Drug Slang
If you suspect that your loved one is suffering from addiction, there are common slang terms for drugs that you should become aware of. Although there are plenty of medical terms used to describe drugs and alcohol, there are also numerous street names for drugs out there that you may be less familiar with. By educating yourself on these popular slang drug terms, you will be more likely to identify an addiction, especially if the addict is being deceitful or is in denial. If you have any suspicions, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the most popular drug slang and to keep an eye out for signs of addiction. If you are worried that your loved one is heading down the wrong path, let us step in. With our Philadelphia addiction treatment, we help people just like you get their loved ones the help they need.
Drug Slang List
There are so many drug street names out there already, not to mention the new drug slang terms created all the time, but we have compiled a list of some of the most common drug slang that you should be aware of.
Amphetamines:
Category of powerful stimulants that are often used to treat attention deficit disorder (ADD). They work on the central nervous system. Some people abuse these drugs to help them focus and eventually become addicted. There are multiple prescription medications that contain amphetamines.
Common drug slang names for amphetamines include:
-
- Amy
- Addys
- Beans
- Black Birds
- Black Mollies
- Cartwheels
- Chunk
- Diablos
- Diet Pills
- French Blues
- Greenies
- Horse Heads
- Jelly Babies
- Lid Poppers
- Little Bombs
- Morning Shots
- Peaches
- Pixies
- Speed
- Sweeties
- TR-6s
- Truck Drivers
- Wheels
- Zoomers
Cocaine:
A strong stimulant drug that is usually snorted. Cocaine comes from the coca plant that it most often found in South America. This drug is most often used recreationally and comes in the form a fine white powder. People on cocaine will experience excitability, euphoria, increased mental alertness, and overconfidence.
Common street names for cocaine include:
-
- A-1
- Angel Powder
- Audi
- Belushi (when mixed with heroin)
- Big C
- Blanco
- Blizzard
- BMW
- Blow
- C-Dust
- Candy
- Cecil
- Chevy
- Coca-Cola
- Coke
- Crusty Treats
- Death Valley
- Devil’s Dandruff
- Double Bubble
- Dust
- Florida Snow
- Gold Dust
- Happy Dust
- Heaven Dust
- Icing
- Movie Star Drug
- Nose Candy
- Paradise White
- Powder
- Racehorse Charlie
- Sleigh Ride
- Speedball (when mixed with heroin)
- White
- White Lady
- Zip
Crack Cocaine:
A form of cocaine that can be smoked, known as freebasing. This substance is extremely addictive because of its intense high, and addicts can become completely preoccupied with the drug. Crack cocaine typically comes in the form of crystal rocks that range from white to yellow. When crack cocaine is burned it smells like chemicals.
Street names for crack cocaine include:
-
- 501s
- Apple Jack
- Beemer
- Blowcaine
- Bomb
- Breakfast of Champions
- Bump
- Candy
- CD
- Cloud Nine
- Devil Smoke
- Dime Special
- Eye Opener
- Freebase
- Ice
- Kryptonite
- Nuggets
- Pony
- Slab
- Speed Boat
- White Ball
- Yale
Cough Medicine:
Certain cough medicines can contain ingredients that produce psychoactive effects and they can easily be misused and lead to addiction.
Common street names for these cough medicines include:
-
- Drex
- Robo
- Rojo
- Red Devils
- Poor Man’s Ecstasy
- Drank
- Velvet
- Triple C
- Orange Crush
Fentanyl:
An increasingly dangerous synthetic opioid that’s either prescribed or illegally used. It has a high risk for addiction and dependence as it is 100 times more potent than morphine. There is also a large risk of overdose.
Fentanyl slang names include:
-
- Apache
- Butter
- China White
- Crazy One
- Dragon
- Fent
- Fenty
- Jackpot
- Lollipop
Heroin:
A very addictive opioid that’s used illegally, often injected. Heroin can also be smoked. Heroin is illegal in the United States, but some other countries use it for pain relief. In a pure form, heroin is a fine white powder, but more often than not it is gray, brown, or black.
Heroin slang names include:
-
- Antifreeze
- Aunt Hazel
- Big H
- Bird
- Black Olives
- Black
- Sheep
- Black Tar
- Brick Gum
- Brown Sugar
- Capital H
- Cement
- Chocolate
- DOA
- Diesel
- H
- Salt
- Smack
- Roofing Tar
- Tootsie Roll
- Wings
LSD:
A strong hallucinogen and psychedelic drug that can cause confusion and a change in their perception of reality. LSD is synthetic and typically comes in a crystal form that’s odorless and colorless.
Common slang terms for LSD include:
-
- Acid
- Black Star
- Blue Heaven
- Blue Sky
- California Sunshine
- Coffee
- Dental Floss
- Dots
- Electric Kool Aid
- Hawaiian Sunshine
- Jesus Christ Acid
- Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds
- Pink Panthers
- Pizza
- Pure Love
- Purple Haze
- Sunshine
- White Dust
- Zen
Marijuana:
A plant that’s smoked, often considered a gateway drug. Marijuana comes from the Cannabis plant and is used both recreationally and medicinally
.
Slang terms for marijuana include:
-
- 420
- African Bush
- Aunt Mary
- Blue Crush
- Broccoli
- Catnip
- Colorado Cocktail
- Dojo
- Gold Leaf
- Green Goblin
- Hash
- Jamaican Gold
- Khalifa
- Leaf
- Stavia
- Smoke
- Stems
- Zambi
MDMA:
A club drug that produces euphoria, typically taken in pill form. Someone on this drug will feel increased energy, pleasure, as well as empathy and can cause distorted perception of time and surroundings. These effects can last several hours.
MDMA street names include:
-
- Dancing Shoes
- E
- E-Bomb
- Ecstasy
- Love Drug
- Love Potion #9
- Molly
- Rolling
- Scooby Snacks
- XTC
- X
Methamphetamines:
A central nervous system stimulant that includes medications for ADHD. It can be smoked, snorted, injected, or taken as a pill.
Nicknames for methamphetamines include:
-
- Aqua
- Bump
- Chalk
- Clear
- Colorado Rockies
- Crank
- Fizz
- Hard Ones
- Hot Ice
- Ice
- Lemon Drop
- Meth
- Soap Dope
- Yellow Barn
- Zip
Xanax:
A prescription drug used to treat anxiety and other issues can be highly addictive. It is a benzodiazepine that creates a calming effect.
Other names for Xanax include:
-
- Bars
- Footballs
- Planks
- Sticks
- School Bus
- Xanies
- Zannies
- Z-Bars
How Does The Culture Surrounding Heroin Influence The Creation And Evolution Of Slang Terms For The Drug?
The culture surrounding heroin heavily influences the development and transformation of the slang terms associated with the drug. As heroin culture adap(and sons to shifts in manufacturing, distribution, and law enforcement tactics, new slang emerges as a linguistic shield to evade detection by the authorities. This constant evolution is driven by the need for discretion within the community, leading to unique vernaculars that are often specific to different regions in the U.S. This dynamic ensures that the terminology stays a step ahead of law enforcement and continues to reflect the changes within the subculture itself.
What Are Cutting Agents, And How Are They Used In The Context Of Heroin?
Cutting agents are various substances mixed with illicit drugs like heroin to dilute their purity. They are used for a combination of increasing bulk, altering effects, or both, which allows dealers to maximize profits by stretching the amount of heroin they can sell.
Common Cutting Agents for Heroin Heroin on the street is typically found in a form far removed from its pure state. Substances such as baking soda, powdered milk, and talcum powder are common additives. These substances are innocuous in their original form but can be hazardous when injected into the body along with heroin.
Why are Cutting Agents Used? The primary purpose behind the use of cutting agents is economic. By adding these substances, dealers can significantly increase the volume of their heroin supplies inexpensively. Unfortunately, this often comes at the health expense of the user, as it's nearly impossible for buyers to gauge the purity or safety of the product.
Risks and Effects Aside from economic adulteration, cutting agents can alter the physical characteristics of heroin, affecting its color and texture. This often results in heroin appearing brownish, which has given rise to street names like "brown sugar" or "brown." More dangerously, inconsistent purity levels due to various cutting agents can lead to accidental overdoses, especially if a batch is purer than what the user is accustomed to.
Special Processing Variants A specific type of processing involving acidic substances such as lemon juice or citric acid leads to what is known as black tar heroin. This variant is prepared by dissolving heroin with the acidic substances, followed by water, and then heating this solution. The result is a dark, sticky substance commonly injected and known by names such as "Mexican mud" or "black pearl."
Understanding the role and impact of cutting agents in heroin not only highlights the dangers posed by the drug's adulteration but also underscores the unpredictable risks faced by users.
Why Is It Important To Understand That Heroin Found On The Street Is Never In A Pure Form?
Understanding the impurity of street heroin is crucial for several reasons. Firstly, heroin on the market is invariably adulterated with various substances, ranging from inert fillers like baking soda to potent intoxicants. This mixing process, implemented by dealers, aims to increase volume and maximize profits by selling less of the actual drug.
Secondly, the additives can significantly alter the potency and effects of the drug. Since these additions vary wildly, each batch of heroin can differ drastically in strength. This inconsistency makes it extremely difficult for users to gauge a safe dosage, as what might seem like a typical amount can be lethally potent if the batch is purer than usual.
Lastly, the inability to determine the purity of street heroin without specialized equipment adds a layer of danger. A user might unknowingly consume a high-purity batch, leading to a high risk of overdose. This variability not only jeopardizes the user’s health but also complicates the efforts of medical professionals when treating cases of overdose. Understanding these factors underscores the significant risks associated with street heroin use.
Does this drug slang sound all too familiar? If you or your loved one is struggling with addiction, our drug intervention services in Philadelphia can assist you in getting your loved one professional addiction help. Call Banyan Philadelphia today to get your loved one started on the recovery journey. They will thank you one day.
