Illicit Drugs

Illicit drugs are controlled substances that have a high potential for abuse. They currently have no accepted medical use in the United States. Controlled substances fall under seven headings: marijuana (marijuana, hashish); stimulants (amphetamines, cocaine); depressants (barbiturates, tranquilizers, hypnotics); hallucinogens (acid, PCP); opiates or narcotics (heroin, morphine, opium, codeine); inhalants (sprays, solvents, glue); and designer drugs (synthetic drugs similar in effect to stimulants, hallucinogens, and narcotics).

New estimates show, once again, that the most widely abused illicit drug worldwide is marijuana (around 160 million people). The break down of other illicit drugs that are being used is as follows: amphetamine-type stimulants such as meth (34 million people abusing amphetamines, notably Methamphetamine and amphetamine, and 8 million abusing ecstasy). The number of opiate and cocaine abusers are approximately the same (cocaine: more than 14 million people and opiates less than 15 million people, of whom close to 10 million are taking heroin). The total number of drug abusers is estimated at some 200 million people, equivalent to 3.4% of the global population or 4.7% of the population age 15 and above.