Addiction Drug Use Heroin Common Slang Terms for Heroin By Buddy T facebook twitter Buddy T is an anonymous writer and founding member of the Online Al-Anon Outreach Committee with decades of experience writing about alcoholism. Learn about our editorial process Buddy T Fact checked by Fact checked by Emily Swaim on March 13, 2020 linkedin Emily is a fact checker, editor, and writer who has expertise in psychology content. Learn about our editorial process Emily Swaim Updated on March 24, 2020 Print Diverse Images/UIG/Getty Images In the culture surrounding illegal drugs, there are thousands of slang terms, nicknames, and street names for every imaginable drug. Hundreds of those street terms are used for heroin, a highly addictive illegal drug. Slang terms for heroin are derived from a wide variety of sources, including the physical appearance and type of heroin; where it's from; the effect it has on users; and how it is packaged for sale. Some street names for heroin are simply designed to cover up the topic of conversation and throw eavesdroppers off track. Terms Based on Appearance Some of the slang terms are based on the drug's appearance after it is cut and packaged for sale on the street. Some terms are based on the color of the drug and others on its composition. Black Pearl Black Sheep Black Tar Brown Crystal Brown Rhine Brown Sugar Diesel Dirt Golden Girl Red Chicken Red Eagle Salt Spider Blue White Junk White Nurse White Stuff Do You Know What Heroin Looks Like? Terms Based on Location of Origin A few of the slang terms are derived from the supposed origin of the drug. Chinese Red Mexican Horse Mexican Mud Terms Based on the Effects of Heroin Many of the nicknames given to heroin over the years have to do with the effect it has on the user or the quality or pureness of the drug at the street level. Dead on Arrival Hairy Hard Candy Hard One Hell Dust Joy Flakes Nice and Easy How Heroin Use Affects Your Health Terms Based on People and Characters Some of the most colorful street terms are the names of people or characters loosely associated with the drug or simply because their names start with the letter H. Sometimes, there seems to be no logic at all behind the nickname. Aunt Hazel Beast Big Harry Boy Charlie Doojey Dragon George Smack Harry Hazel Helen Henry Hercules Hombre Morena Old Steve Rambo Witch Terms Based on Packaging Some nicknames are based on how the drug is packaged by street-level dealers, either by the packaging's appearance or cost. Big Bag Blue Hero Brick Gum Burrito Terms Based on the Word "Heroin" Many of the slang terms are plays on the word "heroin" or are mispronunciations of the word. Others are used just because they begin with the letter H. Big H Capital H Charlie Horse Galloping Horse Good H H H Caps Heavy Helicopter Hero Horse Terms Used to Deceive Like street terms for other illegal drugs, many of the slang terms for heroin are used for no other reason except they disguise the true topic of the conversation to others who might overhear. Some of these terms seem to have no other logical explanation. A-bomb Antifreeze Ballot Basketball Bombs Away Bonita Bozo Butter Fairy Dust Flea Powder Lifesaver Noise Reindeer Dust Scag (skag) Smack Tootsie Roll If you or a loved one are struggling with substance use or addiction, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 for information on support and treatment facilities in your area. For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database. 5 Things Everyone Should Know About Heroin Addiction Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Learn the best ways to manage stress and negativity in your life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. National Institute on Drug Abuse. What are the long-term effects of heroin use? Updated June 2018. Additional Reading Drug Enforcement Agency. Slang Terms and Code Words: A Reference for Law Enforcement Personnel. Updated July 2018.