Street names for drugs are often used to refer to substances discreetly, without directly naming them. These slang terms can act as a secret language, making it difficult for others to understand what is being discussed.
Familiarizing yourself with these street names for commonly abused drugs is vital for identifying potential drug abuse in loved ones and taking appropriate steps for addiction treatment. Hearing a loved one use these street names can indicate substance abuse issues. These terms can be found in conversations, handwritten notes, emails, or text messages. Being aware of as many of these street names as possible can aid in early detection and intervention.
Heroin
Heroin is popular because of the euphoric high it induces, even from the first use. However, this is also what makes heroin so addictive; individuals continue injecting this drug, hoping to achieve the intensity of the original high—referred to as “chasing the dragon,” which leads to long-term use.
- Ballot
- Black Eagle
- BlueStar
- Blue Magic
- China Cat
- Dog Food
- Eggs
- Glass
- Hard Candy
- Heaven
- Horse
- Mojo
- Racehorse Charlie
- Rawhide
- Spider
- Stuff
- Sweet Dreams
- Tiger
- Tootsie Roll
- White Girl
- Wicked
- Wings
Opioids
Opioids were originally hailed as an effective pain medication. Thanks to a mix of advertising dollars, over-prescribing by doctors, and misrepresentation by pharmaceutical companies, the opioid epidemic continues its assault on the nation. Opioids can be taken in pill form or crushed and snorted or injected.
- 357s
- 80s
- AC/DC
- Auntie Emma
- Black Stuff
- Blue
- Cotton
- Dreams
- Emsel
- Fizzies
- Hydros
- Kickers
- Lorries
- Mister Blue
- Nods
- OCs
- Oxy
- Percs
- Schoolboy
- Syrup
- Tomater
- Toys
- Vikes
- Watsons
Methamphetamine
Used by millions of Americans as a “club drug,” methamphetamine is a stimulant that is ranked near the top of the list of drug threats. It’s also being produced at high rates today and is more potent.
- Black Beauty
- Boo
- Brown
- Bump
- Cheese
- Chicken Feed
- Cinnamon
- Cousin Tina
- Cristy
- Crypto
- Crystal Meth
- Desocsins
- Elbows
- Fast
- Getgo
- Granulated Orange
- Hot Ice
- Jet Fuel
- Lithium
- Load of Laundry
- Methlies Quick
- Nazimeth
- Peanut Butter
- Po Coke
- Red
- Rock
- Scootie
- Tic
- Wash
Cocaine
Cocaine exists in white powder form and represents one of the greatest drug threats. Cultivation and production is higher than ever in Columbia, the source of almost all of the cocaine that exists in the world. Because it’s one of the most notorious drugs, cocaine also has many street names.
- Angie
- Aspirin
- Baby
- Baseball
- Beam
- Butler
- Cakes
- Candy
- Casper
- Chalk
- Champagne
- Cloud 9
- Crystal
- Dice
- Dip
- Dream
- Egg
- Everclear
- Face
- Gin
- Girlfriend
- Gold Dust
- Half-Track
- Hamburger Helper
- Heaven
- Hotcakes
- Ice
- Jelly
- Junk
- King
- Kryptonite
- Lady
- Leaf
- Love Affair
- Marching Dust
- Mayo
- Nose Candy
- Nuggets
- Onion
- Paradise
- Pearl
- Peruvian Lady
- Primo
- Rails
- Ready Rock
- Richard
- Roxanne
- Snow
- Soda
- Space
- Star
- Tornado
- Troop
- Turkey
- Uzi
- Wave
- White Horse
- Wings
- Yay
- Yoda
- Yolo
Crack Cocaine
The form of cocaine in crystal form is called crack cocaine. Crack can be a solid block, and it can also come in the form of white, pale rose, or yellow crystals. Heating the crystals before smoking causes them to crack or pop; hence, the name.
Crack is very addictive because of its fast and intense high. It only takes one time to cause addiction.
- Apple Jacks
- Base
- Candy
- Cookies
- Dice
- Fat bags
- French Fries
- Gravel
- Hail
- Hotcakes
- Ice cube
- Jelly Beans
- Paste
- Piece
- Product
- Rock
- Rock Star
- Scrabble
- Snow Coke
- Tornado
Fentanyl
Fentanyl represents another legitimate pharmaceutical. This painkiller is used to relieve the pain of end-stage cancer patients. Fentanyl is also an opioid and is hundreds to thousands of times more powerful than morphine. Fatal overdoses from this drug are increasing.
- Apache
- China Girl
- Dance Fever
- Goodfellas
- Great Bear
- He-Man
- Jackpot
- King Ivory
- Murder 8
- Perc-a-Pop
- Tango and Cash
Benzodiazepine
Benzodiazepines are a class of legitimate drugs that are prescribed for the purpose of relieving the symptoms of anxiety, inducing sleep, preventing seizures, and producing a sedating effect. Common brand names include Ativan, Klonopin, Restoril, and Valium, and it also has a number of street names.
- Benzos
- Blues
- Blue Ruffles
- Blue Bombs
- Bricks
- Candy
- Clons
- Chill Pills
- Downers
- French Fries
- Footballs
- Green Eggs
- Jellies
- K-Pins
- Moggies
- Nerve Pills
- Norries
- Rophies
- Roofies
- Rugby Balls
- Sleeping Pills
- Super Valium
- Tems
- Temazzies
- Totem Poles
- Tranks
- Upjohn
- Vallies
- Yellows
- Zanbars
Xanax
Xanax represents another commonly prescribed drug for anxiety. When misused, this drug can cause a person to feel drowsiness and create an odd sensation. Although Xanax doesn’t produce the intense high of some of the other drugs on this list, it is highly addictive. Xanax can also cause serious side effects, including seizures and depression, and it has several street names.
- Bars
- Benzos
- Bicycle Parts
- Blue Footballs
- Bricks
- Hulk
- Ladders
- Peaches
- School Bus
- UpJohns
- White Boys
- White Girls
- Xan
- Xanies
- Yellow Boys
- Zan
- Zannies
- Zanbars
- Z-Bars
Morphine
Yet another opioid, for decades morphine has been used for the treatment and management of pain after surgery. Available in tablet, liquid, and powder form, this common drug can be ingested via swallowing, smoking, or inhaling through the nose (snorting) and causes the user to feel euphoric. The drug can cause a slow heartbeat, shallow breathing, seizures, and extreme mood changes.
- Dreamer
- Emsel
- First Line
- God’s Drug
- Hows
- M
- Miss Emma
- Miss M
- MS
- MisterBlue
- Monkey
- Morphs
- Morphos
- S
- Salt and Sugar
- Unkie
- White Lady
- White Stuff
OxyContin
OxyContin, also known by its generic name oxycodone, is another prescription drug as a painkiller. This particular drug kills pain over a 12-hour period via the slow release of medication. However, when misused, several pills are crushed and then snorted.
This instantly delivers the full dose for a potent high. However, many seeking the same high at a lower cost will turn to heroin, which also does not require a prescription to obtain.
- 30s
- 512s
- As
- Berries
- Blue
- Blues
- Blueberries
- Hillbilly Heroin
- Kickers
- Killers
- Ms
- O
- OC
- Ox
- Oxy
- Oxy80s
- Oxycet
- Oxycotton
- Ozone
Marijuana
Marijuana, also known as cannabis, is often consumed by smoking its dried leaves, but it can also be ingested in other forms such as edibles, vaporizers, or tinctures. Users may consume marijuana on its own or use it with other substances it has been “laced” with.
Marijuana is an illicit drug having the most common use in the country. This drug is available in its natural form, as well as synthetic marijuana. Street names for marijuana include:
- 420
- Ashes
- Atshitshi
- Aunt Mary
- Bammy
- Baby Bhang
- Blanket
- Blunt
- Bo-Bo
- Bobo Bush
- Bomber
- Boom
- Bud
- Broccoli
- Cheeba
- Chronic
- Cripple
- Dagga
- Dope
- Dinkie Dow
- Ding
- Dona Juana
- Dona Juanita
- Flower
- Flower Power
- Flower Tops
- Ganja
- Gasper
- Giggle Smoke
- Grass
- Green
- Hash
- Herb
- Hot Stick
- Jane
- Jay
- Jolly Green
- Jolly Green Giant
- Joy Smoke
- Joy Stick
- MJ
- Mary Jane
- Maryjane
- Oregano
- Pot
- Roach
- Reefer
- Skunk
- Smoke
- Trees
GHB
GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyrate) is a central nervous system depressant often used recreationally for its euphoric and sedative effects. It can be ingested in liquid or powder form, typically mixed with beverages. GHB is sometimes referred to as a “club drug” due to its prevalence in party and nightlife scenes.
GHB is an illicit drug with various street names, including:
- Easy Lay
- G
- Georgia Home Boy
- GHB
- Goop
- Grievous Bodily Harm
- Liquid Ecstasy
- Liquid X
Nitrous Oxide
Nitrous oxide, commonly known as “laughing gas,” is a gas used medically for anesthesia and pain relief, but it is also misused recreationally for its short-lived euphoric effects. It is often inhaled from balloons or canisters, leading to a brief high. Due to its ease of access and quick effects, nitrous oxide is popular at parties and music festivals.
Nitrous oxide is known by various street names, including:
- Balloons
- Buzz Bomb
- Hippie Crack
- Laughing Gas
- N2O
- Nangs
- Nitro
- Nitrous
- NOS
- Poppers
General Symptoms of Addiction
In addition to knowing the drug slang, it’s also important to be aware of the signs of a developing addiction needing treatment. A person can exhibit one or many of the following:
- Frequently argumentative with friends and family members
- Highly defensive when questioned about their activities
- Engaging in secretive behavior, including withdrawing from loved ones and previously enjoyed activities
- Spending increasing amounts of time isolated from loved ones
- Associating with a new group of people
- Experiencing financial difficulties
- Facing issues at work
Get Help Today
If you’re concerned that a loved one may be developing a substance use disorder, it’s crucial to seek help promptly. Early intervention can make a significant difference in the recovery process.
At Adelante Recovery Centers, we offer specialized drug addiction treatment programs that are holistic and tailored to meet the unique needs of each individual. Our comprehensive approach addresses both the addiction and any underlying mental health issues, providing compassionate and effective care. Our experienced team is dedicated to guiding individuals through every step of their recovery journey and offering support to their families and loved ones.
Don’t wait until the situation worsens—contact us today to speak with a specialist and learn more about our customized addiction and dual diagnosis treatment programs. Together, we can take the first step towards a healthier, more fulfilling life.