(424) 242-1130Several slang terms exist for drugs and alcohol today - for prescription medication, and other licit or illicit psychoactive substances. These slang or street names are often used to hide what a person is trying to buy, sell, or use. Being informed about the slang words for drugs and alcohol helps you stay informed regarding the psychoactive substances out there and whether someone you care for could be using them.
Key Points to Remember
- Almost all psychoactive substances, licit or illicit, have slang terms.
- These names vary widely, from common words like booze or weed to coded terms like Lucy, Tina, Buttons, and Special K.
- Slang for drugs and alcohol is used to hide substance use, avoid legal consequences, or escape social judgment.
- Understanding slang names for drugs and alcohol helps you stay aware of potential substance use among your loved ones or your surroundings.
- Holistic recovery options are available for substance use and co-occurring mental health conditions for a lasting recovery.
What Are the Slang Names for Drugs and Alcohol?
With the number of psychoactive substances, like drugs and alcohol, out there, there is a slang word or more for each of these. We shall look into these below.
Substance | Slang Terms |
|---|---|
Alcohol | Booze, Brew, Firewater, Liquid Courage, Nightcap |
Amphetamine | Bennies, Black Beauties, Crank, Ice, Speed, Uppers |
Benzodiazepines | Bars, Benzos, Blues, Downers, Football |
Cocaine | Blow, Coke, Powder, Snow, White |
Crack Cocaine | Base, Crack, Devil Smoke, Rock |
Depressants | Backwards, Blue Heavens, Downie, Idiot Pills, M&M, Rainbows, Stoppers |
Fentanyl & Derivatives | Apache, Blues, China Girl, China White, Fenty, Lollipop, Jackpot, Murder 8, Poison, White Girl |
GHB | G, GEEB, Georgia Home Boy, Gina, Scoop |
Heroin | Big H, Black Tar, Brown Sugar, Dope, H, Smack |
Hydrocodone | 357s, Bananas, Hydro, Norco, Vics, Vikes |
Ketamine | Blind Squid, Cat Valium, Green, Honey Oil, K, Kit Kat, Special K, Super Acid, Vitamin K |
Klonopin | K, K-Pin, Pin, Super Valium |
LSD | Acid, Blotter, California Sunshine, Cid, L, Lucy, Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, Sugar Cubes, Yellow Sunshine |
Marijuana | Bud, Ganja, Green, Hash, Hashish, Hemp, Mary Jane, Pot, Purple Haze, Smoke, Weed, Yellow Submarine |
Marijuana Concentrates | 246, BHO, Badder, Budder, Butter, Dabs, Ear Wax, Errl, Honey Oil, SAP, Shatter, Wax |
MDMA | Adam, Beans, Candy, E, Ecstasy, Love Doctor, Molly, X, XTC |
Mescaline | Big Chief, Blue Caps, Buttons, Cactus, Media Luna, Mescal, Mezcakuba, Moon, San Pedro, Topi |
Methamphetamine | Chalk, Crank, Crystal, Glass, Ice, Lemon Drop, Meth, Speed, Tina, Tupperware |
Mushrooms | Alice, Boomers, Buttons, Caps, Champiñones, Hongos, Magic, Mushies, Pizza Toppings, Shrooms, Tweezes |
Opium | Aunti, Aunti Emma, Big O, Black Pill, Chandu, Chinese Molasses, Dopium, Dream Gun, Fi-Do-Nie, Gee, Guma, Midnight Oil, Zero |
Oxycodone | 30s, 40s, Beans, Blues, Buttons, Greens, OC, Oxy, Whites |
PCP | Angel Dust, Hog, Magic Dust, Ozone, Superweed, Wack |
Peyote | Black Button, Britton, Button, Cactus, Green Button, Half Moon, Hikori, Hyatari, Nubs, Seni, Shaman, Tops |
Promethazine with Codeine | Act, Drank, Lean, Purple, Purple Drank, Sizurup, Sizzurp, Syrup |
Ritalin | Kibbles and Bits |
Steroids | Abolic, Anadrol, Bolasterone, Dihydrolone, Equipose, Gym Candy, Juice, Methyl Testosterone, Pumpers, Stackers, Weight Trainers, Winstrol V |
Synthetic Cannabinoids | 4-20, Ace of Spades, AK-47, Black Magic Smoke, Black Mamba, Helix, Ice Dragon, Posh, Synthetic Marijuana, Wizard, Zombie |
Xanax | Bars, Bicycle Handlebars, Footballs, Hulk, Ladders, Planks, School Bus, Sticks, Xanies, Zanbars, Zannies, Z-Bars |
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(424) 242-1130What Is the Slang for Doing Drugs or Drinking Alcohol?
Now that we know the slang for different drugs and even alcohol, let us understand the slang for being on drugs/alcohol:
Drug | Slang for Those Who Use |
|---|---|
Alcohol | Alcoholic, Boozer, Drunker, Heavy Drinker, Inebriate, Problem Drinker |
Cocaine | Cokehead, Coke Hound, Cokey, Hardliner, Snowbird, Snow Bunny |
Heroin | Junkie, Junker, Sleepwalker |
Marijuana | Pothead, Smoker, Stoner, Toker, Weedhead |
MDMA / Ecstasy | Pill Face, Peeper, “E-Puddle”/ “Cuddle-Puddle” (group use context) |
Methamphetamine | Meth Head, Meth Monster, Speed Freak, Tweaker |
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What Do Slang Words for Drugs and Alcohol Indicate?
Slang for drugs and alcohol can indicate many things - typically, it is used by those who sell and use to escape legal consequences or even social stigma and judgment. However, if you hear someone you know and care for use these slang terms for drugs and alcohol, it might not necessarily indicate that they are doing drugs or drinking alcohol, but there is no harm in being cautious.
If you notice signs of substance use as well as the frequent use of these slang words, then it might be an indication that your loved one can benefit from substance use disorder recovery options. Typically, this will involve:
- Medically supervised detoxification (detox)
- Psychotherapy
- Medication management
- Peer support
- Aftercare
- Sober living
There is no one clear-cut path to recovery - integrated care options that heal the mind, body, and spirit offer holistic solutions for a lasting recovery.
Wish to Speak to Someone? Contact Design For Recovery Today!
If you are worried that you or a loved one is struggling with substance use, contact Design For Recovery now! Our team is always here for you and willing to hear from you. We offer sober living options that strengthen your recovery and community, while also connecting you with rehab centers and specialists who cater to your more urgent needs.
Wherever you are, we meet you there. Contact us at (424) 242-1130 to begin healing now!
- What Are the Slang Names for Drugs and Alcohol?
- What Is the Slang for Doing Drugs or Drinking Alcohol?
- What Do Slang Words for Drugs and Alcohol Indicate?
- Wish to Speak to Someone? Contact Design For Recovery Today!
Begin Lasting Sobriety Now!
- https://www.dea.gov/sites/default/files/2018-07/DIR-020-17%20Drug%20Slang%20Code%20Words.pdf
- https://bhddh.ri.gov/sites/g/files/xkgbur411/files/documents/Drug-Slang---guide-FINAL.pdf
- https://www.addictioncenter.com/drugs/drug-alcohol-slang/
- https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/substance-use-and-mental-health
Written By
David Beasley