Commonly Abused Drugs

Tobacco

Plant grown for its leaves, which are dried and fermented before use. For more information.

Street Names Commercial Names Common Forms Common Ways Taken DEA Schedule
None Multiple brand names Cigarettes, cigars, bidis, hookahs, smokeless tobacco (snuff, spit tobacco, chew) Smoked, snorted, chewed, vaporized Not Scheduled

Possible Health Effects
Short-term Increased blood pressure, breathing, and heart rate.
Long-term Greatly increased risk of cancer, especially lung cancer when smoked and oral cancers when chewed; chronic bronchitis; emphysema; heart disease; leukemia; cataracts; pneumonia.
Other Health-related Issues Pregnancy: miscarriage, low birth weight, premature delivery, stillbirth, learning and behavior problems.
In Combination with Alcohol Unknown.
Withdrawal Symptoms Irritability, attention and sleep problems, increased appetite.
Treatment options
Medications
  • Bupropion (Zyban®)
  • Varenicline (Chantix®)
  • Nicotine replacement (gum, patch, lozenge)
Behavioral Therapies
  • Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
  • Self-help materials
  • Mail, phone, and Internet quit resources