illegal drugs
Prohibited controlled substances
Illegal drugs are substances whose manufacture, sale, possession, or use is prohibited or restricted by law.
The category varies by jurisdiction but typically includes narcotics like heroin, stimulants like cocaine and methamphetamine, and hallucinogens like LSD.
Cannabis remains illegal in many places despite widespread decriminalization.
The term often appears in policy discussions and news coverage: He was arrested for possession of illegal drugs.
The phrase emphasizes legal status rather than pharmacological properties, since many controlled substances have legitimate medical uses.
- methamphetamineAddictive synthetic stimulant drug
- heroinIllegal addictive opiate
- crack cocaineSmokable crystallized stimulant
- fentanylSynthetic pain-blocking compound
- overdoseHarmful excess intake
needle exchange · drug cartels · LSD · addiction · narcotics · controlled substance · decriminalization · PCP · rehabilitation · smuggling routes · drug mule · street dealer · black market · ketamine · cannabis · withdrawal · rehab center · cocaine
- Drug RegulationFDA, DEA, controlled substances, drug scheduling, Schedule II
- drugsibuprofen, marijuana, aspirin, meth, cocaine
- contrabandheroin, cocaine, narcotics, cannabis, stolen goods
- restricted goodscontraband, hazmat, dangerous goods, hazardous materials, hazardous cargo
- addictionaddiction, drug addiction, substance abuse, drug dependence, substance dependency
- Military Substance Abusesubstance abuse, alcohol abuse, drug testing, substance use disorder, addiction treatment
illegal drugsover-the-counter drugs
Medicines sold without prescription
alcohol · tobacco · caffeine · legal highs · controlled substances
illegal drugsprescription drugs
Medicine requiring doctor's order
therapeutic drugs · prescription medications · pharmaceuticals · medicine · medical treatments
illegal drugssobriety
Unimpaired mental state
abstinence · clean living · teetotalism · straight edge · temperance