Get the facts about the most commonly used drugs. Learn what they are and how using drugs can affect your body and your mind. Image Brain and Addiction What role does your brain play in drug addiction? Learn more about the science, risks and treatment of addiction. Image Mental Health It is not uncommon for someone with a substance use disorder to also experience a mental health disorder, such as depression or anxiety. Image Drug Overdoses in Youth How many young people die from drug overdoses? Find data by drug type. Image Commonly Used Drugs Charts Provides information on the short- and long-term effects of commonly used illegal drugs and treatment options. Image What Are Drugs and How to Recognize Them Gives brief descriptions of different types of drugs. Image How Do Drugs Affect the Brain Briefly describes how more than 15 different types of drugs affect the teen brain. Image Alcohol Teen drinking can put teens' health and safety at risk. Find out how drinking can affect brain development and put teens at risk for alcoholism in the future. Image Bath Salts Use of “bath salts” can cause severe intoxication (a person seems very drunk or “out of it”) and dangerous health effects. Image Cocaine Stimulants like cocaine can disrupt how the brain’s dopamine system works, reducing a person’s ability to feel pleasure from normal, everyday activities. Image Cough and Cold Medicines Did you know you can overdose on cough medicine ('tussin', 'lean')? Learn about the health effects of using cough medicine & what to do if someone you know needs help. Image Heroin Heroin is a very addictive drug made from morphine, a psychoactive (mind-altering) substance taken from the resin of the seed pod of the opium poppy plant. Image Inhalants Chemicals found in these products can change the way the brain works and cause other problems in the body. Image Marijuana THC can affect decision making, concentration, and memory for days after use, especially in people who use regularly. Image MDMA (Ecstasy or Molly) MDMA can cause problems with the body’s ability to control temperature, especially when it is used in active, hot settings (like dance parties or concerts). Image Methamphetamine (Meth) Meth can have dangerous effects like raising heart rate and blood pressure, and use can lead to addiction. Image Prescription Drugs Prescription drug misuse has become a large public health problem, because misuse can lead to addiction, and even overdose deaths. Image Prescription Depressant Medications Depressants should not be combined with any medicine or substance that causes sleepiness. If combined, they can slow both the heart rate and breathing. Image Prescription Stimulant Medications (Amphetamines) Taking high doses of a stimulant can raise a person’s body temperature and blood pressure to dangerous levels and make the heart beat irregularly. Image Prescription Pain Medications (Opioids) Mixing prescription opioid medications with alcohol can cause a dangerous slowing of the heart rate and breathing. Image Salvia Researchers are studying salvia to learn exactly how it acts in the brain to produce its effects. Image Spice Spice can have unpredictable and dangerous health effects. Image Steroids, Anabolic People who misuse anabolic steroids can experience many effects, some of which are serious. Image Tobacco, Nicotine, & Vaping (E-Cigarettes) Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of disease, disability, and death in the United States. Image Drug Use and Your Mouth Drug use can affect your teeth, gums and tongue. Learn more about what damage your dentist can see. Image NIDA’s Easy-to-Read Web Site Listen to the facts about drug use, addiction, and treatment. Image Viral Infections (HIV, Hepatitis) and Drug Use Drug use can increase a person’s risk for getting a viral infection, like HIV or hepatitis. Past Chat Day Transcripts
Image Brain and Addiction What role does your brain play in drug addiction? Learn more about the science, risks and treatment of addiction.
Image Mental Health It is not uncommon for someone with a substance use disorder to also experience a mental health disorder, such as depression or anxiety.
Image Commonly Used Drugs Charts Provides information on the short- and long-term effects of commonly used illegal drugs and treatment options.
Image How Do Drugs Affect the Brain Briefly describes how more than 15 different types of drugs affect the teen brain.
Image Alcohol Teen drinking can put teens' health and safety at risk. Find out how drinking can affect brain development and put teens at risk for alcoholism in the future.
Image Bath Salts Use of “bath salts” can cause severe intoxication (a person seems very drunk or “out of it”) and dangerous health effects.
Image Cocaine Stimulants like cocaine can disrupt how the brain’s dopamine system works, reducing a person’s ability to feel pleasure from normal, everyday activities.
Image Cough and Cold Medicines Did you know you can overdose on cough medicine ('tussin', 'lean')? Learn about the health effects of using cough medicine & what to do if someone you know needs help.
Image Heroin Heroin is a very addictive drug made from morphine, a psychoactive (mind-altering) substance taken from the resin of the seed pod of the opium poppy plant.
Image Inhalants Chemicals found in these products can change the way the brain works and cause other problems in the body.
Image Marijuana THC can affect decision making, concentration, and memory for days after use, especially in people who use regularly.
Image MDMA (Ecstasy or Molly) MDMA can cause problems with the body’s ability to control temperature, especially when it is used in active, hot settings (like dance parties or concerts).
Image Methamphetamine (Meth) Meth can have dangerous effects like raising heart rate and blood pressure, and use can lead to addiction.
Image Prescription Drugs Prescription drug misuse has become a large public health problem, because misuse can lead to addiction, and even overdose deaths.
Image Prescription Depressant Medications Depressants should not be combined with any medicine or substance that causes sleepiness. If combined, they can slow both the heart rate and breathing.
Image Prescription Stimulant Medications (Amphetamines) Taking high doses of a stimulant can raise a person’s body temperature and blood pressure to dangerous levels and make the heart beat irregularly.
Image Prescription Pain Medications (Opioids) Mixing prescription opioid medications with alcohol can cause a dangerous slowing of the heart rate and breathing.
Image Salvia Researchers are studying salvia to learn exactly how it acts in the brain to produce its effects.
Image Steroids, Anabolic People who misuse anabolic steroids can experience many effects, some of which are serious.
Image Tobacco, Nicotine, & Vaping (E-Cigarettes) Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of disease, disability, and death in the United States.
Image Drug Use and Your Mouth Drug use can affect your teeth, gums and tongue. Learn more about what damage your dentist can see.
Image Viral Infections (HIV, Hepatitis) and Drug Use Drug use can increase a person’s risk for getting a viral infection, like HIV or hepatitis.
