Drug addiction rates are climbing faster than ever in the United States. Despite the federal government's massive War on Drugs, millions of citizens continue to use and abuse billions of dollars' worth of controlled substances every year. Some of the most commonly abused drugs include marijuana, cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamines. Prescription drugs such as Oxycontin and Fentanyl are also frequently diverted to street dealers for illicit distribution and consumption. Most of these substances are so pervasive in American society that even non-drug users can easily identify them.

However, there are many drugs which are little-known but frequently abused. Many of these substances still carry severe legal penalties, and most of them are just as dangerous as more common drugs. In order for communities to prevent drug abuse and curb their alarming rates of addiction, people need to learn to recognize these substances. Here are some of the drugs most people have never even heard of.

San Pedro

San Pedro is the common name of Echinopsis Pachanoi - a cactus that comes from Central and South America. Like coca leaves and opium poppies, people have been using San Pedro for thousands of years. Records indicate that it has historically been consumed for medicinal, religious, and ritual purposes, though today's uses are mainly recreational.

The active drug in San Pedro is mescaline - a psychotropic alkaloid also found in certain species of mushrooms. Like other mescaline-containing plants, this cactus is illegal to grow in the United States and most other parts of the Western world.

Quaaludes

Quaaludes were first developed as sleep aids in the 1970s. However, students and other young people soon found that they induced strong feelings of euphoria and drowsiness and resulted in higher sex drives. People have since used them to heighten sexual pleasure, though there were illegal in 1984.

Amyl Nitrate

Amyl nitrate is typically referred to as "rush" or "poppers" and typically produces a short but extremely intense high. Users report increased heart rates, muscle relaxation, and perceptions of slowed time. Like Quaaludes, amyl nitrate is typically taken to enhance sex or other activities.

Poppers can cause fatally low blood pressure, especially in people who combine them with erectile medicines, muscle relaxants, and other vasodilators. They cannot legally be sold for recreational purposes, though people can easily obtain them when they are marketed for supposedly medicinal reasons.

Oxymorphone

The most common opium derivatives include morphine, Oxycontin, and Fentanyl, but oxymorphone is another which is sometimes used to relieve pain. It has also proven particularly useful in keeping surgical patients sedated before and during operations. Like other opiates, it is legal for some medical purposes but not for recreational use. It is potentially more addictive than other opiates because its effects are so short-lived. Users who want to repeatedly get high on oxymorphone must take large doses which lead to the rapid development of tolerances and dependencies.

If you or someone you know is struggling with any of these substances, click the links below to find a treatment center near you. Even little-known drugs can be extremely dangerous and bring disastrous legal consequences. Don't wait until it's too late - get help today.