Depressants

Marijuana, prescription drugs, benzodiazepines, synthetic marijuana, alcohol, heroin, tranquilizers and sedatives, ketamine, MOMA (ecstasy) GHB, Rohypnol, methamphetamine, LSD, and DXM (dextromethorphan).

11 Facts About Teens and Drug Use
Did you know that alcohol is the most frequently fatal drug? Nearly half of all car crashes where young people die are alcohol-related. The use of illegal drugs is decreasing, but prescription drug abuse is not. Nearly 2 million teens have used prescription drugs for uses others than what they were intended. Two-thirds of them got the prescription drugs from friends or family members. Learn about teenage use of ecstasy, crystal meth, cocaine, and marijuana.
Topic: Students--Drug use, Youth--Drug use   Language: English   Lexile: 1360    https://www.dosomething.org

General websites:  Key in your topic.

CEIDA
The three main categories of Drugs with definitions and information about each drug.

Mind Over Matter

"You may have heard it called pot, weed, grass, ganja or skunk, but marijuana by any other name is still a drug that affects the brain." There are over 400 chemicals in the Marijuana plant! It's no wonder that these chemicals would have an affect on your brain. Here you can educate yourself about different drugs, their effects on the body, and the dangers associated with each of them. Some of the drugs presented here include: Opiates, Inhalants, Hallucinogens, Anabolic Steroids, Stimulants, Nicotine, and Methamphetamine.This Web site is designed especially for teens.
Topic: Brain-Effect of drugs on, Drugs-Physiological effect  http://teens.drugabuse.gov

National Institute on Drug Abuse (from National Institutes of Health)
Key in your topic.  Excellent information.

Prescription Drug Abuse:  MedlinePlus
MedlinePlus is an excellent medical resource. Provides information about other drugs, too. 

Synthetic Marijuana Fact Sheet

Credit: The US Drug Enforcement Agency   DEA Makes 90 Arrests in War on Synthetic Drugs  
ABC News - Medical Unit

Synthetic Marijuana - Spice from Office of National Drug Control Policy
SAMHSA News Release

Marijuana
The most common illegal drug in America, marijuana is made from the dried leaves, stems, flowers, and seeds of the cannabis plant. Marijuana can be smoked, eaten, or made into tea. Regardless of how it is consumed, it typically causes distorted perception and problems with coordination, memory, and problem solving. Investigate the danger of using marijuana and driving. Find out how marijuana can have long-term affects on the brain, lungs, fertility, blood pressure, and emotional health. Explore the debate concerning using marijuana for medical reasons.  http://kidshealth.org

Marijuana
The most widely used illegal drug in the United States is marijuana. You will learn all about marijuana in this health guide and some of the legal issues involving marijuana. Information on the cannabis plant is provided along with the methods that are used to smoke marijuana. A list of the effects of smoking marijuana is presented along with the negative effects of smoking marijuana and the long term effects. You will also find out why people smoke marijuana and why it is used for medical purposes.   http://www.youngmenshealthsite.org

Marijuana: Facts for Teens
Did you know that marijuana contains more cancer causing chemicals than tobacco cigarettes? Learn what marijuana can do to your body at the National Institute on Drug Abuse site, which features a fact sheet for teens that answers many commonly asked questions about marijuana use. You'll find out what the short and long term effects of marijuana are, how it affects driving, what it does to your brain, whether or not you can become addicted, and more.
Topic: Marijuana  http://www.nida.nih.gov

Benzodiazepines 
Benzodiazepines are commonly prescribed depressant medications that are used to treat both psychological and physical conditions. Because of their sedative properties, benzodiazepines also have a high potential for abuse, especially when used with other depressants such as alcohol or opiates. Read this article from the University of Maryland's Center for Substance Abuse Research to get the facts about benzodiazepines. Learn about who discovered them and how they work. Find out about both the short term and long term effects of benzodiazepines as well as how tolerance and dependence can develop.
Topic: Medication abuse, Benzodiazepines   Language:English   Lexile: 1420     http://www.cesar.umd.edu

Benzodiazepines 
Educate yourself about benzodiazepines from the information provided by the government of New South Wales in Australia. Here you will find a health factsheet about these tranquilizers that are often prescribed to help people with anxiety or sleep problems. Learn the generic, slang, and brand names of the benzodiazepines. Find out how they are used and how they work. Read about the short-term effects, the long-term effects and the dangers of dependence and withdrawal problems. Special warnings are included about using benzodiazepines with other drugs or while pregnant.
Topic: Medication abuse, Benzodiazepines   Language: English   Lexile: 1010  http://www.health.nsw.gov.au

Alcohol: Balancing Risks and Benefits
Is drinking alcohol good for you or bad for you? Of course, the answer to this question also lies in the amount of alcohol consumed and the age of the person who drinks alcohol. Health claims for moderate drinking alcohol include protection against type 2 diabetes, gallstones, and heart disease. But, excessive drinking leads to liver disease, depression, and violent behaviors. When you read this article about alcohol consumption and health, you will learn a lot more about the benefits and health risks attributed to alcohol consumption.  Topic: Alcohol  http://www.hsph.harvard.edu

Teens: Alcohol and Other Drugs
The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry presents this Teens: Alcohol And Other Drugs site that tells which teenagers are at a greater risk of for developing serious alcohol and drug problems. The site also gives the warning signs of teenage alcohol and drug abuse. The site is available in French and Spanish as well as in English.
Topic: Drug abuse and addiction   Language: English      https://www.aacap.org

Prescription Drug Abuse
From the National Institute on Drug Abuse.  Be sure to check the whole screen. GHB (Gamma Hydroxyl Butyrate) Date Rape Club Drugs The National Institute on Drug Use has prepared this colorful and cautionary site aimed at young adults. The club drugs (designer drugs) are those that are frequently used at raves, trances, dance clubs, and bars. The "No club drug is benign" admonition appears on the opening page. Links are provided so viewers can access information on MOMA (ecstasy) GHB, Rohypnol, ketamine, methamphetamine, and LSD. A search window is also available along with a pulldown menu for related topics. A neat feature is the NIDA InfoFacts sheets, which have been updated regularly and provide science-based facts on drug abuse and addiction.  Topic: Designer drugs  http://www.clubdrugs.org

Designer Drugs
This article from ESPN is based on an interview with Dr. Gary Wadler, a New YorkUniversity of Medicine professor. The article focuses on the issue of designer drug use as it pertains to athletic performance. In a conversational manner, Dr. Wadler explains many aspects of designer drugs. He focuses on three harmful designer drugsfentanyl analogs, MDMA (usually known as Ecstasy) and GHB. He tells what athletes expect to gain from the use of these drugs and what the dire consequences of the drugs are. Very interesting and informative!  
Topic: Athletes--Drug use, Designer drugs  http://www.espn.go.com

DXM (Dextromethorphan) Cough and Cold Medicine Abuse
Cough and cold medicine may seem harmless but easy access to such products has led to an increased abuse of dextromethorphan or DXM. DXM replaced a narcotic known as codeine in cough medicine but teens found they could still get high by guzzling mass quantities of cough syrup. Discover the consequences and side effects of taking DXM and the possibility of hallucinations, seizures, or a high fever especially if combined with alcohol use, a hot environment, or other cold medicine ingredients.  Topic: Drug abuse, Drugs, Nonprescription, Nonprescription drugs   http://kidshealth.org

So What's the Big Deal About DXM Anyway?
Cough medicine is an abused medication. DXM is the short name for Dextromethorphan the ingredient that suppresses coughs. Presented at this web site is information from medical research, reliable news sources and people who have abused DXM. See for yourself how dangerous it can be. Find out the short-term and long-term effects of DXM abuse. An animated feature lets you actually see the effects of DXM abuse. Find out what young people have to say about DXM and look at frequently asked questions and the glossary.
Topic: Drugs, Nonprescription, Medication abuse, Nonprescription drugs  http://www.dxmstories.com Facts on Dextromethorphan (DXM) Excellent fact sheet about DXM from Teens Drug Abuse:  National Institute on Drug Abuse

Prescription Sedatives Tranquilizers 
This guide offers you information on prescription sedatives and tranquilizers in a series of questions and answers. You will learn the alternative names for prescription sedatives and tranquilizers and discover exactly what they are, what they look like, and how they are used. You will find information on their short-term effects and their long-term effects and also gain access to a number of articles and resources that discuss topics related to prescription sedatives and tranquilizers.
Topic: Tranquilizing drugs   Language: English    Lexile: 1270       http://www.drugfree.org