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Substance use exists on a continuum of harm with abstinence at one end of the spectrum, representing low risk of harm, and substance use disorders at the other end of the spectrum, indicating high risk of harm.
Substance use terminology
There are vast differences in the way different people use substances and most substance use in the general population is non-problematic. When we are talking to people about substance use, it is best practice to use terms which accurately reflect the individual’s substance use characteristics. The following definitions are adapted from the World Health Organisation's definitions:
| Abstinence | No use of alcohol or substances. |
|---|---|
| Addiction/dependence | In 1964, the World Health Organisation expert committee introduced the term ‘dependence’ to replace the terms ‘addiction’. |
| Alcohol or substance use | The use of alcohol or substances with minimal harm. |
| Experimental use | The use of a substance once or twice. |
| Recreational use | Social use of substances. |
| Opportunistic use | Using substances when the opportunity presents itself. For example, when friends offer substances. |
| Circumstantial use | Using substances to cope with a challenging circumstance. |
| Escalating use |
The substance use is increasing in amount and frequency. Generally, as substance use intensifies, so do the problems associated with substance use. |
| Problematic substance or alcohol use | The use of alcohol or substances results in harm to the person using substances or others. |
| Dependence |
Psychoactive substances cause a release of neurochemicals that initiate a flood of pleasurable feelings. With repeated use, the sensitivity of the brain to these neurochemicals decreases (tolerance), and more substance is needed to produce the same or lesser effect. The areas of the brain involved in motivation (seeking pleasure/reward), stress, and self-control are the regions most impacted by dependence. |
| Withdrawal | Physical and psychological symptoms the person experiences when they reduce or stop using a drug. Withdrawal symptoms are relieved by resuming use of that drug. |
| Substance use disorder | Formally known as drug addiction, substance use disorder is a disease affecting a person’s brain and behaviour and leads to an inability to control the use of legal or illegal drugs and medicine. |
The following 5-minute video, created by Andreas Hykade (Filmbilder), Nuggets is a minimalist animated masterpiece that tells a profound story that follows a small, kiwi bird who discovers the fleeting bliss of golden 'nuggets', a powerful, visual allegory for the devastating cycle of addiction.
Common substances
| Drug category | Feelings associated | Drug type | Other names for drug |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stimulant |
Euphoria |
Amphetamine | Speed, up, uppers, louee, goey, whiz, rack |
| Betel Nut | |||
| Caffeine* | |||
| Cocaine | Blow, Charlie, coke, cola, crack, dust, freebase, llello, nose candy, snow, toot, white | ||
| Crystal Methamphetamine | Ice, crystal meth, meth, shabu, crystal, glass, rock, tina, T, frosty, shared, P | ||
| Synthetic cathinones | |||
| Nicotine / vapes* | e-liquid, e-juice, vape juice, or juice | ||
| Tobacco* | Cigarettes, ciggies, cigs, darts, durries, rollies, smokes, cancer sticks, tailor-mades, chop-chop, cigars, cigarillos, shisha, snuff, snus | ||
| Depressants | Euphoria Nausea Confidence Vomiting Dependence Mood swings Unconsciousness Coma Death |
Alcohol* | Booze, grog, piss, liquor, charge, plonk, bevvies, nip |
| Benzodiazepines* | Benzos, tranx, sleepers, downers, pills, xannies, serras (Serepax), moggies (Mogadon), normies (Mormison) | ||
| GHB | G, fantasy, juice, liquid ecstasy, liquid E, liquid X, Georgia Home Boy, soap, scoop, cherry meth, blue nitro, fishies, Fanta, Frank | ||
| Kava | Kawa, waka, lewena, yaquona, grog (Fiji), sakau (Pohnpei), ‘awa (Hawaii), ‘ava (Samoa) wati (New Guinea) | ||
| Opioids | Euphoria Relaxation & wellbeing Pain relief Impaired concentration Sleepy Reduced sex drive Sweating Constipation Heart & lung problems |
Buprenorphine* | Bup, B, subs, bupe, orange |
| Codeine* | Aspirin & codeine, Ibuprofen & codeine, Paracetamol & codeine, Paracetamol & codeine and doxylamine | ||
| Fentanyl | Goodfella, jackpot, murder 8, TNT, Tango and cash, fetty, fent, sublimaze, Actiq, Durogesic, Duragesic | ||
| Heroin | Smack, hear, hammer, the dragon, H, dope, junk, harry, horse, black tar, white dynamite, homebake, China white, Chinese H, poison, Dr Harry | ||
| Methadone* | Done, ‘the done’ | ||
| Nitazenes | |||
| Oxycodone* | Hillbilly heroin, oxy, OC, O | ||
| Opium | Aunti, Aunti Emma, Big O, O, black pill, Chandu, Chinese Molasses, dopium, dream gun, midnight oil, zero, Gee, Guma | ||
| Psychedelics | Increase body temperature Loss of coordination Hallucinations Distorted perceptions Disorganised thoughts Euphoria Panic Paranoia Anxiety |
Ayahuasca | Huasca, aya, yagé, Kamarampi, Huni, brew, daime, the tea, la purga |
| LSD | Acid, trips, tabs, microdots, dots, Lucy | ||
| NBOMes | N-Bomb, Bom-25, 2C-I-NBOMe, 25-I-NBOMe, 25I, Pandora, Solaris, Divination, Wizard, and Smiley Paper | ||
| Psilocybin (Magic mushroom) | Shrooms, mushies, blue meanies, golden tops, liberty caps | ||
| DMT | Dimitri, Deems The spirit molecule, Changa, Fantasia, the glory, the sacrament | ||
| 2C-B | Nexus, BDMPEA, Venus, Bees | ||
| Salvia | Diviner’s Sage, Ska Maria Pastora, Seer’s Sage | ||
| Cannabinoids |
Anxious Dry mouth Paranoia Unmotivated Excited Loss of memory Bloodshot eyes Relax Calm |
Synthetic cannabinoids | |
| Medicinal cannabinoids* | |||
| Cannabis | Marijuana, yarndi, pot, weed, hash, dope, gunja, joint, stick, chronic, cone, choof, mull, 420, dabs, dabbing, BHO | ||
| Butane hash oil | BHO, Marijuana wax, budder, honeycomb, shatter, dab, amber, oil, wax butter, sap | ||
| Cannabidiol | CBD, diet dabs | ||
| Dissociatives | Hallucinations Panic Disconnected Bladder damage Safe In a ‘hole’ Numb Floaty Euphoria |
Nitros oxide | Laughing gas, nitro, N2O, NOS, nangs, whippet, hippy crack, buzz bomb, balloons |
| Ketamine | Special K, K, ket, kitkat, ketters, super k or horse trank | ||
| Methoxetamine | M-ket, Kmax and Mexxy | ||
| Dextromethorphan | DM, Robo, Robotripping, skittling, dex | ||
| Empathogens | Anxious Sweaty Dehydration Depression Mood swings Sexual arousal Connected Understanding Sense of belonging |
PMA/PMMA | Death, Dr Death, Pink Ecstasy, Red Mitsubishi, Killer, Chicken Powder, Chicken Yellow |
| Mephedrone | Meph, meow, meow-meow, m-cat, plant food, drone, bubbles, kitty cat | ||
| MDMA (ecstasy) | Ecstasy, caps, Eckies, E, XTC, pills, pingers, bikkies, flippers, molly, M&M | ||
| Ethylone |
*Legal drugs with dependence and misuse potential.
Synthetic drugs
Synthetic drugs are substances designed to mimic or produce similar effects to common illegal drugs such as cocaine, ecstasy, LSD, and cannabis. Other commonly used names for synthetic drugs are ‘herbal highs’ and ‘bath salts’.
Psychological effects can include hallucinations, anxiety, acute psychosis and paranoia. The physical effects can be nausea and vomiting, headaches, seizures, overdoses and death.
People who use synthetic drugs are at risk of serious harm because new versions of these drugs are rarely (or never) tested. Serious harm can occur because of not knowing:
- where they came from
- what chemicals and other compounds are in them even when the packaging appears the same
- what reaction might happen – as they can’t assume there won’t be a different reaction this time and that it is safe
- how they might react to other substances they’ve also taken including alcohol or other drugs
- if the experience will be the same (that is, whether the drug will be the same strength or same drug as last time).
Anabolic steroids
Anabolic steroids are drugs with misuse potential, but do not fall into any of the previously stated categories. Other common names for them are roids, gear, and juice.
Prescription drugs and medication
The three classes of prescription drugs often associated with dependence are:
- opioids used to treat pain
- central nervous system depressants, such as benzodiazepines (Xanax, Valium and Ativan), used to treat anxiety and sleep disorders
- stimulants, such as amphetamines and Adderall, Concerta, Daytrana, Methylin and Ritalin, used to treat attention deficit disorder and narcolepsy (a sleep disorder).
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Further reading
Published on:
Last reviewed:
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Date:
Alcohol and Other Drugs practice kit re-launch
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Date:
Alcohol and Other Drugs practice kit re-launch
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Date:
Alcohol and Other Drugs practice kit re-launch