Last updated : May 12, 2025
Drug users with the right connections can purchase any drug imaginable on the black market and have it delivered straight to their door. Of course, that’s a money talks scenario. Most addicts—many of whom are homeless—operate on a meager budget sticking to street drugs readily available nearby—probably without leaving the block—which still likely amounts to a large array of choices.
We’re decades into the “war on drugs” now and the number of overdose deaths—except during 2019—continues to rise each year. Before that encouraging data could even be announced, however, COVID lockdowns and the uncertainty of life in general struck the population. It’s no secret that many turn to drugs and alcohol to cope during times of stress and it became apparent during 2020.
Fentanyl
It was about that time that fentanyl began creeping into the drug scene; unbeknownst to those purchasing illicit drugs at the time though. Cartels added it as a “filler” in common street drugs such as heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine before sending it into the country via drug mules.
The synthetic opioid is inexpensive and adds a “kick” to the merchandise that encourages repeat business. However, consumers who were unaware that their fix contained fentanyl—100 times more potent than heroin—weren’t coming back for more.
Today, fentanyl is the number one cause of death by overdose. It’s been discovered in literally every type of drug confiscated from the streets. Most ingest the drug unaware it’s in the mix. However, savvy addicts who are sure they can handle the risk, seek out the drug itself which is sold in powder or pill form. It’s commonly distributed on the black market in kilograms. A seemingly small amount until you consider that one kilogram of fentanyl has the potential to kill 500,000 people.
One kilogram.
Side effects associated with fentanyl are:
- Euphoria
- Pain relief
- Relaxation
- Sedation
- Confusion
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Pupillary constriction
- Urinary retention
Signs of overdose include:
- Falling into a stupor
- Obvious changes in pupil size
- Cold and clammy skin
- Blue discoloration of skin, usually around the lips, known as cyanosis
- Respiratory failure
- Coma
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid. The effects of an opioid overdose can be temporarily reversed with naloxone.
What is naloxone?
Naloxone rapidly reverses the effects of an opioid overdose. It only works for a short period, however. Still, that can be long enough for the victim to recover and—in the case of the homeless, especially—walk away from the incident. Or in more severe cases, it can reverse the overdose long enough for emergency responders to arrive on the scene.
Naloxone restores the normal breathing pattern of the victim whose breathing has stopped or slowed alarmingly due to the effect of the opioid in their system. Commonly administered as a nasal spray, medical personnel can also access injections to administer under the skin or directly into a muscle to insert it into the bloodstream.
Some cities and towns across the nation gripped in the throes of the opioid crisis distribute naloxone to the homeless populations or to those who seek help for their addiction. Moreover, once fentanyl was discovered to be the reason that overdose deaths were rising in unprecedented measures, addicts began using under the “buddy system.” It works like the “sober chauffeur” campaign. Buddies do drugs together and they stagger their usage to allow them to look out for one another when injecting the drug.
Opioid overdoses top the chart
Synthetic opioids, which have risen sharply due to fentanyl, remain the primary cause of death by overdose in the United States. Drugs tested for fentanyl often contain at least 2 mg of the stuff which is considered a potentially lethal dose. It’s easy to see how fentanyl is contributing to the 55.6% rise in deaths attributed to synthetic opioids.
Other opioids, synthetic and non, make the list of readily available street drugs.
Heroin
Side effects include:
- A “rush” defined as a strong, albeit short-lived, increase in euphoric feelings
- Feelings of being warm and flushed during the “rush”
- Heavy sensation in the extremities
- Reduced sensation of pain
- Drowsiness
- Sedation
- Lethargy
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Grogginess.
- Confusion.
- Dry mouth.
- Itchy skin.
- Miotic or constricted pupils.
- Light sensitivity.
- Lower than normal body temperature.
- Slowed respiration.
- Slowed heart rate.
- Bluish hands, feet, lips
The user may shift between being awake and drifting off to sleep, The condition is known as “nodding.”
Withdrawal symptoms include:
- Restlessness and discomfort.
- Pounding or racing heartbeat.
- Anxiety.
- Shaking.
- Sweating.
- Shivering.
- Pain/aches in the muscles and bones.
- Diarrhea.
- Vomiting.
- Inability to sleep.
Withdrawal symptoms can last up to a week, possibly more.
Synthetic Opioids
Oxycodone, oxymorphone, hydrocodone, and hydromorphone are four powerful synthetic drugs that many blame as the reason for the opioid crisis to explode out of control. Physicians, unaware of their highly addictive nature, readily prescribed these drugs throughout the 90s. By the time data reflected the connection between these pharmaceuticals and the increased number of overdose deaths, the damage was done.
In 2018, the opioid crisis had reached such devastating levels that the Department of Transportation (DOT) added these four synthetic opioids to the DOT drug test.
These drugs, or more likely, counterfeits, thereof, are easily found on the street. Users often crush the pills for snorting or mix the crushed substance with water to inject them with a syringe.
Side effects to watch for include:
- Sighing, shallow breathing
- Slow heart rate
- Weak pulse
- Cold, clammy skin
- Light-headedness
- Confusion
- Seizure
- Unusual thoughts
- Nausea, vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Agitation
- Hallucinations
- Fever
- Sweating
- Shivering
- Rapid heart rate
- Muscle stiffness
- Twitching
The effects of cocaine intensify when coupled with other drugs or alcohol. The use of naloxone can temporarily reverse the effects of a synthetic opioid overdose.
Non-opioid street drugs
As of this writing, marijuana is the most popular illicit drug in states that have not chosen to legalize the drug. However, the synthetic, or man-made, form of this drug should be avoided at all costs. The adverse side effects include experiencing severe psychotic episodes that require extensive treatment. However, it’s important to note, that treatment may not affect the person suffering from the condition.
Cocaine
A common street drug since the 70s, cocaine is highly addictive. It’s become relatively inexpensive of late, of course, encouraging a resurgence in use. The stimulant is illegal in the United States having no legitimate medical use and 90% of the illegal drug traffic stems from Colombia.
It can be purchased in powder form or a solid rock crystal.
The side effects of someone who has ingested cocaine are:
- Happy
- Awake and energetic
- Talkative
- Restless
- Less hungry or sleepy
- Sensitive to touch, sound, and sight
Coming down from the drug causes some to experience adverse side effects that include:
- Anxiety or depression
- Irritability
- Exhaustion
- Sweating
- Headache
- Runny nose
- Body aches and pains
- Confusion
Users often repeat use as soon as possible to avoid these negative effects which increases the risk of overdose.
Repeatedly taking large doses of cocaine can result in serious side effects which may include:
- Violence
- Anger
- Restlessness
- Extreme irritability
- Anxiety
- Panic
- Paranoia
Long-term effects put users at risk of acquiring one or more of the following physical issues:
- Headaches
- Belly pain
- Damage to lungs and other organs
- HIV or hepatitis if you inject it
- Bowel decay if you swallow it
- Loss of smell, nosebleeds, runny nose
- Convulsions and seizures
- Heart disease, heart attack, and stroke
- Movement disorders such as Parkinson’s disease
- Kidney issues
- Coma
- Sudden death
Tranq
Known as the zombie drug, xylazine is a large animal tranquilizer that was never approved for human use. It’s highly addictive and users eventually develop skin ulcerations that continue to spread, destroying flesh, without medical treatment. Those who wait to seek treatment may risk amputation.
Other severe and dangerous side effects include:
- Sedation, drowsiness, and impaired coordination
- Difficulty breathing
- Slow heart rate
- Low blood pressure
- Anxiety
- Severe agitation
- Restlessness
- Muscle spasms
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- High blood sugar
- Blurry vision and smaller pupils
- Death
Everywhere, all the time
We’ve listed several of the most common street drugs that can be found, virtually, anywhere in the United States at any given time. It’s the shortlist though because, as we mentioned at the top of the article, all manner of illicit drugs are prevalent anywhere you look these days.
It’s hard to watch so many Americans fall prey to addiction and wind up homeless as they wander aimlessly in a drug-induced stupor day after day.
Some feel we will never get this crisis under control, but we can’t allow our feelings to reign. We need to focus on 2019. The year that drug overdoses decreased. If we hadn’t been plunged into the darkness of the unknown when COVID struck us unaware, drug overdoses may have dropped even lower in 2020 rather than rising to unprecedented numbers.
We can’t give up the fight. If you operate a drug-free business, make sure you routinely hold classes on the dangers of drug use and addiction. That coupled with the apparent evidence of witnessing a friend or loved one struggling with a substance abuse problem may be the reason people choose to live drug-free. Supporting programs in your community that are aimed at helping those caught in the throes of addiction recover has a positive impact too.
We won’t give up the fight. We know you won’t either.
