The most widely abused substance in the world, alcohol is a depressant that comes in many different varieties. Ethanol is the name of the alcohol used in beer, wine, and spirits. Moderate use is considered to be two drinks a day for men and one drink a day for women. However, what constitutes a drink differs depending on the form of alcohol. 12 oz of beer is equivalent to 1.5 oz of distilled spirits and 5 oz of wine. 

Some side effects from alcohol use are :

Caffeine (Guaranine, Theine, Mateine, Legal Speed, Legal Meth, Tweak, Twack, Energy, Skaterade)

Commonly found in everyday lives, Caffeine is one of the most widely used drugs in the world. It is found in coffee, tea, cola, chocolate, stay awake pills, some headache and cold remedies, some alcoholic drinks and some soft drinks. As it is a stimulant, it keeps you awake and gives you a boost of energy. It is a highly addictive substance that your body can come to depend on to function properly. Caffeine intake should be limited to moderate amounts when possible.

Some of its side effects are:

Cocaine (24-7, B.J.'s, Badrock, Jelly Beans, Rooster, Tornado, Ice, Beamers, Bolo, Coke, Crank, Rock, Space, Snow, Nose Candy, Flake, Blow. Big C, Lady, Snowbirds, White)

The most potent stimulant of natural origin, Cocaine used to be used for medical purposes but it was found is was too addictive to continue this practice. It is extracted from the Coca Bush and the majority of Cocaine is produced in Columbia. There are two forms of Cocaine, a powdered form and a freebase form known as Crack. The powdered form is snorted or dissolved in water and injected while Crack is smoked in a pipe. The effects of Crack are more rapid and intense than Cocaine, but they do not last as long. Crack has a more rapid addiction potential, but both are considered to be highly addictive.

Side effects include: 

Cold Medication (Triple C, DEX, DXM, Robo, Skittles, Syrup, Triple C, Tussin, Red Devils)

DXM, the addictive drug found in over the counter antihistamines, is chemically similar to morphine. The recommended dosage for DXM is 1/6-1/3 of an ounce per dose. Abusers of the drug ingest up to 4 ounces at a time. At this dose, DXM can have the same effect on a person as PCP. 

Side effects from the abuse of cold medications are: 

Date Rape Drugs

GHB (G, Liquid X, Cap, Scoop, Goop, Georgia Home Boy, Salty Water, Vita-G, Grievous Bodily Harm, Nature's Quaalude, Cherry Meth)

A synthetic depressant used as an industrial solvent. It is virtually undetectable when it is slipped into someone's drink, though it does have a slightly salty taste that is usually masked by the taste of the drink. It is cleared from the body quickly and not detectable in regular blood tests. Once administered in large doses, the victim can become unconscious within 15 minutes and in a coma like state in a half hour. 

Rohypnol (Roofies, R-2, Forget Pills, Forget Me Drugs, Downers, Stupefi, Valley Girl)

A sedative ten times stronger than Valium. It is medically used for treating sleeping disorders and is illegal in North America. It is available in tablet form or an injectable form. Once administered, the effects begin within 15 minutes and can last for up to 12 hours. After 72 hours, the drug is no longer detectable in blood and urine tests. Manufacturers are now adding a dye to the drug that reacts with liquid so that the victim is aware that something has been added to their drink. This has only increased the use of GHB.

Here are some of the side effects: 

Ecstasy (Adam, Batmans, Bean, Bibs, Blue Kisses, Blue Nile, Charity, Clarity, Cristal, Debs, Decadence, Drivers, E, Essence, Eve, Go, Happy Pill, Hug Drug, Kleenex, Lover's Speed, Rolling, Scooby Snacks, Tachas, Wafers, X, XTC)

MDMA (methlyenedioxymethamphetamine) is a stimulant with hallucinogenic qualities. It is referred to as a designer drug as it is completely manufactured in a lab. It is a popular club drug as it reduces inhibitions, eliminates anxiety and produces feelings of empathy for others. It suppresses the need to eat, drink and sleep which allows the abuser to stay awake for long hours. The effects can last 4-6 hours. 

Side effects include: 

Hallucinogenic Mushrooms (Shrooms, Caps, Magic Mushrooms)

A hallucinogen formerly used in native rituals, Hallucinogenic Mushrooms are ingested to produce a euphoric state. Shrooms, as they are informally known, can be eaten, brewed in tea, dried into capsule form or dried and mixed with tobacco or marijuana and smoked. Because there are so many different varieties of mushrooms (over 2500), it is almost impossible to predict the effects.

Some side effects from hallucinogenic mushrooms are: 

Hashish (Hash, Black Hash, Hashbury, THC, Crystal Tea)

Hashish and Hash Oil are derived from the cannabis plant, the same plant that produces marijuana leaves. Hashish is usually dried and broken into small pieces to be smoked in a pipe. It has a higher potency than marijuana. Hash Oil is extracted from the cannabis plant, then mixed with marijuana or tobacco and smoked. Hash Oil is more potent than both marijuana and Hashish.

Here are some of the side effects: 

Heroin (Smack, H, Skag, Thunder, Junk, Black Tar, Heaven, Wings, Stuff, Skid, Shoot, Witch)

An illegal opiate derived from Morphine, Heroin is usually injected but it can be snorted or smoked. There has been a recent shift from injection use to snorting and sniffing. Heroin users have a very high risk of contracting deadly diseases due to needle sharing and the use of dirty needles. 

Side effects include: 

Inhalants (Air Blast, Bagging, Boppers, Buzz Bomb, Climax, Gluey, Hippie Crack, Huffing, Kick, Moon Gas, Oz, Pearls, Poor Man's Pot, Quicksilver, Snappers, Snorting, Thrust)

Known as sniffing, snorting, bagging and huffing. Inhalants cause severe damage to the brain and nervous center. They act to slow down body functions and can cause intoxicating effects. Inhalants can cause death as they can directly induce heart failure. Suffocation can occur if oxygen is replaced in the lungs by the inhalant. 

Side effects: 

LSD (Acid, Boomers, Microdot, Cube, Trips, Tabs, Doses, Hits, Yellow Sunshine, Dots, Electric Kool-Aid, Illusion, Mesc, Sunshine, White Lightening, Zen, Trips)

Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD) or Acid is the most potent hallucinogen known to man. It is available in tablet, liquid and crystal form. The effects of LSD are unpredictable and depend on the personality, mood, expectations and surroundings of the abuser. The effects can last 2-3 hours for a smaller dose, up to 10-12 hours for a larger dose. With continued use, an abusers tolerance level increase which causes them to take larger doses to feel any effects. LSD does not induce compulsive drug seeking behavior like Cocaine or Heroin, but is still very harmful to the body.

Some side effects from using LSD are: 

Marijuana (Weed, Pot, Grass, Reefer, Ganja, Mary Jane, Blunt, Joint, Roach, Nail, Leafy Greens, Doob, Leaf, MJ, Wackyweed, Seeds, Stone) 

Known as the "gateway drug", Marijuana is usually the first drug youth experiment with after nicotine. Recent studies have shown that Marijuana use is on the rise in youth today and it can lead to harder and more dangerous drugs. One Marijuana joint contains 4 times the tar of one cigarette, and is 7 times stronger than it was 30 years ago. 

Some marijuana side effects include:

METHAMPHETAMINE (Speed, Meth, Crystal Meth, Crank, Tweak, Go-fast, Ice, Glass, Uppers, Black Beauties, Uppers, Speedball)

Can be smoked, snorted, injected or taken orally depending on the form. It is highly addictive immediately and is extremely damaging to the central nervous system. One of the more common street forms today is Crystal Meth. It is colorless and odorless and is easily produced. The production of Meth leave a lot of toxic waste behind. For every pound of Meth produced, 5-7 pounds of toxic waste is left behind.

Side effects include: 

Nicotine (Tobacco, Smokes, Cigs, Butts, Chew, Dip, Spit Tobacco, Snuff)

Pleased to be your first drug...it is estimated that there are approximately  5.4 million regular users of nicotine in Canada aged 15 and over. About one half of Canadian school children experiment with tobacco by age 12 and the average age which teens start using nicotine is age 13. 75% of nicotine users become addicted by age 17. Nicotine is in cigarettes, chewing tobacco, and cigars and contains 200 known poisons. 

Here are some side effects from nicotine use: 

Pain Killers

Some of the most used and abused drugs today, pain killers are available through prescription and over the counter. They are used to alleviate pain by blocking pain messages to the brain. The combination of pain killers with a depressant such as alcohol can cause respiratory depression which can be immediately fatal. 

Hydrocodone-Vicodin (Vike, Vics, Watson-387, V-Itamin, Vikings)

A legal opiate prescribed for pain that has qualities similar to morphine, Vicodin is the most commonly abused form of Hydrocodone. It is available in both pill and liquid form and is highly addictive. Prolonged abuse of Hydrocodone can lead to severe liver damage. 

Hydromorphone-Dilaudid (Big D, D's, Dillies, Lords, Delida, Delaud, Delats, Little D's) 

Often used as a substitute for heroin, Dilaudid is one of the most abused prescription pain killers today. It is two to eight times more potent than morphine, depending on the dosage. It is shorter acting and is a stronger sedative than morphine. Dilaudid is available in tablet form, which is often dissolved and injected by abusers, rectal suppositories, and oral solutions. 

Morphine (White Stuff, M, Morf, Morphie, Dope, Dreamer, Mother, Monkey)

One of the most effective drugs used for the relief of extreme pain, the use of morphine has increased significantly in recent years. It is used in several different forms, an injectable form, immediate and sustained-release capsules and tablets, suppositories, and oral solutions. 

Oxycondone (Oxycontin, Oxy, Percs)

Oxycondone, or Oxycontin as it is commonly called, is a prescription pain reliever that is twice as potent as morphine. It is usually crushed, then snorted or injected. Many abusers use it as a substitute for heroin and to help with withdrawal symptoms.

Side effects include: 

Ritalin (Kibbles and Bits, Pineapple, West Coast, Vitamin R, Pharming)

A stimulant prescribed to treat Attention Deficit Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. It is described as being similar to cocaine. It is usually crushed and snorted or dissolved in water and injected. As it is a stimulant, some abusers use it to stay awake for long periods of time.

Side effects from Ritalin are: 

Steroids (Juice, Roids, Arnolds, Gym Candy, Pumpers, Stackers, Weight Trainers)

The medical purpose for Anabolic Steroids is to treat delayed puberty, some types of impotence, and wasting of the body due to disease. They are pharmacologically and chemically relate to the testosterone that promotes muscle growth. Steroids can prematurely stop the natural lengthening of bones in youth, which can result in stunted growth.

Side effects include: