General
Commonly Used Recreational Medications
By prescriptionabuse.org
These are substances that are legally prescibed by doctors. They may also be used non-medically by recreational users.
In 1970 the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act was passed into law. Title II of this law, the Controlled Substances Act, is the legal foundation for narcotics enforcement in the United States.
The drugs and medications that come under the jurisdiction of the Controlled Substances Act are divided into five schedules. The following are examples of commonly used recreational medications:
| Schedule II Substances (high potential for abuse) |
| |
| Alfentanil (Alfenta) | Methamphetamine (Desoxyn) |
| Amobarbital (Amytal) | Methylphenidate (Ritalin) |
| Amphetamine (Dexedrine) | Mepridine (Demerol) |
| Codeine | Morphine |
| Dronabinol | Nabilone |
| Etorphine Hydrochloride | Opium (Pantopon) |
| Fentanyl (Duragesic) | Oxycodone (Percocet) |
| Glutethimide | Oxymorphone (Numorphan) |
| Hydromorphodone (Dilaudid) | Phendimetrazine (Preludin) |
| Levomethadyl (ORLAAM) | Phenobarbital (Nembutal) |
| Levorphanol | Phenylacetone |
| Marinol (Dronabinol) | Secobarbital (Seconal) |
| Methadone (Dolophine) | Sufentanil (Sufenta) |
| Schedule III Substances (some potential for abuse) |
| |
| Amobarbital Compounds | Hydrocodone (Vicodin) |
| Anabolic Steroids | Methyprylon (Noludar) |
| Benzphetamine (Didrex) | Paregoric |
| Butabarbital (Butisol) | Phendimetrazine (Plegine) |
| Butalbital (Fiorgen) | Phenobarbital Compounds |
| Chlorphentermine | Secobarbital Compounds |
| Clortermine | Tylenol with Codeine |
| Schedule IV Substances (lower potential for abuse) |
| |
| Alprazolam (Xanax) | Mephobarbital (Mebaral) |
| Chloral Hydrate | Meprobamate (Miltown) |
| Clorazepate (Tranxene) | Methohexital |
| Chlordiazepoxide (Librium) | Midazolam (Versed) |
| Clonazepam (Klonapin) | Oxazepam (Serax) |
| Detropropoxyphene (Darvon) | Paraldehyde |
| Diazepam (Valium) | Pemoline (Cylert) |
| Diethylpropion | Pentazocine (Talwin) |
| Ethchlorovynol (Placidyl) | Phenobarbital (Luminal) |
| Ethinamate (Valmid) | Phentermine (Fastin) |
| Fefluramine | Prazepam (Centrax) |
| Flurazepam (Dalmane) | Secobarbital (Seconal) |
| Halazepam (Paxipam) | Quazepam (Dormalin) |
| Lorazepam (Ativan) | Temazepam (Restoril) |
| Mebutamate | Triazolam (Halcion) |
Books Buzzed:
The Straight Facts About
the Most Used and Abused Drugs
from Alcohol to Ecstasy
An account of various drugs and their effects on the body, brain, and emotions. Also includes info about the addictive potential of the drugs discussed.
Includes alcohol, caffeine, ecstasy, hallucinogens, herbal drugs, inhalants, marijuana, nicotine, opiates, sedatives, steroids, stimulants, etc.
Buzzed From Chocolate to Morphine:
Everything You Need to Know
About Mind-Altering Drugs
A well written book about the history of drugs and drug use with black and white illustrations throughout. About 3/4 of the book deals with the drugs themselves, the rest is a look at the relationship between people and drugs.
In a way that neither condemns nor condones drug use, the authors describe the likely effects of each drug and discuss precautions and alternatives, allowing readers to make informed and intelligent choices.
Covers a wide range of substances like stimulants, depressants, hallucinogens, marijuana, solvents, PCP, ketamine, smart drugs, medical drugs, and more.
From Chocolate to Morphine Illegal Drugs:
A Complete Guide to Their
History, Chemistry, Use and Abuse
Very good book about the history, sociology, legal and medical aspects of illegal (and some legal) drugs. Looks at all the popular illegal drugs like marijuana, cocaine, heroin, etc. Also investigates legal drugs like caffeine, alcohol and tobacco. And covers more obscure drugs like betel nuts and kava kava.
At about 500 (easy to understand) pages, the book contains a lot of text that might overwhelm the casual reader looking for basic info. This is more for someone with a serious interest in the subject or someone doing research.
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