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This is the alcohol typically contained in alcoholic beverages, also known as grain alcohol.

ethanol. Ethanol, or ethyl alcohol, is a commonly abused toxic substance.

Interestingly, Shakespeare referred to the effects of alcohol in "Macbeth". When Macduff asks, "What three things does drink especially provoke?" Porter replies, "Marry sir, nose-painting, sleep..." and what?

urine. Alcohol inhibits the pituitary secretion of anti-diuretic hormone (ADH), which acts on the kidney to reabsorb water; consequently producing more urine.

An average person with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.35 to 0.50 can have this effect.

coma. On average, this BAC range can render a person unconscious, with depressed reflexes and slower, more shallow breathing. Consequences of a BAC greater than 0.50 typically results in death.

This common antifreeze and hydraulic fluid component is accidentally ingested by children and animals due to its sweet syrupy taste.

ethylene glycol. The immediate effects of ingestion are similar to ethanol; however, when metabolized by the liver, several toxic species including glycolic and oxalic acids are produced. This results in severe metabolic acidosis.

If poisoned with this colorless, odorless, tasteless gas, initial symptoms would resemble the flu: headache, fatigue, shortness of breath and nausea.

carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide exposures occur more often during the fall and winter months, when people are more likely to run gas furnaces and heaters.

This compound has been used as a historical fast-acting suicide device in the deaths of Eva Braun and Heinrich Himmler. It was also an agent responsible for mass murder in some gas chambers during the Holocaust.

cyanide. Cyanide can be a colorless gas or in crystal form in such compounds as sodium or potassium cyanide. It is sometimes described as having a "bitter almond" odor, but not everyone can detect it.

This toxic agent was commonly used in household paints and gasoline prior to 1972.

lead. Symptoms of chronic lead poisoning include reduced IQ, nausea, irritability, insomnia, and in some cases seizure and coma.

This heavy metal inspired Lewis Carrol's "Mad Hatter" character, based on the psychological symptoms associated with its poisoning and the fact that is was used in the making of felt hats.

mercury. For the general public today, consumption of contaminated foods is the major source of mercury exposure. These foods include fish and shellfish due to the natural tendency of mercury to concentrate in their bodies.

This drug of abuse is the most potent stimulant of natural origin, extracted from the leaves of the coca plant found in the Andean highlands of South America.

cocaine. Crack is cocaine that has not been neutralized by an acid. The term comes from the crackling sound heard when it is heated.

Street names for this drug include pot, grass, weed, Mary Jane, and reefer. It is the most frequently encountered illicit drug worldwide.

marijuana. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the psychoactive compound found in marijuana.