Kratom [Kray tom] What is it? Kratom is a psychoactive substance that mimics opioid use. Kratom comes from the Mitragyna speciosa plant found in Southeast Asia. Traditionally, the leaves would be chewed or added to teas by Thai or Malaysian natives to increase energy, stamina, and limit their fatigue. Currently, kratom is ground to a … Read More →

Oxycodone [ox i KOE done] What is it? Oxycodone is a powerfully addictive narcotic. Oxycodone originates from opium, a highly addictive drug derived from the sap of the poppy plant. It was first discovered in 1916 by Martin Freud and Edmund Speyer in Frankfurt, Germany. The drug was introduced to the US market in May … Read More →

Cocaine [kəʊˈkeɪn] What is it? Cocaine is a powerfully addictive psychoactive, stimulant drug. Cocaine originates from coca leaves, and has been used for centuries in a variety of cultural applications. The pure drug is extracted from the erythroxylon coca bush, primarily found in South America. The purified chemical, cocaine hydrochloride, was isolated from the bush … Read More →

Amphetamine [æmˈfɛtəmiːn] What is it? Amphetamine is a stimulant that affects the central nervous system related to hyperactivity and impulse control. Amphetamines were originally synthesized in the late 1800s with their stimulant properties being discovered in the 1930s when it was used to treat nasal congestion. Today, some amphetamines are legally prescribed by doctors to … Read More →

Phencyclidine [fenˈsīkliˌdēn,-ˈsik] What is it? Phencyclidine (PCP) is a mind-altering drug that may lead to violent hallucinations. It is considered a dissociative drug, leading to a distortion of sights, colors, sounds, self, and one’s environment. PCP was developed in the 1950s as an intravenous anesthetic, but due to the serious neurotoxic side effects, its development … Read More →

Flakka [fla-kuh] What is it? Flakka is a synthetic stimulant of the cathinone class that was developed in the 1960s. The drug is technically called alpha-pyrrolidinopentiophenone (alpha-PVP) but more commonly known as “flakka.” Flakka gets its name from Spanish slang for a beautiful woman (“la flaca”) and first became popular in Florida before surging across … Read More →

Synthetic Cannabinoids (K2/Spice) [Sin-th-eh-dik Can-uh-bin-oidz] What is it? Synthetic cannabinoids, also known as K2 or “Spice,” are a mixture of herbs and spices that are typically sprayed with synthetic compounds chemically similar to THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana. The chemical compounds typically include HU-210, HU-211, JWH-018, and JWH-073. K2 is commonly purchased in head … Read More →

Methamphetamine [meth-am-fet-uh-meen] What is it? Methamphetamine, commonly shortened to meth, is a synthetic stimulant. It is chemically similar to amphetamine, a drug used to treat ADHD and narcolepsy. Meth is commonly manufactured in illegal and hidden laboratories. Many mix various forms of the stimulant amphetamine or other derivatives to boost its potency. Pseudoephedrine, a common … Read More →

MDMA [im-dee-im-ay] What is it? MDMA, chemically known as methylenedioxymethamphetamine, is a drug that acts as both a stimulant, producing an energizing effect, and a psychedelic, causing distortions in time and perception. It was developed in the early 1900s in Germany to be used to synthesize other pharmaceuticals. In the 1970s, the drug traveled to … Read More →

Heroin [her-oh-in] What is it? Heroin is an opioid drug synthesized from morphine that was first manufactured in 1989 by Bayer pharmaceutical company of Germany. Although the original target audience included those with tuberculosis and individuals facing morphine addiction, today an estimated 9.2 million individuals are using heroin recreationally. Heroin is made from the seed … Read More →