Alcohol – An alcoholic drink contains ethanol, a type of alcohol produced by fermentation of grains, fruits, or other sources of sugar. Alcohol is a depressant and acute ingestion typically leads to progressive stages of effects depending upon the amount consumed. Chronic alcohol abuse can result in multi-organ pathological effects. These can include cirrhosis of the liver, acute and chronic gastritis, pancreatitis, cardiomyopathy and various neurological and metabolic disorders.

Amphetamines – A popular prescription drug used for the treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Commonly abused as a ‘study-aid’ for college students and adults or to ‘stay awake’ in specific demanding jobs such as long-haul truck drivers. Found in pill form.

Barbiturates – Similar to Benzodiazepines, a prescription drug used to help sleep, relieve anxiety, and muscle spasms. Found in pill form with a list of side effects for the user.

Benzodiazepines – A commonly prescribed prescription drug depressant that induces sleep and provides relief from anxiety and seizures. Found in pill form, use of benzodiazepines come with a list of side effects.

Cocaine – A prevalent drug, known to be extremely addictive. A white powdery substance also found in rock form, sometimes found laced with other illicit substances. Laboratories will look for Benzoylecgonine, which is the primary metabolite of cocaine.

Crack – Derived from powdered cocaine by combining it with water and another substance, usually baking soda. Laboratories will look for Benzoylecgonine, which is the primary metabolite of cocaine.

Ecstasy (MDMA/MDEA/MDA, known as ‘Molly’) -A trendy party or rave drug. Found in powder or pill form (with a variety of logos and colors). Described as the ‘love drug’ and can cause euphoria, empathy, and reduced inhibition.

Fentanyl – Synthetic opioid prescribed for pain relief of cancer patients. The drug is 80-100 times more potent than morphine. Because of this, it has become a drug diverted for abuse. Originally designed as a patch that slowly releases doses of the drug, clandestinely produced Fentanyl is found as a white or brown powdery substance and often ‘cut’ with other drugs. The drug causes an intense, short-term high, is addictive and is one of the leading causes of drug overdoses

Marijuana- One of the most frequently used drugs of abuse in the United States. Found in its natural flower form as a green or brown leafy substance, but more commonly being found as oil, hash, wax, concentrate or edible. Marijuana contains delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive ingredient that causes the ‘high’ for a user. Laboratories will look for CarboxyTHC which is a metabolite of THC.

Methadone – Synthetic opioid prescribed for use to relieve pain or to detoxify or recover from opioid addiction. Found in pill form, Methadone is also extremely addictive with a list of side effects.

Methamphetamines – An illegally altered version of prescription Amphetamine, this crystal-like substance is cooked with various over-the-counter drugs to create a highly-addictive, powerful, and potentially deadly drug.

Nicotine – Nicotine is a chemical found in tobacco products, including e-cigarettes (vapes), chewing tobacco, and cigarettes. Cotinine is a product formed after the chemical nicotine enters the body. Testing for cotinine is the most reliable way to determine use of any type of method to ingest nicotine.

Opiates (Heroin, Codeine & Morphine) – A drug derived from or related to the opium plant. Codeine and Morphine as prescription drugs. Injected, smoked or snorted, Heroin is highly addictive, euphoric, and a powerful drug is known to be very deadly as the leading cause of drug overdoses in the United States.

Phencyclidine (PCP) – While initially used in veterinarian medicine (as a tranquilizer for horses), PCP became a drug of abuse and is still found in drug tests today. Found as a white powdery substance, but also in liquid form and often used with a cigarette or marijuana joint dipped in the substance. The drug is known to be very addictive and causes psychoactive, hallucinogenic, and euphoric side effects popularly giving users a ‘he-man’ level sense of strength.

Steroids – Anabolic androgenic steroids are derived from the male hormone, testosterone, and are used legally to treat problems such as delayed puberty or low testosterone.  Use of steroids, also called “doping”,  can enhance the body by building more muscle, making bones and muscles stronger, lowering body fat and increasing endurance.  Common anabolic steroid medicines include fluoxymeterone (such as Holtestin) and nandrolone (such as Durabolin).  Over time individuals who use these steroids may exhibit mental and emotional side effects including violent behavior, personality changes, mood swings between depression and anxiety and paranoia.  They can also cause severe physical symptoms, such as heart attack, high blood pressure and liver disease.

Synthetic Cannabinoids (also known as K2, K3 Legal, Spice, Syn, Haze, Cloud Nine and many others) – Synthetic cannabinoids are human-made mind-altering chemicals that are either sprayed on dried, shredded plant material so they can be smoked or sold as liquids to be vaporized and inhaled in e-cigarettes and other devices. Synthetic cannabinoids do not contain cannabis but when smoked produce effects similar to marijuana. Some of these synthetic cannabinoid chemicals are 4 to 100 times stronger in potency to marijuana and can cause unexpected side effects such as seizures, hallucinations, psychotic episodes, severe kidney damage and heart attacks.

Synthetic Opioids (Oxycodone, Oxymorphone, Hydrocodone, and Hydromorphone) – Semi-synthetically produced opioids derived from the poppy plant and widely prescribed to treat pain. The leading cause of our nation’s opioid epidemic. Found in pill form, synthetic opioids are highly addictive, and when not used as prescribed, is known to cause severe liver damage, coma, or even death.