Science & Nature > Horizon > Recent Horizons > Is alcohol worse than ecstasy? You are here: BBC Most dangerous drug? Below are descriptions of twenty of the most dangerous drugs evaluated in a new study published in the Lancet medical journal. Which do you think is Britain's most dangerous drug? 4-MTA Street names: flatliner, goldeneagle

Street price: £1-8

UK users: not known

UK deaths/year: 0 recorded





Dealers often sell this class-A stimulant as a replacement for ecstasy, but it does not produce the same euphoric high. Users take more thinking it hasn't worked and can overdose. Ecstasy Street names: E, hug drug, love drug

Street price: £1-8

UK users: 500,000

UK deaths/year: 27





An illegal class-A stimulant, ecstasy can cause mild hallucinations, feelings of euphoria, empathy and energy. It causes increases in body temperature and heart rate. Alcohol Street price: from £1

UK users: 40 million

UK deaths/year: 40,000









Alcohol is a depressant but removes inhibitions at low doses. At higher doses, drinkers may experience slurred speech, reduced coordination, nausea and vomiting. Long-term use can damage the heart, liver and stomach. GHB Street name: liquid ecstasy

Street price: £5/cap full

UK users: not known

UK deaths/year: 3







An illegal class-C sedative, GHB makes you happy, sensual and uninhibited in small doses. However, the difference between a buzz-inducing dose and a lethal one is barely noticeable. GHB can also kill when mixed with alcohol. Alkyl nitrites Street names: poppers, liquid gold

Street price: £2-6 a bottle

UK users: 400,000

UK deaths: 0 recorded







Alkyl nitrite is a non-addictive, legal drug. Sniffed straight from the bottle, it delivers a short high and relaxes sphincter muscles. Poppers may leave users sick and weak and are toxic if swallowed. Heroin Street names: brown, skag, gear, smack

Street price: £10-20/bag

UK users: 300,000

UK deaths/year: 700





An extremely addictive class-A drug, heroin may be injected or smoked. When injected it can produce feelings of euphoria. As it affects the part of the brain that controls breathing, an overdose can kill. Amphetamine Street names: speed, whiz, dexies or billys

Street price: £8-12/wrap

UK users: 430,000

UK deaths/year: 35





A class-A&B drug, amphetamines can make users feel energetic and confident. They can be intensely addictive. As tolerance builds up consumption increases, leading to paranoia, depression, panic attacks and violent mood swings. Ketamine Street names: special K, vitamin K

Street price: £15-40/g

UK users: 100,000

UK deaths: 1







This class-C drug is normally used as a horse tranquiliser. It has very strong pain-killing effects but has become a popular illegal drug because it is also a strong hallucinogen. Anabolic steroids Street price: £20 for 100 tablets

UK users: 42,000

UK deaths/year: 0









A class-C illegal drug used in muscle building, anabolic steriods can make users aggressive and violent and cause sterility, liver failure, strokes and heart attacks. Khat Street names: Abyssinian tea, African salad

Street price: £4/bunch

UK users: 40,000

UK deaths per year: 0 recorded





This legal stimulant makes users feel alert and energised but in excess it can cause insomnia, impotence and high blood pressure. Barbiturates Street names: pink ladies, red devils

Street price: £1-2/tablet

UK users: not known

UK deaths/year: 20





Doctors prescribe barbiturates for depression, anxiety and insomnia. Illegal users can feel relaxed and sociable. A normal dose and an overdose are difficult to tell apart, making barbiturates very dangerous. Class: A (injected) and B (capsules). LSD Street names: Lucy, trips, paper mushrooms

Street price: £1-5/tab

UK users: 83,000

UK deaths/year: 0 recorded





Lysergic acid diethylamide is an illegal class-A drug and gives users feelings of well being, powerful hallucinations and emotional journeys. LSD is physiologically non-toxic. Benzodiazepines Street names: benzos, downers

Street price: £1 for 4 x 5mg capsules

UK users: 100,000

UK deaths/year: 406





These class-C drugs are minor tranquilizers, such as vallium, prescribed to treat anxiety, insomnia and seizures. Illegal abuse can cause memory loss, nausea, anxiety and depression. Consuming benzos with alcohol often kills. Methylphenidate Street name: vitamin R

Street price: £15/hit

UK users: 15,000

UK deaths/year: 0 recorded







The active ingredient in drugs such as Ritalin, this class-A stimulant is used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Illegal users crush the tablets and snort them for a quick high. Abuse can cause vomiting, convulsions, tremors, and delirium as well as dependency. Buprenorphines Street names: subbies, temmies

Street price: £2 for 4 x 8mg capsules

UK users: unknown

UK deaths/year: 2





A class-C opiate normally used to treat severe pain and heroin dependence, this drug is used illegally for its euphoric and hallucinogenic effects. Without medical guidance buprenorphines are highly addictive, and users are at high risk of overdosing. Solvents Street price: from £2

UK users: 30,000

UK deaths/year: 50-60









These legal substances are inhaled so they get into the lungs very quickly and give users a quick high. Many solvents are poisonous chemicals like tolumine and have a very toxic effect on the heart. Cannabis Street names: dope, hash and bob

Street price: £40-140/ounce

UK users: 3 million

UK deaths/year: 1







This class-C drug is usually smoked. In small doses cannabis induces euphoria, relaxation and pain relief but in high doses it can bring on paranoia and short-term memory loss. Use can also lead to some form of dependency. Street methadone Street names: the precious, slime, green

Street price: £10/100ml

UK users: 33,000 illegal users

UK deaths/year: 295





Prescribed medically, methadone reduces the withdrawal effects of heroin and tends reduce heroin use. Illegal methadone is often diluted with other ingredients and the strength of doses can be hard to judge. Cocaine Street names: Charlie, coke, base

Street price: £30-60/g powder; £10-20 crack rock

UK users: 780,000

UK deaths/year: 214





Users snort cocaine powder and smoke or inject the rock form, crack. Both forms of this class-A drug are dangerous. Crack reaches the brain almost instantly and leaves users very vulnerable to dependence. Tobacco Street price: from £5

UK users: 10 million

UK deaths: 114,000









Tobacco is an extremely addictive drug responsible for 20% of UK deaths, a 10-year reduction of average life expectancy and 40% of all hospital illnesses.