Most Commonly Tested Drugs

Marijuana is made from the hemp plant, cannabis Sativa, containing the psychoactive chemical delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and other related compounds. Inhalation (smoking) is the most common method of cannabis consumption including joints, pipes, blunts, bowls, bongs, dabs, and vaporizers. Food products can also be made with cannabis as well as sprays and pills. Effects can include lack of balance and coordination, distorted senses, increased appetite, impaired judgment, elevated heart rate, anxiety, etc. Dangers of marijuana include: anxiety, loss of motivation, impaired short-term memory and learning, slowed thinking and reactions, and addiction.

Street names: Pot, Dope, Weed, Grass, Hash, Joint, Blunt, Reefer

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Cocaine is a powerfully addictive drug derived from the native South American coca plant leaves. Cocaine may also be mixed with marijuana (chronic or snowcap) or heroin (speedball). Cocaine is inhaled through the nose in powder form or rubbed into the gums,  smoked in crystal form or injected. Physical effects of cocaine include brief euphoria, elevated blood pressure and heart rate, restlessness, excitement, and a feeling of well-being followed by depression. Dangers of cocaine include addiction, heart attack, seizures, lung damage, severe depression, and paranoia.

Street names: Coca, Coke, Crack, Blow, Snow

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Amphetamines are used illegally as a stimulant and legally as a prescription drug to treat children with ADD and adults with narcolepsy. Excessive and long-term use can lead to increased blood pressure, fatigue, severe depression, etc.

• Methamphetamine: An extremely addictive stimulant drug also known as meth, crystal, crank, and ice. It’s typically taken orally, smoked, snorted, or dissolved in water or alcohol, and injected. Small amounts of methamphetamine can cause increased physical activity, decreased appetite, increased respiration, rapid heart rate, irregular heartbeat, and increased blood pressure. Repeated methamphetamine use may lead to anxiety, insomnia, weight loss, skin sores, severe dental problems, and addiction.

Methamphetamine Fact Sheet

• MDMA: A stimulant and psychedelic, and users experience an energizing effect, distortions in time and perception, and enhanced enjoyment of experiences. Long-term physical effects of MDMA include irritability, insomnia, anxiety, and addiction. Also known as Ecstasy, MDMA has a reputation for being a “club drug” distributed in tablet form with logos and historically was the active ingredient in “Molly.” With effects lasting 3-6 hours many users will take a second dose once the effects of the first dose begin to wear off.

MDMA Fact Sheet

Phencyclidine (PCP) in its pure form is a white crystalline powder that can be dissolved in water or alcohol with a distinct bitter taste. PCP can contain a number of contaminants on the illicit drug market turning the color to a light or dark brown and is most commonly found as a powder or liquid. PCP is a “dissociative drug” that can lead to a number of side effects including, panic, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, heightened blood pressure and temperature, paranoia, etc.

PCP Fact Sheet

Opioids are prescription medications and pose both a health and safety risk in the workplace. These prescription medications are typically, highly addictive drugs even when taken as prescribed and have the potential to increase the risk of workplace accidents, errors, and injuries. These drugs chemically interact with opioid receptors on nerve cells in both the body and the brain. In addition to pain relief, these pills produce a euphoric feeling easily leading to dependence or misuse.

Narcotics Fact Sheet

Common forms of opioids include the following:

• Codeine: is commonly used to treat pain, cough, or diarrhea.
  
  
• Morphine: An analgesic drug that acts directly on the central nervous system. Morphine is a narcotic that is often used to treat moderate to severe pain. It is also injected and taken orally as a pill (examples include: MS Contin, Avinza, Kadian, MSIR, Oramorph SR)

Morphine Fact Sheet

• Hydrocodone: A narcotic derived from codeine that is primarily used to treat moderate to severe pain (Norco, Zohydro, Hysingla).
  
  
• Hydromorphone: A narcotic used for the relief of moderate to severe, chronic pain due to surgery, cancer, trauma/injury, and burns (Dilaudid, Exalgo).

Hydromorphone Fact Sheet

• Oxycodone: Used to treat moderate to severe pain. Trade names: OxyContin, Endocet, Endodan, Percocet, Percodan, Oxyfast, OxyIR, Roxicet and Tylox.

Oxycodone Fact Sheet

• Oxymorphone: A narcotic pain reliever for moderate to severe pain and is prescribed in immediate and extended-release forms. Trade names: Opana and Numorphan.

• Methadone: A narcotic analgesic used for pain relief and for the treatment of narcotic addiction, such as heroin.

Methadone Fact Sheet

• Fentanyl: A powerful synthetic opioid that is similar to morphine but is 50 to 100 times more potent. It’s often prescribed to patients to alleviate severe pain and manage post-surgery pain. It is also made illegally and used as a recreational drug, and may be mixed with cocaine or heroin. (Actiq, Fentora, Duragesic)

Fentanyl Fact Sheet

• Heroin: An opioid drug processed from morphine but possesses a higher addiction risk. Most commonly used as a recreational drug. The drug can be injected, inhaled, or snorted for a rapid delivery to the brain.

Heroin Fact Sheet

» Read how HR can address the Fentanyl epidemic that is currently impacting the workforce

When first introduced, Barbiturates were used for medical use as mild sedatives, anesthetics, anticonvulsants, and painkillers. They depress the central nervous system and induce sleep. When used recreationally, users report feelings of euphoria, relaxation, and contentment. Physical side effects can include shallow breathing, fever, sluggish speech, confusion, irritability, and in severe cases coma or death. Barbiturates have a high potential for addiction and abuse.(Secobarbital (Seconal), Amobarbital (Amytal), Pentobarbital (Nembytal), Phenobarbital (Luminal)

Street names: Downers, Reds

Barbiturates Fact Sheet

Benzodiazepines, or benzos, are a type of medication known as tranquilizers that act as central nervous system depressants. They are most often used for the treatment of anxiety and insomnia. Physical side effects include slurred speech, drunk-like behavior (in the absence of alcohol), motor incoordination, sedation, etc. More dangerous side effects of benzodiazepine use include a weak and rapid pulse, shallow breathing, coma, and possibly death, especially when taken with alcohol. (Diazepam (Valium), Estalozam (Prosom), Alprazolam (Xanax), Clonazepam (Klonopin), Lorazepam (Ativan), Temazepam (Restoril)).

Benzodiazepines Fact Sheet

Propoxyphene is an opioid prescribed to relieve mild to moderate pain, but by the request of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was voluntarily withdrawn from the market in November 2010. Physical symptoms include confusion, convulsions, dizziness, shallow breathing, and a slow heartbeat. When taken with other drugs or alcohol, it’s associated with drug-related deaths. (Darvon, Darvocet)

Methadone is primarily indicated for the management of pain severe enough to require daily, around-the-clock, long-term opioid treatment and for which alternative treatments are inadequate. It is also utilized to suppress withdrawal medications.  While considered a safer alternative to some other narcotics, the drug still carries a high risk of abuse and dangerous side effects. Physical side effects include drowsiness, lightheadedness, irregular heartbeat, fainting, impaired concentration, seizures, tremors, and more. More dangerous side effects of methadone include hallucinations, paranoia, delusions, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, and possibly death due to overdose.

Methadone Fact Sheet

Methaqualone is a sedative and hypnotic medication sold under the brand name Quaalude in the USA and Mandrax in the UK and South Africa. Physical side effects include drowsiness, slurred speech, reduced heart rate, nausea, shallow breathing, and numbness in the fingers and toes. More dangerous side effects of Methaqualone can cause memory loss, hallucinations, tremors, seizures, delirium, and possibly death due to overdose.

DISA synthetic drug tests provide the latest advancement in drug testing technology. Synthetic drugs go by a number of popular names and are trending at an alarming rate. Poison control centers and hospital emergency rooms across the U.S. report increasing incidents of abuse and overdose of synthetic or designer drugs on a daily basis.

Synthetic Stimulants (Bath Salts) are defined as synthetic cathinones, a cross between methamphetamine and LSD, or “acid” targeting the central nervous system. Synthetic stimulants are usually inhaled, ingested, and injected and are unregulated, sold in retail stores and on the internet. Additionally, bath salts have also been sold as ecstasy in powder form.

Bath Salts Fact Sheet

Synthetic Cannabinoids (K2/Spice) consist of plant material that resembles traditional marijuana sprayed with a chemical compound meant to mimic its effects. However, synthetic marijuana can be deadly. It has caused injury and even death to people who have smoked it.

K2/Spice Fact Sheet