Table 4-8.—Classification of abused drugs—Continued
| Group/Agent | Trade Name | Some Street Names | Symptoms of Abuse |
| F. HALLUCINOGENS | Trance like state, anxi- ety, confusion, tremors, euphoria, depression, hallucinations, psy- chotic manifestations, suicidal or homicidal tendencies. | ||
| Lysergic acid diethylamide | LSD, acid | ||
| Mescaline | |||
| Psilocin, psilocybin | Peyote | Buttons |
| G. CANNABIS | Marijuana | Pot, grass, weed, joint, Euphoria, excitability, tea, reefer, rope, Jane, hay | increased appetite, dryness of mouth, odor of burned rope on breath, intoxication, laughter, mood swings, increase in heart rate, reddening of eyes, loss of memory, distortion of time and spatial perception. |
alcohol (ethanol). It is the major chemical ingre- dient in wines, beers, and distilled liquors. Ethanol is a colorless, flammable, intoxicating liquid, classed as a drug because it depresses the central nervous system, affecting physical and mental activities.
Alcohol affects the body of the abuser in stages. Initially, there is a feeling of relaxation and well-being, followed by a gradual disruption of coordination, resulting in inability to accurately and efficiently perform normal activities and skills. Continued alcohol consumption depresses body functions sufficiently to impair breathing and to cause loss of consciousness, coma, and even death.
The physical and psychological addiction potential is very high when alcohol is abused. Withdrawal from alcohol by the abuser can result in delirium tremens (DTs), characterized by anx- iety, confusion, restless sleep, sweating, profound depression, hallucinations, and seizures.
Whether in or out of the health care facility, the severely intoxicated individual must be atten- tively monitored by the health care worker. Ob- viously, prevention of aspiration, when possible, is the first order of business. In alcohol intoxica- tion, emergency care is indicated following an episode of aspirating vomitus. If aspiration has occurred, airway management and maintenance of cardiopulmonary functions are critical emergency care measures.
Barbiturate Intoxication
The legitimate use of barbiturates is primarily to induce sleep and to relieve tension. They are depressants (downers), and statistically they are the most lethal of the abused drugs because of the depth of coma that can result from respiratory depression and circulatory collapse. The com- monly known drugs within this group include phenobarbital, amobarbital, pentobarbital, and secobarbital. They may appear in the form of cap- sules, tablets, and liquids. Overdose potential is extremely high, and can occur accidentally, especially if the barbiturate is taken in conjunc- tion with alcohol, which tends to multiply the ef- fects of depressant drugs. The physical symptoms of barbiturate abuse include slurred speech, faulty judgment, poor memory, staggering, tremors,