Quick Exit
X

Is this page helpful?

Discover Different Substances

Explore the effects and risks of various substances, from alcohol to designer drugs. Click on a tile below to learn more about each one's impact on health and well-being.

Alcohol

Alcohol's a common drink that can lighten the mood or relax you, but overdoing it risks your health, relationships, and can lead to addiction.

Cannabis (Marijuana)

Marijuana, often smoked or eaten, can chill you out or make you feel happy. But, it can also cloud your judgment and, over time, might mess with your mental health.

Opioids

Opioids, like heroin, morphine, and prescription painkillers, are drugs used to kill pain but can be super addictive. Using them a lot can lead to serious health issues and even overdose.

Stimulants

Stimulants, including drugs like cocaine and amphetamines, boost your energy and alertness. They're addictive and overuse can lead to serious heart and mental health problems.

Benzos

Benzodiazepines, like Valium and Xanax, are used to treat anxiety and insomnia. They're calming but can lead to dependence and withdrawal issues if misused.

Nicotine / Tobacco

Nicotine, found in cigarettes and vapes, is highly addictive. Regular use can harm your lungs, heart, and more.

Psychedelics

Drugs like LSD and mushrooms change how you see, hear, or feel things. They can lead to unpredictable and risky behavior.

Inhalants

Common household items, when inhaled, can give a quick high but risk serious brain and lung damage.

Designer Drugs / Synthetics

Synthetics like spice or bath salts mimic other drugs but can be far more unpredictable and harmful.

×

Alcohol

What is it?

Alcohol is a psychoactive substance found in drinks like beer, wine, and spirits. It's legal and widely consumed for its relaxing and mood-lightening effects.

How is it usually taken?

Consumed in liquid form, ranging from low-alcohol beverages like beer to high-alcohol liquors like vodka.

What are its effects?

Short-term effects include relaxation, lowered inhibitions, and impaired judgment. Long-term excessive use can lead to addiction, liver disease, and other health issues.

How to spot it in someone else?

Signs include slurred speech, unsteady movement, aggressive behavior, and a strong smell of alcohol.

What it looks like?

Alcohol is found in various beverages, often distinguished by their type (beer, wine, spirits) and packaging.

Short-term effects :

  • Euphoria
  • Decreased anxiety
  • Motor Impairment
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Blackouts

Long-term effects :

  • Addiction (alcoholism)
  • Liver Damage
  • Cardiovascular Diseases
  • Depression
  • Anxiety

How Addictive?

HIGH

×

Cannabis (Marijuana)

What is it?

Cannabis, known as marijuana, is a psychoactive plant used for medical or recreational purposes. It's known for causing a "high" or relaxed state.

How is it usually taken?

Commonly smoked in joints, pipes, or bongs. It can also be consumed in edibles like cookies or brownies, or as a vapor using vape pens.

What are its effects?

Short-term effects include euphoria, altered perceptions, increased appetite, and impaired memory. Long-term use can affect mental health and cognitive function.

How to spot it in someone else?

Red eyes, laughter, increased appetite, slow reaction times, and carrying paraphernalia like rolling papers or pipes.

What it looks like?

Green, brown, or gray dried parts of the cannabis plant. Edibles can look like regular food items like cookies or gummy bears.

Short-term effects :

  • Euphoria
  • Altered perceptions
  • Increased appetite
  • Impaired memory

Long-term effects :

  • Potential addiction
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Cognitive impairments
  • Respiratory issues from smoking

How Addictive?

MEDIUM

×

Opioids

What is it?

Opioids are a class of drugs naturally found in the opium poppy plant. Some opioids are made directly from the plant, and others are synthesized by scientists. They're commonly used as medicines because they contain chemicals that relax the body and can relieve pain.

How is it usually taken?

Opioids can be taken in various ways, including as pills, liquid, or by injection. Some are also available as patches to be absorbed through the skin.

What are its effects?

Short-term effects include pain relief, euphoria, and drowsiness. However, they can also lead to nausea, constipation, and slowed breathing.

How to spot it in someone else?

Signs of opioid use include drowsiness, constricted pupils, slowed breathing, and confusion. Long-term use can lead to physical dependence and addiction.

What it looks like?

Opioids in pill form vary in shape, color, and size, depending on the type and brand. Injectable opioids are usually found in liquid form in small vials or pre-filled syringes.

Short-term effects :

  • Pain relief
  • Euphoria
  • Drowsiness
  • Nausea

Long-term effects :

  • Addiction and dependence
  • Increased risk of overdose
  • Respiratory depression
  • Immune system suppression

How Addictive?

HIGH

×

Stimulants

What is it?

Stimulants are drugs that increase alertness, attention, and energy by accelerating the activity in the brain. Common stimulants include cocaine, amphetamines, and methamphetamine.

How is it usually taken?

Stimulants can be ingested orally, snorted, smoked, or injected, depending on the substance and the desired intensity of effects.

What are its effects?

Short-term effects include increased heart rate, elevated blood pressure, and heightened mood and alertness. They can also lead to feelings of euphoria.

How to spot it in someone else?

Signs of stimulant use include rapid speech, dilated pupils, reduced appetite, and increased physical activity or restlessness.

What it looks like?

Stimulants come in various forms, including powders (cocaine), pills (prescription amphetamines), and crystals (methamphetamine).

Short-term effects :

  • Increased energy and alertness
  • Elevated mood
  • Decreased appetite
  • Insomnia

Long-term effects :

  • Heart problems
  • Psychological dependence
  • High blood pressure
  • Severe dental problems (meth mouth)

How Addictive?

HIGH

×

Benzodiazepines (Benzos)

What is it?

Benzodiazepines are a class of medications primarily used to treat anxiety, insomnia, and seizures. Common examples include Valium (diazepam) and Xanax (alprazolam).

How is it usually taken?

Typically prescribed in pill form and taken orally, but can be injected when used illicitly.

What are its effects?

Short-term effects include sedation, muscle relaxation, reduced anxiety, and impaired cognitive functions. Long-term use can lead to tolerance and dependence.

How to spot it in someone else?

Signs include drowsiness, confusion, dizziness, blurred vision, and unsteady movements.

What it looks like?

Most commonly found in pill form, often with specific brand or generic names stamped on them.

Short-term effects :

  • Sedation and relaxation
  • Decreased anxiety
  • Muscle relaxation
  • Impaired motor functions

Long-term effects :

  • Dependence and addiction
  • Memory impairment
  • Cognitive decline
  • Withdrawal symptoms upon cessation

How Addictive?

MEDIUM to HIGH depending on the duration of use and dosage.

×

Nicotine / Tobacco

What is it?

Nicotine is a highly addictive chemical found in tobacco products like cigarettes and vapes. It stimulates the brain, leading to addiction.

How is it usually taken?

Smoked in cigarettes, cigars, or pipes, chewed as snuff or chewing tobacco, or inhaled through e-cigarettes (vaping).

What are its effects?

Short-term effects include increased heart rate, blood pressure, and a sense of alertness. Long-term use can lead to serious health issues, including heart disease and cancer.

How to spot it in someone else?

Signs include the smell of smoke on clothes, frequent breaks to smoke, yellowing of teeth, and nicotine stains on fingers.

What it looks like?

Cigarettes are thin cylinders of finely cut tobacco rolled in paper; vapes can vary in size and shape, often resembling pens or USB sticks.

Short-term effects :

  • Increased alertness
  • Heightened mood
  • Increased heart rate and blood pressure

Long-term effects :

  • Addiction
  • Respiratory diseases
  • Cardiovascular diseases
  • Increased risk of various cancers

How Addictive?

HIGH. Nicotine is one of the most addictive substances, with a strong dependency developing quickly.

×

Psychedelics (Hallucinogens)

What is it?

Psychedelics, or hallucinogens, are a class of drugs that cause profound changes in perception, mood, and thought. Examples include LSD, psilocybin mushrooms, and peyote.

How is it usually taken?

LSD is often taken orally in small tabs, mushrooms eaten or brewed in tea, and peyote consumed as buttons from the cactus plant.

What are its effects?

Effects can vary widely but generally include altered states of perception, visual hallucinations, and emotional shifts. Experiences can be both positive ("trips") and negative ("bad trips").

How to spot it in someone else?

Signs may include dilated pupils, erratic behavior, visual hallucinations, profound shifts in mood, and altered sense of time.

What it looks like?

LSD is typically found on blotter paper with colorful designs. Mushrooms resemble dried ordinary mushrooms with brown/white caps. Peyote is a small, round cactus.

Short-term effects :

  • Visual and auditory hallucinations
  • Altered perception of time and space
  • Intense mood changes
  • Sensory distortion

Long-term effects :

  • Potential for persistent psychosis
  • Flashbacks (Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder, HPPD)
  • Changes in brain structure and chemistry

How Addictive?

MEDIUM. While not considered addictive in the traditional sense, they can lead to psychological dependence and risky behavior.

×

Inhalants

What is it?

Inhalants are volatile substances that produce chemical vapors, which are inhaled to induce psychoactive or mind-altering effects. Common examples include solvents, aerosol sprays, gases, and nitrites.

How is it usually taken?

Inhalation through the nose or mouth, often by sniffing, snorting, bagging, or huffing from containers, bags, rags, or balloons.

What are its effects?

Short-term effects include euphoria, dizziness, and impaired judgment. Long-term use can lead to serious health issues, including brain damage and organ failure.

How to spot it in someone else?

Signs include chemical odors on breath or clothing, paint or other stains on face or hands, disorientation, and slurred speech.

What it looks like?

Common household or industrial products, such as paint thinners, glue, lighter fluid, and whipped cream aerosols.

Short-term effects :

  • Euphoria
  • Lightheadedness
  • Nausea
  • Headache

Long-term effects :

  • Neurological damage
  • Liver and kidney damage
  • Heart failure
  • Death from suffocation or heart arrhythmia

How Addictive?

MEDIUM. While not typically leading to physical dependence, repeated abuse can lead to compulsive use and psychological dependence.

×

Designer Drugs / Synthetics

What is it?

Designer drugs or synthetics are lab-made substances designed to mimic the effects of traditional illegal drugs like cannabis, ecstasy, or cocaine. Examples include spice, bath salts, and synthetic cannabinoids.

How is it usually taken?

Methods vary widely, including smoking, swallowing, snorting, or injecting, depending on the substance's form.

What are its effects?

Effects can range from euphoria and increased energy to severe anxiety, paranoia, and hallucinations. The unpredictability of these substances makes them particularly risky.

How to spot it in someone else?

Signs include erratic behavior, sudden mood swings, agitation, or symptoms of psychosis such as delusions or hallucinations.

What it looks like?

Appearance can vary significantly, from herbal mixtures (mimicking cannabis) to powders, crystals, or pills.

Short-term effects :

  • Altered perception
  • Mood elevation or depression
  • Increased heart rate and blood pressure
  • Confusion and paranoia

Long-term effects :

  • Psychological dependence
  • Cardiovascular damage
  • Severe mental health issues
  • Potential for overdose and death

How Addictive?

HIGH. The potent and unpredictable nature of these substances can lead to rapid development of addiction and severe withdrawal symptoms.

When Does Abuse Become Addiction?

Substance abuse becomes addiction when there is a compulsive need to use the substance despite harmful consequences. Signs of addiction include :

Explore Addiction

How to Spot an Overdose

Recognising an overdose quickly can be life-saving. Here are some signs to look out for :

General Signs of Overdose

Specific to Substance Type

Frequently Asked Questions

What legal consequences can result from substance abuse?

Substance abuse can lead to legal issues, including fines, imprisonment, and a criminal record, depending on the substance and jurisdiction.

How does substance abuse impact relationships?

Substance abuse can strain relationships, leading to trust issues, communication breakdowns, and emotional distress for both the user and their loved ones.

Are there specific risk factors for substance abuse?

Risk factors include genetic predisposition, environmental influences, peer pressure, stress, and access to substances.

Can lifestyle changes aid in recovery from substance abuse?

Yes, healthy lifestyle changes such as regular exercise, a balanced diet, and engaging in hobbies can support recovery by improving overall well-being.

What role does therapy play in treating substance abuse?

Therapy helps individuals understand the root causes of their substance use, develop coping strategies, and work through emotional and psychological challenges.

How can I support someone struggling with substance abuse?

Offering non-judgmental support, encouraging them to seek professional help, and being there to listen can make a significant difference in their recovery journey.

What is the importance of aftercare in substance abuse treatment?

Aftercare provides ongoing support to prevent relapse, helping individuals maintain their sobriety and continue their recovery process.

How does substance abuse affect the workplace?

Substance abuse can lead to decreased productivity, absenteeism, workplace accidents, and increased healthcare costs for employers.

What are the long-term health effects of substance abuse?

Long-term effects can include chronic health conditions, mental health disorders, and a decreased quality of life.

Is it possible to fully recover from substance abuse?

Recovery is a lifelong process, but with the right support and treatment, individuals can lead healthy, substance-free lives.

More Resources
FRANK
NHS - Getting help for drug addiction
Mind - Drugs and treatments
Action on Addiction
We Are With You
DrugWise
Adfam
Alcohol Change UK
Release
National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse (NTA)
Samaritans
Royal College of Psychiatrists - Alcohol and Drug Misuse
NHS - Alcohol misuse
NHS - Drug misuse
NHS - Addiction support services