derivative subgenres and subcultures, are most notorious for having continuously celebrated and promoted drug trafficking, gangster lifestyle, and consumption of alcohol and other drugs since their inception in the united states during the late 1980s–early 1990s. in video games, for example, drugs are portrayed in a variety of ways: including power-ups (cocaine gum replenishes stamina in red dead redemption 2), obstacles to be avoided (such as the fuzzies in super mario world 2: yoshi's island that distort the player's view when accidentally consumed), items to be bought and sold for in-game currency (coke dealing is a big part of scarface: the world is yours). in 1997's fallout, drugs ("chems" in the game) can fill the role of any above mentioned. drug trafficking, gang rivalries, and their related criminal underworld also play a big part in the best-selling grand theft auto video game franchise. common recreational drugs the following substances are commonly used recreationally: alcohol: most drinking alcohol is ethanol, ch3ch2oh. drinking alcohol creates intoxication, relaxation and lowered inhibitions. it is produced by the fermentation of sugars by yeasts to create wine, beer, and distilled liquor (e.g., vodka, rum, gin, etc.). in most areas of the world, it is legal for those over a certain age (18 in most countries). it is an iarc group 1 carcinogen and a teratogen. alcohol withdrawal can be life-threatening. amphetamines: used recreationally to provide alertness and a sense of energy. prescribed for adhd, narcolepsy, depression and weight loss. a potent central nervous system stimulant, in the 1940s and 50s methamphetamine was used by axis and allied troops in world war ii, and, later on, other armies, and by japanese factory workers. it increases muscle strength and fatigue resistance and improves reaction time. methamphetamine use can be neurotoxic, which means it damages dopamine neurons. as a result of this brain damage, chronic use can lead to post acute withdrawal syndrome. caffeine: often found in coffee, black tea, energy drinks, some soft drinks (e.g., coca-cola, pepsi and mountain dew, among others), and chocolate. it is the world's most widely consumed psychoactive drug, but has only mild dependence liability for long-term users. cannabis: its common forms include marijuana and hashish, which are smoked, vaporized or eaten. it contains at least 85 cannabinoids. the primary psychoactive component is thc, which mimics the neurotransmitter anandamide, named after the hindu ananda, "joy, bliss, delight". when cannabis is eaten, thc metabolized into 11-oh-thc, this molecule is the primary psychoactive coumpound of edible forms of cannabis. thc and 11-oh-thc are partial agonist at cb1 and cb2 receptors of the endocannabinoid system. cocaine: it is available as a white powder, which is insufflated ("sniffed" into the nostrils) or converted into a solution with water and injected. a popular derivative, crack cocaine is typically smoked. when transformed into its freebase form, crack, the cocaine vapour may be inhaled directly. this is thought to increase bioavailability, but has also been found to be toxic, due to the production of methylecgonidine during pyrolysis. mdma: commonly known as ecstasy, it is a common club drug in the rave scene. electronic cigarette: a large proportion of e-cigarette use is recreational. most e-cigarette liquids contain nicotine, but the level of nicotine varies depending on user-preference and manufacturers. nicotine is highly addictive, comparable to heroin or cocaine. e-cigarettes are being used to inhale mdma, cocaine powder, crack cocaine, synthetic cathinones, mephedrone, α-pvp, synthetic cannabinoids, opioids, heroin, fentanyl, tryptamines, and ketamine. ketamine: an anesthetic used legally by paramedics and doctors in emergency situations for its dissociative and analgesic qualities and illegally in the club drug scene. lean: a liquid drug mixture made when mixing cough syrup, sweets, soft drinks and codeine. it originated in the 1990s in houston. ever since then, this drug usage has grown and is often used at parties and in the trap music scene. many people would get a drowsy feeling when consuming this drug. lsd: a popular ergoline derivative, that was first synthesized in 1938 by albert hofmann. however, he failed to notice its psychedelic effects until 1943. it's a serotonergic psychedelic (partial agonist at serotonin receptors, particularly the 5-ht2a subtypes) like psilocin, mescaline and dmt. but lsd is unique because it is also a partial agonist of dopamine and norepinephrine receptors, particularly the d2r subtypes. lsd (d-lysergic acid diethylamide) is a molecule of the lysergamide family, a subclass of the tryptamine family. in the 1950s, it was used in psychological therapy, and, covertly, by the cia in project mkultra, in which the drug was administered to unwitting us and canadian citizens. it played a central role in 1960s 'counter-culture', and was banned in october 1968 by us president lyndon b johnson. nitrous oxide: legally used by dentists as an anxiolytic and anaesthetic, it is also used recreationally by users who obtain it from whipped cream canisters (whippets or whip-its) (see inhalant), as it causes perceptual effects, a "high" and at higher doses, hallucinations. opiates and opioids: available by prescription for pain relief. commonly used opioids include oxycodone, hydrocodone, codeine, fentanyl, heroin, methadone, and morphine. opioids have a high potential for addiction and have the ability to induce severe physical withdrawal symptoms upon cessation of frequent use. heroin can be smoked, insufflated or turned into a solution with water and injected. percocet is a prescription opioid containing oxycodone and acetaminophen. psilocybin mushrooms: this hallucinogenic drug was an important drug in the psychedelic scene. until 1963, when it was chemically analysed by albert hofmann, it was completely unknown to modern science that psilocybe semilanceata ("liberty cap", common throughout europe) contains psilocybin, a hallucinogen previously identified only in species native to mexico, asia, and north america. tobacco: nicotiana tabacum. nicotine is the key drug contained in tobacco leaves, which are either smoked, chewed or snuffed. it contains nicotine, which crosses the blood–brain barrier in 10–20 seconds. it mimics the action of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine at nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the brain and the neuromuscular junction. the neuronal forms of the receptor are present both post-synaptically (involved in classical neurotransmission) and pre-synaptically, where they can influence the release of multiple neurotransmitters. tranquilizers: barbiturates, benzodiazepines (e.g. alprazolam, diazepam, etc.)(commonly prescribed for anxiety disorders; known to cause dementia and post acute withdrawal syndrome) "bath salts": slang term that generally refers to substituted cathinones such as mephedrone and methylenedioxypyrovalerone (mdpv), but not always dmt – primary ingredient in ayahuasca, can also be smoked (inhalation causes a brief effect lasting usually 5 to 15 minutes). peyote: this hallucinogen contains mescaline, native to southwestern texas and mexico. echinopsis pachanoi is a faster growing cactus containing mescaline. salvia divinorum: this hallucinogenic mexican herb in the mint family; not considered recreational, most likely due to the nature of the hallucinations (legal in some jurisdictions) synthetic cannabis: "spice", "k2", jwh-018, am-2201 quaaludes: a popular club drug in the 1970s. no longer prescribed or manufactured in many countries but remains popular in south africa. routes of administration insufflation of powdered drug injection of heroin drugs are often associated with a particular route of administration. many drugs can be consumed in more than one way. for example, marijuana can be swallowed like food or smoked, and cocaine can be "sniffed" in the nostrils, injected, or, with various modifications, smoked. inhalation: all intoxicative inhalants (see below) that are gases or solvent vapours that are inhaled through the trachea, as the name suggests insufflation: also known as "snorting", or "sniffing", this method involves the user placing a powder in the nostrils and breathing in through the nose, so that the drug is absorbed by the mucous membranes. drugs that are "snorted", or "sniffed", include powdered amphetamines, cocaine, heroin, ketamine, mdma, snuff tobacco subcutaneous injection: also known as skin popping. injection of drug into the third lowest layer of skin. intramuscular injection: injection of drug into a muscle. intravenous injection (see also the article drug injection): the user injects a solution of water and the drug into a vein, or less commonly, into the tissue. drugs that are injected include morphine and heroin, less commonly other opioids. stimulants like cocaine or methamphetamine may also be injected. in rare cases, users inject other drugs. oral intake: caffeine, ethanol, cannabis edibles, psilocybin mushrooms, coca tea, poppy tea, laudanum, ghb, ecstasy pills with mdma or various other substances (mainly stimulants and psychedelics), prescription and over-the-counter drugs (adhd and narcolepsy medications, benzodiazepines, anxiolytics, sedatives, cough suppressants, morphine, codeine, opioids and others) sublingual: substances diffuse into the blood through tissues under the tongue. many psychoactive drugs can be or have been specifically designed for sublingual administration, including barbiturates, benzodiazepines, opioid analgesics with poor gastrointestinal bioavailability, lsd blotters, coca leaves, some hallucinogens. this route of administration is activated when chewing some forms of smokeless tobacco (e.g. dipping tobacco, snus). intrarectal: administering into the rectum, most water-soluble drugs can be used this way. smoking (see also the section below): tobacco, cannabis, opium, crystal meth, phencyclidine, crack cocaine and heroin (diamorphine as freebase) known as chasing the dragon. transdermal patches with prescription drugs: e.g. methylphenidate (daytrana) and fentanyl. many drugs are taken through various routes. intravenous route is the most efficient, but also one of the most dangerous. nasal, rectal, inhalation and smoking are safer. the oral route is one of the safest and most comfortable, but of little bioavailability. types depressants further information: depressant depressants are psychoactive drugs that temporarily diminish the function or activity of a specific part of the body or mind. colloquially, depressants are known as "downers", and users generally take them to feel more relaxed and less tense. examples of these kinds of effects may include anxiolysis, sedation, and hypotension. depressants are widely used throughout the world as prescription medicines and as illicit substances. when these are used, effects may include anxiolysis (reduction of anxiety), analgesia (pain relief), sedation, somnolence, cognitive/memory impairment, dissociation, muscle relaxation, lowered blood pressure/heart rate, respiratory depression, anesthesia, and anticonvulsant effects. depressants exert their effects through a number of different pharmacological mechanisms, the most prominent of which include potentiation of gaba or opioid activity, and inhibition of adrenergic, histamine or acetylcholine activity. some are also capable of inducing feelings of euphoria. the most widely used depressant by far is alcohol (i.e. ethanol). stimulants or "uppers", such as amphetamines or cocaine, which increase mental or physical function, have an opposite effect to depressants. depressants, in particular alcohol, can precipitate psychosis. a 2019 systematic review and meta-analysis by murrie et al. found that the rate of transition from opioid, alcohol and sedative induced psychosis to schizophrenia was 12%, 10% and 9% respectively. antihistamines further information: antihistamine antihistamines (or "histamine antagonists") inhibit the release or action of histamine. "antihistamine" can be used to describe any histamine antagonist, but the term is usually reserved for the classical antihistamines that act upon the h1 histamine receptor. antihistamines are used as treatment for allergies. allergies are caused by an excessive response of the body to allergens, such as the pollen released by grasses and trees. an allergic reaction causes release of histamine by the body. other uses of antihistamines are to help with normal symptoms of insect stings even if there is no allergic reaction. their recreational appeal exists mainly due to their anticholinergic properties, that induce anxiolysis and, in some cases such as diphenhydramine, chlorpheniramine, and orphenadrine, a characteristic euphoria at moderate doses. high dosages taken to induce recreational drug effects may lead to overdoses. antihistamines are also consumed in combination with alcohol, particularly by youth who find it hard to obtain alcohol. the combination of the two drugs can cause intoxication with lower alcohol doses. hallucinations and possibly delirium resembling the effects of datura stramonium can result if the drug is taken in much higher than therapeutic doses. antihistamines are widely available over the counter at drug stores (without a prescription), in the form of allergy medication and some cough medicines. they are sometimes used in combination with other substances such as alcohol. the most common unsupervised use of antihistamines in terms of volume and percentage of the total is perhaps in parallel to the medicinal use of some antihistamines to extend and intensify the effects of opioids and depressants. the most commonly used are hydroxyzine, mainly to extend a supply of other drugs, as in medical use, and the above-mentioned ethanolamine and alkylamine-class first-generation antihistamines, which are – once again as in the