Sodium Amytal

Recreational drug use

Recreational drug use is the use of psychoactive drugs for recreational purposes rather than for work, medical or spiritual purposes, although the distinction is not always clear.

Psychopharmacologist Ronald K. Siegel refers to intoxication as the "fourth drive", arguing that the human instinct to seek mind-altering substances has so much force and persistence that it functions like the human drives for hunger, thirst and shelter.

Distinctions

Responsible drug use

The concept of responsible drug use is that a person can use recreational drugs with reduced or eliminated risk of negatively affecting other parts of one's life or other peoples lives. Advocates of this philosophy point to the many well-known artists and intellectuals who have used drugs, experimentally or otherwise, with few detrimental effects on their lives. Critics argue that the drugs are escapist--and dangerous, unpredictable and sometimes addictive, and have negative and profound effects in geographic areas well beyond the location of the consumer.

Drugs popularly used for recreation

Other Psychoactives

Other substances often used (street names in italics):

Barbiturates, including

amobarbital (Sodium Amytal)
aprobarbital (Alurate)
butalbital (Fiorinal, Fioricet)
methylphenobarbital (Mebaral)
sodium thiopental (Sodium Pentothal), truth serum
pentobarbital (Nembutal)
phenobarbital (Luminal)
secobarbital (Seconal)

Benzodiazepines, including

alprazolam (Xanax), xanies, bars
bromazepam (Lexotanil)
chlordiazepoxide (Librium)
clonazepam (Rivotril, Klonopin)
diazepam (Valium), vals, mommy's little helper
lorazepam (Temesta, Ativan)
flunitrazepam (Rohypnol), roofies, roachies, R2, Mexican Valium
midazolam (Dormicum)
nimetazepam (Erimin), Fai Chai (happy-5), Godfather, Kai Sing Guo (fruit of happiness)
nitrazepam (Mogadon), moggies, The Don
oxazepam (Seresta)
temazepam (Normison, Restoril), king kong pills, mazzies, jellies, wobbly eggs, knockouts

Nonbenzodiazepines, including

zaleplon (Sonata)
zolpidem (Ambien)
zopiclone (Imovane)
eszopiclone (Lunesta)

Deliriants, including

atropine (Tropane alkaloid)
diphenhydramine (Benadryl, Sominex)
dimenhydrinate (Dramamine)
Muscimol and Ibotenic acid, the psychoactive constituents of Amanita Muscaria mushrooms, ''toadstools'
nutmeg (in large doses)
scopolamine (Tropane alkaloid)

Dissociative anaesthetics, including

nitrous oxide, laughing gas
dextromethorphan (DXM), dex, dextro, skittles, robo

Triple Cs, CCC refers to a mixture of this and Chlorpheniramine maleate

ketamine (Ketaset, Ketanest, Ketalar), K, Special K
phencyclidine (PCP), angel dust

Opium (Papaver somniferum) and opioids, including

buprenorphine (Temgesic, Transtec, Subutex), Temies, Subbies
codeine

purple drank refers to a mixture of this and Promethazine

dextropropoxyphene (Depronal, Darvocet)
diacetylmorphine (Heroin), smack, junk
dihydrocodeine (DHC), (DF 118)
fentanyl (Duragesic, Sublimaze, Actiq)

3-Methylfentanyl

hydrocodone (Vicodin), (Lortab)
hydromorphone (Dilaudid), (Palladon)
meperidine, or Pethidine (Demerol)
methadone (Symoron, Methadose)
morphine (MS Contin, Oramorph, Kapanol)
nicomorphine (Morzet)
oxycodone (OxyContin, OxyNorm, Roxicodone), oxies, roxies, hillbilly heroin
oxymorphone (Opana)
pentazocine (Fortral)
tramadol (Ultram, Tramal, Tramagetic)

Phenethylamines, including, but not limited to

2C-B, nexus, bees
2C-E
2C-I, substance sometimes sold as mescaline
2C-T-2
2C-T-7
DOB
DOM
DOC, substance sometimes sold on blotter paper as LSD
ephedrine (ephedra)
MDMA, ecstasy, beans
MDEA
MDA
mescaline (found in peyote, peruvian torch, san pedro and other cacti).

For more information see: PiHKAL.

Stimulants, including

BZP and other piperazine-based drugs (mCPP, TFMPP)
cathinone (found in the khat plant)
cocaine, coke

crack refers to a freebase, cut form of the substance made for smoking

dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine, Adderall), speed, addys
methamphetamine (Desoxyn), meth, ice
methcathinone ("cat", chemically related to, but not to be confused with khat/qat/cathinone)
methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta)
ephedrine (yellow jackets, mini-thins)

Indole alkaloids, including, but not limited to

Tryptamines, including, but not limited to:

dimethyltryptamine (DMT, found in numerous plants), dimitri
psilocybin and psilocin (found in psychedelic mushrooms), shrooms
diisopropyltryptamine (DiPT)

LSA (Lysergic acid amide/ergine, found in Morning Glory seeds)
LSD (Lysergic acid diethylamide) (Delysid), acid, doses
Ibogaine (found in the Tabernanthe iboga plant)

For more information see: TiHKAL.

Inhalants, including

Unclassified

gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB)
kava
kratom
MAO inhibitors, to potentiate certain other drugs
salvinorin A, found in Salvia divinorum
Carisoprodol (Soma)
Yohimbine, found in dietary supplements and used primarily as an aphrodisiac

Drug use over time

USA

Drug use has increased in all categories since prohibition. Since 1937, 20% to 37% of the youth in the United States have used marijuana. One in four high school seniors have used the drug in the past month; one in ten 8th graders have done so. Between 1972 and 1988, the use of cocaine increased more than fivefold. The usage patterns of the current two most prevalent drugs, methamphetamine and ecstasy, have shown similar gains.

Ireland

A study in Ireland found that for teenagers aged 15-19:

86% drink alcohol (the legal alcohol purchase age and public drinking age is 18, although the drinking age in private is zero).

51% binge drink (defined as five drinks or more at occasion) at least once a month.
19% binge drink once a week.
On a typical drinking occasion, the average amount of alcoholic beverages consumed is 5.75 pints.
The average age for taking a first alcoholic drink is 13½.