This list provides examples of commonly used illegal drugs used in South Africa
Including marijuana, cocaine, heroin, crystal meth and club drugs. We give their commercial and street names, how they are taken, their effects, health risks, and other information.
CANNABINOIDS | ||
| Name Links to dedicated page | Examples of Commercial & Street Names | How Administered** |
| MARIJUANA | blunt, dope, ganja, grass, herb, joint, bud, mary jane, pot, reefer, green, trees, smoke, sinsemilla, skunk, weed | smoked, swallowed |
Acute Effects: Euphoria; relaxation; slowed reaction time; distorted sensory perception; impaired balance and coordination; increased heart rate and appetite; impaired learning, memory; anxiety; panic attacks; psychosis
Health Risks: Cough; frequent respiratory infections; possible mental health decline; addiction
OPIOIDS | ||
| Name Links to dedicated page | Examples of Commercial & Street Names | How Administered** |
| HEROIN | Diacetylmorphine: smack, horse, brown sugar, dope, H, junk, skag, skunk, white horse, China white; cheese (with OTC cold medicine and antihistamine) (withdrawal info) | injected, smoked, snorted |
| SYNTHETIC OPIOIDS | fentanyl, oxycodone (OxyContin®), hydrocodone (Vicodin®), codeine, morphine | injected, swallowed, smoked |
Acute Effects: Euphoria; drowsiness; impaired coordination; dizziness; confusion; nausea; sedation; feeling of heaviness in the body; slowed or arrested breathing
Health Risks: Constipation; endocarditis; hepatitis; HIV; extreme addiction; fatal overdose
Nayope (Woonga) addictive psychosis
STIMULANTS | ||
| Name Links to dedicated page | Examples of Commercial & Street Names | How Administered** |
| COCAINE | Cocaine hydrochloride: blow, bump, C, candy, Charlie, coke, crack, flake, rock, snow, toot | snorted, smoked, injected |
| METHAMPHETAMINE | tik, desoxyn, meth, ice, crank, chalk, crystal, fire, glass, go fast, speed | swallowed, snorted, smoked, injected |
| FLAKKA | Gravel, bath salts, salt, cath Synthetic alpha-pryrrolidinopentiophenone (alpha-pvp). Derived from cathinone | swallowed, snorted, smoked, injected |
Acute Effects: Increased heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, metabolism; feelings of exhilaration; increased energy, mental alertness; tremors; reduced appetite; irritability; anxiety; panic; paranoia; violent behavior; psychosis
- Health Risks: Weight loss; insomnia; cardiac or cardiovascular complications; stroke; seizures; addiction
COCAINE
METH
Cocaine – nasal damage from snorting
Methamphetamine – severe dental problems
Flakka – rapid heart rate, extreme aggression, psychosis, severe hallucinations, seizure, raised body temperature, high blood pressure, death
CLUB DRUGS | ||
| Name Links to dedicated page | Examples of Commercial & Street Names | How Administered** |
| MDMA | ecstasy, adam, clarity, Eve, lovers’ speed, mercedes, molly, peace, uppers(METHYLENEDIOXY METHAMPHETAMINE) | swallowed, snorted, injected |
| GHB*** | gamma-hydroxybutyrate: G, blue, bluejuice, liquid ecstasy, soap, scoop, goop, liquid X | swallowed |
Acute Effects:
- MDMA –mild hallucinogenic effects; increased tactile sensitivity, empathic feelings; lowered inhibition; anxiety; chills; sweating; teeth clenching; muscle
- GHB – drowsiness; nausea; headache; disorientation; loss of coordination; memory loss
Health Risks:
-
- MDMA – sleep disturbances; depression; impaired memory; hyperthermia; addiction
- GHB –unconsciousness; seizures; coma
- MDMA – sleep disturbances; depression; impaired memory; hyperthermia; addiction
DISSOCIATIVE DRUGS | ||
| Name Links to dedicated page | Examples of Commercial & Street Names | How Administered** |
| KETAMINE | ketalar sv: cat valium, K, special K, vitamin K | injected, snorted, smoked |
| LEAN (Cough Syrup) | Found in some cough and cold medications: | swallowed |
Acute Effects: Feelings of being separate from one’s body and environment; impaired motor function
Ketamine – analgesia; impaired memory; delirium; respiratory depression and arrest; death
Lean – euphoria; slurred speech; confusion; dizziness; distorted visual perceptions
Health Risks: Anxiety; tremors; numbness; memory loss; nausea
HALLUCINOGENS | ||
| Name | Examples of Commercial & Street Names | How Administered** |
| LSD | lysergic acid diethylamide: acid, blotter, cubes, microdot, yellow sunshine, blue heaven | swallowed, absorbed through mouth tissues |
Acute Effects: Altered states of perception and feeling; hallucinations; nausea
Also, for LSD and mescaline – increased body temperature, heart rate, blood pressure; loss of appetite; sweating; sleeplessness; numbness; dizziness; weakness; tremors; impulsive behavior; rapid shifts in emotion
Also, for psilocybin – nervousness; paranoia; panic
Health Risks: Also, for LSD – Flashbacks, Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder
OTHER COMPOUNDS | ||
| Name | Examples of Commercial & Street Names | How Administered** |
INHALANTS | solvents (paint thinners, gasoline, glues); gases (butane, propane, aerosol propellants, nitrous oxide); nitrites (isoamyl, isobutyl, cyclohexyl): laughing gas, poppers, snappers, whippets | inhaled through nose or mouth |
Acute Effects
Inhalants – (varies by chemical) stimulation; loss of inhibition; headache; nausea or vomiting; slurred speech; loss of motor coordination; wheezing
Health Risks:
Inhalants – cramps; muscle weakness; depression; memory impairment; damage to cardiovascular and nervous systems; unconsciousness; sudden death
** Some of the health risks are directly related to the route of drug administration. For example, injection drug use can increase the risk of infection through needle contamination with staphylococci, HIV, hepatitis and other organisms.
*** Associated with sexual assaults.
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