Table 1.

Summary of drugs of abuse

Drug	Mode of Action	Side Effects	Statistics
Cannabinoids	Δ9-THC disrupts cellular membranes in a way that affects membrane-associated enzymes and ion channels. Also binds to CB1 (brain) and CB2 (peripheral) receptors	Euphoria Enhancement of sensory perception Tachycardia Antinociception Difficulty concentrating Memory impairment	Most commonly used illicit drug in the United States (approximately 14.6 million current users)
Opioids	Primarily act on mu opioid receptor Also act on dopamine, gamma-amino-butyric acid (GABA), and glutamate	Analgesia Euphoria	Approximately 4% of North American adults report opiate use.
Cocaine	Blocks dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin uptake transporters Results in increased dopamine concentrations in critical brain sites	Increased heart rate, blood pressure, and arousal Greater vigilance, alertness, and self-confidence Euphoria	Approximately 5.8 million current users in the United States
Alcohol	Disturbs balance between excitation and inhibition in the brain through agonistic action on the GABA receptors	Disinhibition Ataxia Sedation	30% of American adults report having abused alcohol at least once.