In a 12-month period ending April 2021, more than 100,000 people died of drug overdoses in the United States. Many of these people died from prescription drug overdoses.
A pill identifier could enable you to steer clear of pills that simply aren’t safe for you.
But remember that dealers also have access to pill identifiers. With a little creativity, a dealer could make pills that look authentic but contain harmful ingredients. The only way to truly stay safe is to stay sober.
With that warning in place, let’s discuss what common drugs look like.
Central Nervous System Depressants
Prescription medications in this class slow brain activity. People with anxiety disorders and sleeping issues can benefit from the drowsy feelings these drugs produce. But some people abuse them for that relaxed sensation.
| Drug name | Dosage | Visual Description |
| Ambien | 5 mg 10 mg | Oblong, orange pill. Stamped with “AMB” and the dose. |
| Halcion | 0.25 mg | Circular, blue-colored pills. Stamped with the word “Halcion” and the dose. |
| Klonopin | 0.5 mg 1 mg 2 mg | Orange Blue White All colors stamped “Klonopin” on one side and “Roche” on the other. |
| Librium | 5 mg 10 mg 25 mg | Tablets or gel caps. Stamped with the word “Librium” on them. |
| Prozac | 10 mg 20 mg 40 mg | Gel caps imprinted with “Dista” on the side. |
| Thorazine | 10 mg 25 mg 100 mg 200 mg | Capsules with opaque orange caps or round, orange tablets. |
| Valium | 2 mg 5 mg 10 mg | Round, flat, tablets with a V notched out of the top. The word “Valium” appears on the front, and the word “Roche” is on the back. |
| Xanax | 0.25 mg 0.5 mg 1 mg 2mg 0.5 mg (XR) 1 mg (XR) 2 mg (XR) 3 mg (XR) | Typically light pink or purple. Standard doses are marked “Xanax” with the pill strength. XR versions are stamped with an “X” on one side and the dose on the other. |
CNS Stimulants
Boosts of alertness, attention, and energy come with each dose of CNS stimulants. Conditions like narcolepsy, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and asthma can be addressed with these prescription drugs. But these medications can also cause feelings of euphoria, which makes them attractive targets for abuse.
Illegal forms of CNS stimulants are available in pill form, including methamphetamine. These pills can look like anything at all, as they’re made by dealers in illegal drug laboratories.
| Drug name | Dosage | Visual Description |
| Adderall | 5 mg 7.5 mg 10 mg 12.5 mg 15 mg 20 mg 30 mg | White, blue, or orange tablets. Stamped with “AD” on one side and the dose on the other. Round and oblong shapes are available. |
| Concerta | 18 mg 27 mg 36 mg 54 mg | Oblong pills that are white, yellow, or orange. Stamped with “Alza” and the dose on the same side. |
| Dexedrine Spansule | 5 mg 10 mg 15 mg | Capsules with a brown cap and a clear body. Each is stamped with the dosage. |
| Ritalin | 5 mg 10 mg 20 mg | Yellow, white, or green tablets. Stamped with “CIBA” on one side and the dose on the other. |
| Provigil | 100 mg 200 mg | White tablets stamped with “Provigil” on one side and the dose on the other. |
Hallucinogens
Segments of your brain incorporate stimuli from your senses and bring them to your consciousness. Hallucinogens disrupt this process and cause a sense of floating. Plenty of illicit versions of hallucinogens exist, but there are some forms available from pharmacists.
| Drug name | Dosage | Visual Description |
| Dextromethorphan | Varies (this over-the-counter medication is in all kinds of products) | Varies |
| Ecstasy | Varies (this drug is made by dealers) | Varies (this illegal drug could look like anything) |
| Ketamine | Varies | Blue or pink round capsules. Oblong white pills are also available. |
Narcotics
Of the 0.5 million overdose deaths linked to drugs, more than 70 percent are caused by prescription painkillers. These medications can be critical for people in severe pain from cancer and other difficult conditions. But these same drugs are often abused by people who want the euphoria they can cause.
Know that many drugs you buy from dealers may look legitimate, but they could contain fentanyl. This prescription painkiller is lethal at doses as small as 2 mg. A pill that seems safe could kill you very quickly.
| Drug name | Dosage | Visual Description |
| Codeine | 15 mg 30 mg 60 mg | White tablet stamped with “54” and three more numbers, depending on the dose. |
| Darvon | 65 mg | Pink capsules stamped with “Darvon.” |
| Demerol | 50 mg 100 mg | White, scored tablets stamped with “W” on one side. |
| Methadone | 10 mg | Round, white tablets stamped with “ASC 116” on the side. |
| Morphine | 15 mg 30 mg 60 mg 100 mg 200 mg | Round tablets that are blue, lavender, orange, gray, or green depending on the dose. |
| OxyContin | 10 mg 15 mg 20 mg 30 mg 40 mg 60 mg 80 mg | Round tablets that are white, gray, pink, brown, yellow, red, or green depending on the dose. All are stamped “OP” on one side and the dose on the other. |
| Vicodin | 10 mg | White, oval-shaped tablet stamped “Vicodin HP” on one side. |
Don’t See Your Pill Here?
Thousands of pills line pharmacists’ shelves, and plenty more are made in dealer’s laboratories every day. We’ve compiled many here, but there are others available.
These additional pill-checker sites may help:
Melatonin pills can vary significantly in color, shape and size depending on the brand that produces them but they’re most often white and round. They’re usually around the size of a pinky fingernail and thick.
Most hydrocodone pills are white and oval shaped with a letter and number imprinted on the front and a ridge in the middle of the back. Their appearance can vary based on the manufacturer and the specific strength or variety.
Brand name Vicodin pills are fairly easy to identify. They’re white and shaped like an oval. They’ll have Vicodin imprinted on one side. Depending on the variety and strength they could say Vicodin ES or Vicodin HP. They’ll also have numbers on the other side like 5 | 300 or 10 | 300.
Dr. Alison Tarlow is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist in the States of Florida and Pennsylvania, and a Certified Addictions Professional (CAP). She has been a practicing psychologist for over 15 years. Sh... Read More
- Drug Overdose Deaths in the U.S. Top 100,000 Annually. (November 2021). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- Prescription CNS Depressants: Drug Facts. (March 2018). National Institute on Drug Abuse.
- Central Nervous System (CNS) Depressants and Stimulants. (January 2018). Spine Universe.
- Hallucinogens: Drug Facts. (November 2021). National Institute on Drug Abuse.
- Opioid Overdose. (August 2021). World Health Organization.
- Facts About Fentanyl. United States Drug Enforcement Administration.
