, drink.
Amphetamines (PDF 125KB) – speed, goey, whiz, crystal, crystal meth, meth, base, paste, ice (see Methamphetamine below).
Anabolic androgenic steroids (PDF 125KB) – steroids, roids, gear, juice.
Benzodiazepines (PDF 52KB) - benzos.
Cannabis (PDF 125KB) – marijuana, grass, pot, dope, hooch, weed, hash, joints, cones, mull, ganga, hydro, yarndi.
Cocaine (PDF 125KB) – coke, Charlie, blow.
Ecstasy (PDF 125KB) – E, pills, pingers.
Gamma Hydroxyl Butyric Acid (GHB) (PDF 310KB)
Hallucinogens (PDF 125KB) – trips, acid, tabs, wangers.
Heroin (PDF 125KB) – hammer, H, smack, gear, horse, junk, slow.
Methamphetamine - speed, crystal, crystal meth, meth, base, paste, ice (see amphetamine above).
Synthetic drugs/emerging psychoactive drugs - synthetic cannabis (Kronic, Spice), herbal highs, herbal ecstasy, bath salts, herbal incense and research chemicals.
Volatile substances (solvents, inhalants) (PDF 125KB) – petrol, spray paints, glue, laughing gas, gas, sniff, huff, chroming, poppers.

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Last updated: 02 Apr 2022

Harmful drug use - drug types

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