Employees must report any conviction under a criminal drug statute for violations occurring in or on property owned or controlled by Bellevue College or while conducting Bellevue College business. An employee shall report any such conviction to their supervisor within five (5) days after the conviction. Bellevue College must report the conviction to the appropriate federal grant/contracting agency within ten (10) days after having received notice that a person employed under a federally sponsored grant or contract has any drug statute conviction or violation occurring in the workplace.
Bellevue College recognizes drug abuse and/or dependency to be a health, safety, and security problem. Employees needing assistance with problems related to drug or alcohol abuse are encouraged to use the State Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and/or employee medical insurance plans, as appropriate. Conscientious efforts to seek such help will not jeopardize employment.
Employees are encouraged to seek help from the Employee Assistance Program.
Bellevue College Human Resources
B126
hr@bellevuecollege.edu
Phone: 425-564-2274
Fax: 425-564-3173
- Alcohol Drug Helpline – This is an excellent resource for anyone who is overwhelmed and scared by their own or someone else’s alcohol or drug abuse.
- Rethinking Drinking: Alcohol & Your Health – Learn more about how drinking may affect your heath using this tool from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
- Eastside Intergroup 425-454-9192 (24-hour hotline) Address: 13401 Bel-Red Rd. Bellevue 98005 https://www.eastsideintergroup.org
- Alcoholics Anonymous: http://www.aa.org
- Al-anon (support for those affected by alcohol use): http://www.al-anon.org
- Narcotics Anonymous: http://www.na.org
| Cannabis (Marijuana/Pot/Weed) | |
| Marijuana is made from the hemp plant, Cannabis sativa. The main psychoactive (mind-altering) chemical in marijuana is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC. | |
| Commercial Names | Various brand names in states where the sale of marijuana is legal |
| Common Forms | Greenish-gray mixture of dried, shredded leaves, stems, seeds, and/or flowers; resin (hashish) or sticky, black liquid (hash oil) |
| Common Ways Taken | Smoked, Vaped, eaten (mixed in food or brewed as tea) |
| DEA Schedule | 1 |
| Possible Health Effects | |
| Short-Term | Enhanced sensory perception and euphoria followed by drowsiness/relaxation; slowed reaction time; problems with balance and coordination; increased heart rate and appetite; problems with learning and memory; anxiety. |
| Long-Term | Mental health problems, chronic cough, frequent respiratory infections. |
| Other Health-Related Issues | THC vaping products mixed with the filler Vitamin E acetate (and possibly other chemicals) has led to serious lung illnesses and deaths. Pregnancy: babies born with problems with attention, memory, and problem solving. |
| In Combination with Alcohol | Increased heart rate, blood pressure; further slowing of mental processing and reaction time. |
| Withdrawal Symptoms | Irritability, trouble sleeping, decreased appetite, anxiety. |
| Treatment Options | |
| Medications | There are no FDA-approved medications to treat marijuana addiction. |
| Behavioral Therapies | Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)Contingency management, or motivational incentives Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET) Behavioral treatments geared to adolescents Mobile medical application: reSET® |
| Central Nervous System Depressants (Benzos) | |
| Commercial Names | Barbiturates: pentobarbital (Nembutal®); Benzodiazepines: alprazolam (Xanax®), chlorodiazepoxide (Librium®), diazepam (Valium®), lorazepam (Ativan®), triazolam (Halicon®); Sleep Medications: eszopiclone (Lunesta®), zaleplon (Sonata®), zolpidem (Ambien®) |
| Common Forms | Pill, capsule, liquid |
| Common Ways Taken | Swallowed, injected, snorted |
| DEA Schedule | Barbiturates (2,3,4); Benzodiazepines & Sleep Medications (4) |
| Possible Health Effects | |
| Short-Term | Drowsiness, slurred speech, poor concentration, confusion, dizziness, problems with movement and memory, lowered blood pressure, slowed breathing. |
| Long-Term | Unknown. |
| Other Health-Related Issues | Sleep medications are sometimes used as date rape drugs. Risk of HIV, hepatitis, and other infectious diseases from shared needles. |
| In Combination with Alcohol | Further slows heart rate and breathing, which can lead to death. |
| Withdrawal Symptoms | Must be discussed with a health care provider; barbiturate withdrawal can cause a serious abstinence syndrome that may even include seizures. |
| Treatment Options | |
| Medications | There are no FDA-approved medications to treat addiction to prescription sedatives; lowering the dose over time must be done with the help of a health care provider. |
| Behavioral Therapies | More research is needed to find out if behavioral therapies can be used to treat addiction to prescription sedatives. |
| Cocaine (Coke/Crack) | |
| Commercial Names | Cocaine hydrochloride topical solution (low dose anesthetic used in certain medical procedures) |
| Common Forms | White powder, whitish rock crystal |
| Common Ways Taken | Snorted, smoked, injected |
| DEA Schedule | 2 |
| Possible Health Effects | |
| Short-Term | Narrowed blood vessels; enlarged pupils; increased body temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure; headache; abdominal pain and nausea; euphoria; increased energy, alertness; insomnia, restlessness; anxiety; erratic and violent behavior, panic attacks, paranoia, psychosis; heart rhythm problems, heart attack; stroke, seizure, coma. |
| Long-Term | Loss of sense of smell, nosebleeds, nasal damage and trouble swallowing from snorting; infection and death of bowel tissue from decreased blood flow; poor nutrition and weight loss; lung damage from smoking. |
| Other Health-Related Issues | Pregnancy: premature delivery, low birth weight, deficits in self-regulation and attention in school-aged children prenatally exposed. Risk of HIV, hepatitis, and other infectious diseases from shared needles. |
| In Combination with Alcohol | Greater risk of cardiac toxicity than from either drug alone. |
| Withdrawal Symptoms | Depression, tiredness, increased appetite, insomnia, vivid unpleasant dreams, slowed thinking and movement, restlessness. |
| Treatment Options | |
| Medications | There are no FDA-approved medications to treat cocaine addiction. |
| Behavioral Therapies | Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) Contingency management, or motivational incentives, including vouchers The Matrix Model Community-based recovery groups, such as 12-Step programs Mobile medical application: reSET® |
| Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) | |
| Commercial Names | Gamma-hydroxybutyrate or sodium oxybate (Xyrem®) |
| Common Forms | Colorless liquid, white powder |
| Common Ways Taken | Swallowed (often combined with alcohol or other beverages) |
| DEA Schedule | 1 |
| Possible Health Effects | |
| Short-Term | Euphoria, drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, confusion, memory loss, unconsciousness, slowed heart rate and breathing, lower body temperature, seizures, coma, death. |
| Long-Term | Unknown. |
| Other Health-Related Issues | Sometimes used as a date rape drug. |
| In Combination with Alcohol | Nausea, problems with breathing, greatly increased depressant effects. |
| Withdrawal Symptoms | Insomnia, anxiety, tremors, sweating, increased heart rate and blood pressure, psychotic thoughts. |
| Treatment Options | |
| Medications | Benzodiazepines. |
| Behavioral Therapies | More research is needed to find out if behavioral therapies can be used to treat GHB addiction. |
| Heroin | |
| Commercial Names | No commercial uses |
| Common Forms | White or brownish powder, or black sticky substance known as “black tar heroin” |
| Common Ways Taken | Injected, smoked, snorted |
| DEA Schedule | 1 |
| Possible Health Effects | |
| Short-Term | Euphoria; dry mouth; itching; nausea; vomiting; analgesia; slowed breathing and heart rate. |
| Long-Term | Collapsed veins; abscesses (swollen tissue with pus); infection of the lining and valves in the heart; constipation and stomach cramps; liver or kidney disease; pneumonia. |
| Other Health-Related Issues | Pregnancy: miscarriage, low birth weight, neonatal abstinence syndrome. Risk of HIV, hepatitis, and other infectious diseases from shared needles. |
| In Combination with Alcohol | Dangerous slowdown of heart rate and breathing, coma, death. |
| Withdrawal Symptoms | Restlessness, muscle and bone pain, insomnia, diarrhea, vomiting, cold flashes with goose bumps (“cold turkey”). |
| Treatment Options | |
| Medications | Methadone Buprenorphine Naltrexone (short- and long-acting forms) |
| Behavioral Therapies | Contingency management, or motivational incentives 12-Step facilitation therapy Mobile medical application: reSET-O™ used in conjunction with treatment that includes buprenorphine and contingency management |
| Inhalants | |
| Commercial Names | Various household products. Amyl nitrite (a prescription solution) is used to relieve pain of angina attacks (chest pain). |
| Common Forms | Paint thinners or removers, degreasers, dry-cleaning fluids, gasoline, lighter fluids, correction fluids, permanent markers, electronics cleaners and freeze sprays, glue, spray paint, hair or deodorant sprays, fabric protector sprays, aerosol computer cleaning products, vegetable oil sprays, butane lighters, propane tanks, whipped cream aerosol containers, refrigerant gases, ether, chloroform, halothane, nitrous oxide, prescription nitrites |
| Common Ways Taken | Inhaled through the nose or mouth |
| DEA Schedule | Not scheduled |
| Possible Health Effects | |
| Short-Term | Confusion; nausea; slurred speech; lack of coordination; euphoria; dizziness; drowsiness; disinhibition, lightheadedness, hallucinations/delusions; headaches; sudden sniffing death due to heart failure (from butane, propane, and other chemicals in aerosols); death from asphyxiation, suffocation, convulsions or seizures, coma, or choking. Nitrites: enlarged blood vessels, enhanced sexual pleasure, increased heart rate, brief sensation of heat and excitement, dizziness, headache. |
| Long-Term | Liver and kidney damage; bone marrow damage; limb spasms due to nerve damage; brain damage from lack of oxygen that can cause problems with thinking, movement, vision, and hearing. Nitrites: increased risk of pneumonia. |
| Other Health-Related Issues | Pregnancy: low birth weight, bone problems, delayed behavioral development due to brain problems, altered metabolism and body composition. |
| In Combination with Alcohol | Unknown. |
| Withdrawal Symptoms | Nausea, tremors, irritability, problems sleeping, and mood changes. |
| Treatment Options | |
| Medications | There are no FDA-approved medications to treat inhalant addiction. |
| Behavioral Therapies | More research is needed to find out if behavioral therapies can be used to treat inhalant addiction. |
| Ketamine | |
| Commercial Names | Ketalar®, a surgical anesthetic; SpravatoTM (esketamine), prescribed for treatment resistant depression used under strict medical supervision; Ketaset, a surgical anesthesia used by veterinarians |
| Common Forms | Liquid, white powder |
| Common Ways Taken | When misused: Injected, snorted, smoked (powder added to tobacco or marijuana cigarettes), swallowed; Prescription formulas are injections or nasal sprays. |
| DEA Schedule | 3 |
| Possible Health Effects | |
| Short-Term | Problems with attention, learning, and memory; dreamlike states, hallucinations; sedation; confusion; loss of memory; raised blood pressure; unconsciousness; dangerously slowed breathing. |
| Long-Term | Ulcers and pain in the bladder; kidney problems; stomach pain; depression; poor memory. |
| Other Health-Related Issues | Sometimes used as a date rape drug. Risk of HIV, hepatitis, and other infectious diseases from shared needles. |
| In Combination with Alcohol | Increased risk of adverse effects. |
| Withdrawal Symptoms | Unknown. |
| Treatment Options | |
| Medications | There are no FDA-approved medications to treat addiction to ketamine or other dissociative drugs. |
| Behavioral Therapies | More research is needed to find out if behavioral therapies can be used to treat addiction to dissociative drugs. |
| Kratom | |
| Commercial Names | None |
| Common Forms | Fresh or dried leaves, powder, liquid, gum |
| Common Ways Taken | Chewed (whole leaves); eaten (mixed in food or brewed as tea); occasionally smoked |
| DEA Schedule | Not scheduled |
| Possible Health Effects | |
| Short-Term | Nausea, dizziness, itching, sweating, dry mouth, constipation, increased urination, loss of appetite. Low doses: increased energy, sociability, alertness. High doses: sedation, euphoria, decreased pain. |
| Long-Term | Anorexia, weight loss, insomnia, skin darkening, dry mouth, frequent urination, constipation. Hallucinations with long-term use at high doses in some users. |
| Other Health-Related Issues | Unknown. |
| In Combination with Alcohol | Unknown. |
| Withdrawal Symptoms | Muscle aches, insomnia, hostility, aggression, emotional changes, runny nose, jerky movements. |
| Treatment Options | |
| Medications | No clinical trials have been conducted on medications for kratom addiction. |
| Behavioral Therapies | More research is needed to find out if behavioral therapies can be used to treat addiction to kratom. |
| LSD (Acid) | |
| Commercial Names | No commercial uses |
| Common Forms | Tablet; capsule; clear liquid; small, decorated squares of absorbent paper that liquid has been added to |
| Common Ways Taken | Swallowed, absorbed through mouth tissues (paper squares) |
| DEA Schedule | 1 |
| Possible Health Effects | |
| Short-Term | Rapid emotional swings; distortion of a person’s ability to recognize reality, think rationally, or communicate with others; raised blood pressure, heart rate, body temperature; dizziness; loss of appetite; tremors; enlarged pupils. |
| Long-Term | Frightening flashbacks (called Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder [HPPD]); ongoing visual disturbances, disorganized thinking, paranoia, and mood swings. |
| Other Health-Related Issues | Unknown. |
| In Combination with Alcohol | Unknown. |
| Withdrawal Symptoms | Unknown. |
| Treatment Options | |
| Medications | There are no FDA-approved medications to treat addiction to LSD or other hallucinogens. |
| Behavioral Therapies | More research is needed to find out if behavioral therapies can be used to treat addiction to hallucinogens. |
| MDMA (Ecstasy/Molly) | |
| Commercial Names | No commercial uses; is being researched as therapy for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) under strict medical supervision. |
| Common Forms | Colorful tablets with imprinted logos, capsules, powder, liquid |
| Common Ways Taken | Swallowed, snorted |
| DEA Schedule | 1 |
| Possible Health Effects | |
| Short-Term | Lowered inhibition; enhanced sensory perception; increased heart rate and blood pressure; muscle tension; nausea; faintness; chills or sweating; sharp rise in body temperature leading to kidney failure or death. |
| Long-Term | Long-lasting confusion, depression, problems with attention, memory, and sleep; increased anxiety, impulsiveness; less interest in sex. |
| Other Health-Related Issues | Unknown. |
| In Combination with Alcohol | MDMA decreases some of alcohol’s effects. Alcohol can increase plasma concentrations of MDMA, which may increase the risk of neurotoxic effects. |
| Withdrawal Symptoms | Fatigue, loss of appetite, depression, trouble concentrating. |
| Treatment Options | |
| Medications | There is conflicting evidence about whether MDMA is addictive. There are no FDA-approved medications to treat MDMA addiction. |
| Behavioral Therapies | More research is needed to find out if behavioral therapies can be used to treat MDMA addiction. |
| Mescaline (Peyote) | |
| Commercial Names | No commercial uses |
| Common Forms | Fresh or dried buttons, capsule |
| Common Ways Taken | Swallowed (chewed or soaked in water and drunk) |
| DEA Schedule | 1 |
| Possible Health Effects | |
| Short-Term | Enhanced perception and feeling; hallucinations; euphoria; anxiety; increased body temperature, heart rate, blood pressure; sweating; problems with movement. |
| Long-Term | Unknown. |
| Other Health-Related Issues | Unknown. |
| In Combination with Alcohol | Unknown. |
| Withdrawal Symptoms | Unknown. |
| Treatment Options | |
| Medications | There are no FDA-approved medications to treat addiction to mescaline or other hallucinogens. |
| Behavioral Therapies | There are no FDA-approved medications to treat addiction to mescaline or other hallucinogens. |
| Methamphetamine (Crystal/Meth) | |
| Commercial Names | Desoxyn® used to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. |
| Common Forms | White powder or pill; crystal meth looks like pieces of glass or shiny blue-white “rocks” of different sizes |
| Common Ways Taken | Swallowed, snorted, smoked, injected |
| DEA Schedule | 2 |
| Possible Health Effects | |
| Short-Term | Increased wakefulness and physical activity; decreased appetite; increased breathing, heart rate, blood pressure, temperature; irregular heartbeat. |
| Long-Term | Anxiety, confusion, insomnia, mood problems, violent behavior, paranoia, hallucinations, delusions, weight loss, severe dental problems, intense itching leading to skin sores from scratching. |
| Other Health-Related Issues | Pregnancy: premature delivery; separation of the placenta from the uterus; low birth weight; lethargy; heart and brain problems. Risk of HIV, hepatitis, and other infectious diseases from shared needles. |
| In Combination with Alcohol | Masks the depressant effect of alcohol, increasing risk of alcohol overdose; may increase blood pressure. |
| Withdrawal Symptoms | Depression, anxiety, tiredness. |
| Treatment Options | |
| Medications | There are no FDA-approved medications to treat methamphetamine addiction. |
| Behavioral Therapies | Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) Contingency management, or motivational incentives The Matrix Model 12-Step facilitation therapy Mobile medical application: reSET® |
| Over-the-Counter Medicines—Dextromethorphan (DXM) | |
| Commercial Names | Various (many brand names include “DM”) |
| Common Forms | Syrup, capsule |
| Common Ways Taken | Swallowed |
| DEA Schedule | Not scheduled |
| Possible Health Effects | |
| Short-Term | Cough relief; euphoria; slurred speech; increased heart rate and blood pressure; dizziness; nausea; vomiting. |
| Long-Term | Unknown. |
| Other Health-Related Issues | Breathing problems, seizures, and increased heart rate may occur from other ingredients in cough/cold medicines. |
| In Combination with Alcohol | Unknown. |
| Withdrawal Symptoms | Unknown. |
| Treatment Options | |
| Medications | There are no FDA-approved medications to treat addiction to dextromethorphan. |
| Behavioral Therapies | More research is needed to find out if behavioral therapies can be used to treat addiction to dextromethorphan. |
| Over-the-Counter Medicines—Loperamide | |
| Commercial Names | Imodium®, an OTC medication for diarrhea |
| Common Forms | Tablet, capsule, or liquid |
| Common Ways Taken | Swallowed |
| DEA Schedule | Not scheduled |
| Possible Health Effects | |
| Short-Term | Controls diarrhea symptoms. In high does, can produce euphoria. May lessen cravings and withdrawal symptoms of other drugs. |
| Long-Term | Unknown. |
| Other Health-Related Issues | Fainting, stomach pain, constipation, loss of consciousness, cardiovascular toxicity, pupil dilation, drowsiness, dizziness, and kidney failure from urinary retention. |
| In Combination with Alcohol | Unknown. |
| Withdrawal Symptoms | Severe anxiety, vomiting, and diarrhea. |
| Treatment Options | |
| Medications | There are no FDA-approved medications to treat loperamide addiction. |
| Behavioral Therapies | The same behavioral therapies that have helped treat addiction to heroin may be used to treat addiction to loperamide. Contingency management, or motivational incentives |
| PCP (Angel Dust) | |
| Commercial Names | No commercial uses |
| Common Forms | White or colored powder, tablet, or capsule; clear liquid |
| Common Ways Taken | Injected, snorted, swallowed, smoked (powder added to mint, parsley, oregano, or marijuana) |
| DEA Schedule | 1,2 |
| Possible Health Effects | |
| Short-Term | Delusions, hallucinations, paranoia, problems thinking, a sense of distance from one’s environment, anxiety. Low doses: slight increase in breathing rate; increased blood pressure and heart rate; shallow breathing; face redness and sweating; numbness of the hands or feet; problems with movement. High doses: nausea; vomiting; flicking up and down of the eyes; drooling; loss of balance; dizziness; violence; seizures, coma, and death. |
| Long-Term | Memory loss, problems with speech and thinking, loss of appetite, anxiety. |
| Other Health-Related Issues | PCP has been linked to self-injury. Risk of HIV, hepatitis, and other infectious diseases from shared needles. |
| In Combination with Alcohol | Unknown. |
| Withdrawal Symptoms | Headaches, increased appetite, sleepiness, depression. |
| Treatment Options | |
| Medications | There are no FDA-approved medications to treat addiction to PCP or other dissociative drugs. |
| Behavioral Therapies | More research is needed to find out if behavioral therapies can be used to treat addiction to dissociative drugs. |
| Prescription Opioids (Oxy/Percs) | |
| Commercial Names | Codeine, Fentanyl (Actiq®, Duragesic®, Sublimaze®); Hydrocodone or dihydrocodeinone (Vicodin®, Norco®, Zohydro®, and others); Hydromorphone (Dilaudid®); Meperidine (Demerol®); Methadone (Dolophine®, Methadose®); Morphine (Duramorph®, MS Contin®); Oxycodone (OxyContin®, Percodan®, Percocet®, and others); Oxymorphone (Opana®) |
| Common Forms | Tablet, capsule, liquid; Lozenge, sublingual tablet, film, buccal tablet; suppository; dispersible tablet |
| Common Ways Taken | Injected, swallowed, mixed with soda and flavorings, snorted |
| DEA Schedule | 2 (Codeine 2,3,5) (Morphine 2,3) |
| Possible Health Effects | |
| Short-Term | Pain relief, drowsiness, nausea, constipation, euphoria, slowed breathing, death. |
| Long-Term | Increased risk of overdose or addiction if misused. |
| Other Health-Related Issues | Pregnancy: Miscarriage, low birth weight, neonatal abstinence syndrome. Older adults: higher risk of accidental misuse because many older adults have multiple prescriptions, increasing the risk of drug-drug interactions, and breakdown of drugs slows with age; also, many older adults are treated with prescription medications for pain. Risk of HIV, hepatitis, and other infectious diseases from shared needles. |
| In Combination with Alcohol | Dangerous slowing of heart rate and breathing leading to coma or death. |
| Withdrawal Symptoms | Restlessness, muscle and bone pain, insomnia, diarrhea, vomiting, cold flashes with goose bumps (“cold turkey”), leg movements. |
| Treatment Options | |
| Medications | Methadone Buprenorphine Naltrexone (short- and long-acting) |
| Behavioral Therapies | The same behavioral therapies that have helped treat addiction to heroin are used to treat prescription opioid addiction. |
| Prescription Stimulants (Speed) | |
| Commercial Names | Amphetamine (Adderall®) Methylphenidate (Concerta®, Ritalin®) |
| Common Forms | Tablet, capsule, Liquid, tablet, chewable tablet |
| Common Ways Taken | Swallowed, snorted, smoked, injected, chewed |
| DEA Schedule | 2 |
| Possible Health Effects | |
| Short-Term | Increased alertness, attention, energy; increased blood pressure and heart rate; narrowed blood vessels; increased blood sugar; opened-up breathing passages. High doses: dangerously high body temperature and irregular heartbeat; heart disease; seizures. |
| Long-Term | Heart problems, psychosis, anger, paranoia. |
| Other Health-Related Issues | Risk of HIV, hepatitis, and other infectious diseases from shared needles. |
| In Combination with Alcohol | Masks the depressant action of alcohol, increasing risk of alcohol overdose; may increase blood pressure. |
| Withdrawal Symptoms | Depression, tiredness, sleep problems. |
| Treatment Options | |
| Medications | There are no FDA-approved medications to treat stimulant addiction. |
| Behavioral Therapies | Behavioral therapies that have helped treat addiction to cocaine or methamphetamine may be useful in treating prescription stimulant addiction. Mobile medical application: reSET® |
| Psilocybin (Magic Mushrooms/Shrooms) | |
| Commercial Names | No commercial uses; being researched as therapy for treatment-resistant depression under strict medical supervision. |
| Common Forms | Fresh or dried mushrooms with long, slender stems topped by caps with dark gills |
| Common Ways Taken | Swallowed (eaten, brewed as tea, or added to other foods) |
| DEA Schedule | 1 |
| Possible Health Effects | |
| Short-Term | Hallucinations, altered perception of time, inability to tell fantasy from reality, panic, muscle relaxation or weakness, problems with movement, enlarged pupils, nausea, vomiting, drowsiness. |
| Long-Term | Risk of flashbacks and memory problems. |
| Other Health-Related Issues | Risk of poisoning if a poisonous mushroom is accidentally used. |
| In Combination with Alcohol | May decrease the perceived effects of alcohol. |
| Withdrawal Symptoms | Unknown. |
| Treatment Options | |
| Medications | It is not known whether psilocybin is addictive. There are no FDA-approved medications to treat addiction to psilocybin or other hallucinogens. |
| Behavioral Therapies | More research is needed to find out if psilocybin is addictive and whether behavioral therapies can be used to treat addiction to this or other hallucinogens. |
| Rohypnol® (Flunitrazepam/Roofies) | |
| Commercial Names | Flunitrazepam, Rohypnol® |
| Common Forms | Tablet |
| Common Ways Taken | Swallowed (as a pill or as dissolved in a drink), snorted |
| DEA Schedule | 4** – Rohypnol® is not approved for medical use in the United States; it is available as a prescription sleep aid in other countries |
| Possible Health Effects | |
| Short-Term | Drowsiness, sedation, sleep; amnesia, blackout; decreased anxiety; muscle relaxation, impaired reaction time and motor coordination; impaired mental functioning and judgment; confusion; aggression; excitability; slurred speech; headache; slowed breathing and heart rate. |
| Long-Term | Unknown. |
| Other Health-Related Issues | Unknown. |
| In Combination with Alcohol | Severe sedation, unconsciousness, and slowed heart rate and breathing, which can lead to death. |
| Withdrawal Symptoms | Headache; muscle pain; extreme anxiety, tension, restlessness, confusion, irritability; numbness and tingling of hands or feet; hallucinations, delirium, convulsions, seizures, or shock. |
| Treatment Options | |
| Medications | There are no FDA-approved medications to treat addiction to Rohypnol® or other prescription sedatives. |
| Behavioral Therapies | More research is needed to find out if behavioral therapies can be used to treat addiction to Rohypnol® or other prescription sedatives. |
| Salvia | |
| Commercial Names | Sold legally in most states as Salvia divinorum |
| Common Forms | Fresh or dried leaves |
| Common Ways Taken | Smoked, chewed, or brewed as tea |
| DEA Schedule | Not Scheduled (but labeled drug of concern by DEA and illegal in some states) |
| Possible Health Effects | |
| Short-Term | Short-lived but intense hallucinations; altered visual perception, mood, body sensations; mood swings, feelings of detachment from one’s body; sweating. |
| Long-Term | Unknown. |
| Other Health-Related Issues | Unknown. |
| In Combination with Alcohol | Unknown. |
| Withdrawal Symptoms | Unknown. |
| Treatment Options | |
| Medications | It is not known whether salvia is addictive. There are no FDA-approved medications to treat addiction to salvia or other dissociative drugs. |
| Behavioral Therapies | More research is needed to find out if salvia is addictive, but behavioral therapies can be used to treat addiction to dissociative drugs. |
| Steroids (Anabolic) | |
| Commercial Names | Nandrolone (Oxandrin®), oxandrolone (Anadrol®), oxymetholone (Anadrol-50®), testosterone cypionate (Depo-testosterone®) |
| Common Forms | Tablet, capsule, liquid drops, gel, cream, patch, injectable solution |
| Common Ways Taken | Injected, swallowed, applied to skin |
| DEA Schedule | 3 |
| Possible Health Effects | |
| Short-Term | Builds muscles, improved athletic performance. Acne, fluid retention (especially in the hands and feet), oily skin, yellowing of the skin, infection. |
| Long-Term | Kidney damage or failure; liver damage; high blood pressure, enlarged heart, or changes in cholesterol leading to increased risk of stroke or heart attack, even in young people; aggression; extreme mood swings; anger (“roid rage”); extreme irritability; delusions; impaired judgment. |
| Other Health-Related Issues | Males: shrunken testicles, lowered sperm count, infertility, baldness, development of breasts. Females: facial hair, male-pattern baldness, enlargement of the clitoris, deepened voice. Adolescents: stunted growth. Risk of HIV, hepatitis, and other infectious diseases from shared needles. |
| In Combination with Alcohol | Increased risk of violent behavior. |
| Withdrawal Symptoms | Mood swings; tiredness; restlessness; loss of appetite; insomnia; lowered sex drive; depression, sometimes leading to suicide attempts. |
| Treatment Options | |
| Medications | Hormone therapy |
| Behavioral Therapies | More research is needed to find out if behavioral therapies can be used to treat steroid addiction. |
| Synthetic Cannabinoids (K2/Spice) | |
| Commercial Names | No commercial uses, but new formulations are sold under various names to attract young adults. Many formulations have been outlawed. |
| Common Forms | Dried, shredded plant material that looks like potpourri and is sometimes sold as “incense” |
| Common Ways Taken | Smoked, swallowed (brewed as tea) |
| DEA Schedule | 1 |
| Possible Health Effects | |
| Short-Term | Increased heart rate; vomiting; agitation; confusion; hallucinations, anxiety, paranoia; increased blood pressure. |
| Long-Term | Unknown. |
| Other Health-Related Issues | Use of synthetic cannabinoids has led to an increase in emergency room visits in certain areas. |
| In Combination with Alcohol | Unknown. |
| Withdrawal Symptoms | Headaches, anxiety, depression, irritability. |
| Treatment Options | |
| Medications | There are no FDA-approved medications to treat K2/Spice addiction. |
| Behavioral Therapies | More research is needed to find out if behavioral therapies can be used to treat synthetic cannabinoid addiction. |
| Synthetic Cathinones (Bath Salts/Flakka) | |
| Commercial Names | No commercial uses for ingested “bath salts.” No relation to “Epsom salt,” sold as a bath product. |
| Common Forms | White or brown crystalline powder sold in small plastic or foil packages labeled “not for human consumption” and sometimes sold as jewelry cleaner; tablet, capsule, liquid |
| Common Ways Taken | Swallowed, snorted, injected |
| DEA Schedule | 1; Some formulations have been banned by the DEA |
| Possible Health Effects | |
| Short-Term | Increased heart rate and blood pressure; euphoria; increased sociability and sex drive; paranoia, agitation, and hallucinations; violent behavior; sweating; nausea, vomiting; insomnia; irritability; dizziness; depression; panic attacks; reduced motor control; cloudy thinking. |
| Long-Term | Death. |
| Other Health-Related Issues | Risk of HIV, hepatitis, and other infectious diseases from shared needles. |
| In Combination with Alcohol | Unknown. |
| Withdrawal Symptoms | Depression, anxiety. |
| Treatment Options | |
| Medications | There are no FDA-approved medications to treat addiction to synthetic cathinones. |
| Behavioral Therapies | Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) Contingency management, or motivational incentives Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET) Behavioral treatments geared to teens |
| Tobacco/Nicotine and Vaping | |
| Commercial Names | Multiple brand names |
| Common Forms | cigarettes, vaping devices, e-cigarettes, cigars, bidis, hookahs, kreteks Smokeless tobacco: snuff, spit tobacco, chew |
| Common Ways Taken | Smoked, snorted, chewed, vaporized |
| DEA Schedule | Not Scheduled |
| Possible Health Effects | |
| Short-Term | Increased blood pressure, breathing, and heart rate. Exposes lungs to a variety of chemicals. Vaping also exposes lung s to metallic vapors created by heating the coils in the device. |
| Long-Term | Greatly increased risk of cancer, especially lung cancer when smoked and oral cancers when chewed; chronic bronchitis; emphysema; heart disease; leukemia; cataracts; pneumonia. |
| Other Health-Related Issues | Nicotine: in teens it can affect the development of brain circuits that control attention and learning. Tobacco products: Use while pregnant can lead to miscarriage, low birth weight, stillbirth, learning and behavior problems. Vaping products: Some are mixed with the filler Vitamin E acetate and other chemicals, leading to serious lung illnesses and deaths. |
| In Combination with Alcohol | Unknown. |
| Withdrawal Symptoms | Irritability, attention and sleep problems, depression, increased appetite. |
| Treatment Options | |
| Medications | Bupropion (Zyban®) Varenicline (Chantix®) Nicotine replacement (gum, patch, lozenge) |
| Behavioral Therapies | Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) Self-help materials Mail, phone, and internet quitting resources |
Last Updated September 19, 2023