There are plenty of drugs on the street today, but many of them were once prescription medications. For example, Ativan, Klonopin, Librium, and other name-brand drugs are now available on the street under a range of different names.

Drug nicknames have always been a way to hide drug sales and exchanges from the authorities. Here are some of the common names you should know based on the kind of drug that is being sold or exchanged.

Benzodiazepines

Benzodiazepines are used to treat depression, anxiety, seizures, and other conditions. Some common benzos include Halcion, Klonopin, Ativan, and Xanax. Each of these medications has its own nickname. Some common nicknames for benzodiazepines in general include:

• Downers
• Nerve pills
• Planks
• Tranks
• Zannies

They also have individual, drug-specific nicknames. For example, some people reference Rohypnol using the name Mind Eraser or Wolfies. Diazepam is available as Z-Bars or French Fries.

Opioids

Opioids come in a number of forms ranging from legal to illicit drugs. Codeine, buprenorphine, fentanyl, hydrocodone, and others are common. Some of the common street names for opioids include Dance Fever, Captain Cody, Big Whites, Subs, Texas Tea, TNT, and Murder 8.

Stimulants

Some stimulants include amphetamines, steroids, and some diet pills. Common nicknames for stimulants include:

• Crank
• Speed
• Bottled Smiles
• Addies
• Uppers

Many students enjoy using stimulants to help them have more energy to study or hang out with their friends.

Sleeping Aids

Sleeping aids include drugs such as Amytal, Ambien, Lunesta, and Sonata. These are commonly called by their nicknames Barbs, Reds, Yellows, Yellow Jackets, Rophies, Toche, and the “Forget-Me” Pill.

Hallucinogens

Common street names for hallucinogens are drug-specific. For example, Ayahuasca is known as Hoasca or Aya on the street. GHB is better known as G, Home Boy, or Gina. Kratom can be found as Biak-Biak or herbal speedball.

Inhalants

Some common inhalants and their street names include:

• Nitrous oxide: Hippie Crack, Whippets, Laughing Gas
• Amyl nitrate: Amys, Poppers, Pearls
• Isobutyl nitrate: Bolt, Rush, Thrust

Illicit Drugs

There are many illicit drugs. Here are their common names and street names you may hear.

• Black tar heroin: Mexican Black, Mexican Tar, Chiva
• Cocaine: Batman, Flake, Gringa, Hubba, Power, Bernie, Big C
• Crack Cocaine: Base, Topo, Rocks, Apple Jacks, Crankenstein
• Cocaine and heroin combination: Speedball
• Heroin: Mud, Junk, Brown Rhine, The Dragon, Mexican Horse, Scat, White Horse
• Synthetic marijuana: Bombay Blue, Genie, Moon Rocks
• Methamphetamine: Crystal, Gak, Wash, Chalk
• Ecstasy/Molly: Beans, Triple Stacks, Vitamin E, Candy, Adam
• Marijuana: 420, Bo-Bo, Jolly Green Giant, Weed

The interesting thing about these drugs is how these names are sometimes interchanged or used to describe categories of drugs. Some of the most common nicknames are even used in common slang, such as with laughing gas or meth.

Street Drugs and the Risk of Addiction

Whether someone is using a street drug or a prescription medication, the reality is the same. Both have the potential to cause addiction and could lead to co-occurring mental health issues as well. Although some street drugs may seem fun or exciting because of their names, teens, and adolescents are at risk because of their marketing. Anyone who may be using street drugs is at a higher risk of overdose because there is no guarantee that the drugs are what they say they are.

Contact Foothills at Red Oak Recovery

At Foothills at Red Oak Recovery, our focus is on helping you or a loved one overcoming the challenges that result from dealing with an addiction. Our program serves adolescent males and their families, including adding support for co-occurring disorders.

If you have heard your teen using drug slang or are concerned about the drug street names that have come up, we can help. Contact us today at 866.300.5275, and we’ll give you more information about how our adolescent treatment program can help.