Addiction Drug Use Drug Slang and Street Terms for Illicit Drugs By Buddy T 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 Updated on May 03, 2021 Medically reviewed Verywell Mind articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and mental healthcare professionals. Medical Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by John C. Umhau, MD, MPH, CPE Medically reviewed by John C. Umhau, MD, MPH, CPE John C. Umhau, MD, MPH, CPE is board-certified in addiction medicine and preventative medicine. He is the medical director at Alcohol Recovery Medicine. For over 20 years Dr. Umhau was a senior clinical investigator at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Learn about our Medical Review Board Print Oksana Smith / EyeEm / Getty Images Table of Contents View All Table of Contents What Is Drug Slang? Marijuana Cocaine Heroin Depressants Amphetamines Methamphetamines Ecstasy or MDMA There are numerous slang terms and street names for illicit drugs. Drug culture has developed its own language in which ordinary-sounding words can take on entirely different meanings. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has compiled a list of more than 2,300 terms that mean something different in the drug culture—street terms that refer to specific drug types or drug activity. Slang terms used for drugs can range from humorous to clever to serious warnings. What Is Drug Slang? People who use or sell drugs develop their own in-group terms and language, much like any other group of people with a common experience. Some terms are simply designed to cover up the topic of conversation from possible eavesdroppers. Slang terms are derived from a wide variety of sources. These might include the physical appearance and/or type of drug, the place where it originates, the effect it has on users, or how it's packaged for sale. Some slang terms may apply to several different drugs. For example, someone riding the wave or on the nod is under the influence of drugs (in general, not a specific substance). To inject drugs with a syringe is to shoot, spike, boot, or slam the drug. Someone who is bipping is snorting drugs, while a tweaker is a person on a mission to find crack cocaine (but tweek is a methamphetamine-like substance). While drug slang is always evolving, there are some terms associated with specific types of drugs. These are likely to vary by community or region. Marijuana There are literally hundreds of slang terms or street names for marijuana or cannabis. Many terms have been derived from the source of the drug, the effect marijuana has on users or the appearance of the processed plant. Some of the slang terms for marijuana combine the geographic location with the appearance of the processed plant. Some of the following names have risen to the level of "brand names" for the drug. Acapulco RedAfrican, African Black, African BushAfghani IndicaCanadian BlackChocolate ThaiColumbus BlackColombianHawaiian Homegrown HayHawaiian BlackIndian HayIndian HempJamaican GoldJamaican Red HairKentucky BlueKona GoldManhattan SilverMexican Brown, Mexican Green, Mexican Locoweed, Mexican RedPakistani Black, Panama Gold, Panama RedTex-MexTexas Tea Appearance-Based Terms Black Bart, Black GunionBlue SageBlondeGoldenGreens, Green Goddess, Green BudsLeafQueen Ann's LaceRed Bud Effects-Based Terms Assassin of YouthBabysitterCrying WeedCrazy WeedDinkie DowDry HighGiggle WeedGiggle SmokeJoy SmokeJolly GreenKiller WeedLaughing Grass, Laughing WeedLove WeedLoco WeedMagic SmokeRighteous BushSinsemillaWacky Weed Packaging-Based Terms BaleDoob, Doobie, Doobee, DubeFinger LidGrass BrowniesLoafNumber Word-Based Terms Aunt Mary, Mary Ann, M.J., Mary Jane, Mary Jonas, Mary Ann, Mary and Johnny, Mary, Mary Warner, WeaverMeggie, Megg, MedJane, JuanitaPotReeferRopeTeaWeed People who are chiefing, blasting, or participating in a clam bake are smoking marijuana. Names Used to Deceive AshesAstro TurfBashBarBammyBo-Bo, BoBroccoliColorado CocktailFlower TopsHaircutHerbMootieMugglesMuthaMugglesRainy Day WomanSkunkSticky IckySweet LucyYellow Submarine Marijuana: Everything You’ve Been Afraid to Ask Cocaine At the peak of its use in the 1970s and 1980s, cocaine began to influence many aspects of the American culture. Glamorized in songs, movies and throughout the disco music culture, cocaine became a very popular recreational drug. Some of the street names, slang terms, and nicknames were given to cocaine during the height of its popularity have become part of the American lexicon. Cocaine begins as green leaves of the coca plant, but by the time it reaches users, it is a flaky white powder (or hard, white rocks in the form of crack cocaine). The appearance of the drug has been the basis for many of its street names or nicknames. Some names used for cocaine are based on the geographic origin of the drug, or at least the perceived geographic origin of the drug. BlowCocaCokeCrackBig Flake, FlakePeruvian, Peruvian Lady, Peruvian FlakeSnow, Snow White, Florida SnowSoda Cut Effects-Based Terms More names for cocaine were derived from how the drug affects its users. The potency or the pureness of the drug also prompted many of its colorful nicknames and street names. These include: Big RushBouncing PowderCrackFriskie PowderGlad StuffHappy Trails, Happy Powder, Happy DustLove Affair Marching Powder, Marching DustNose Powder, Nose Candy, Nose StuffParadise Terms Based People and Characters For most illegal drugs, some of the street names used to refer to cocaine sound like names of people, at least in part to disguise the subject of the conversation. Some of these nicknames are based loosely on the word "cocaine" while others seem to have no logical connection at all. These include: Aunt NoraAngieBernie, BerniceBillie HokeCecilCarrie Nation, CarrieChoeChippyCharlieCorrinne, CorrineHenry VIIIHerJejoLady SnowMerck, MerkMujerNieveSchmeckScottieSerpico 21 Plays on the Word "Cocaine" Some of cocaine's street names are simply derivatives of the word "cocaine" itself, or plays on the word "cocaine" or "coke." Big C, C-Game, CCoke, ColaCoconut, Coca, Mama CocaLady Caine Deceptive Street Names Finally, there are dozens of slang terms for cocaine that seem to be based on no other criteria except that they are deceptive. These names are used by cocaine users to cover up the topic of their conversations about the drug in case they are overheard by others. These terms include: BaseBasaBarbsBazulcoBeamBoyBureseCarnieCandy CCameC-DustChollyCombolDuctEsnortiarEl PericoJellyMosquitosMonsterTeenagerTardustYescoYescaZambi Get the Basic Facts About Cocaine Heroin Some of the slang terms for heroin 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. These include: Big H, Capital HBlack Eagle, Black Pearl, Black TarChivaHell DustHorse, Galloping Horse, Good Horse, Mexican HorseNegraSmackThunderWhite Stuff, White Nurse, White Junk Heroin: Everything You’ve Been Afraid to Ask Depressants When prescription drugs make their way to the street to be sold for misuse or nonmedical use, they often are given street names. This is the case for depressants—barbiturates and benzodiazepines—which are medications prescribed as sedatives or tranquilizers to treat anxiety and insomnia. Appearance-Based Terms As with many drugs and medications, nicknames are often derived from the appearance of the drug. In the case of depressants, many street names refer to the color(s) of the pills or capsules. These include: Blue BulletsBlue BirdsBlue AngelsBlue TipsBlue HeavensBlue DollsBlue DevilGreen FrogGreen DragonsMarshmallow RedsPink LadiesRed BulletsRed and BlueRainbowsRedsStrawberries Effects-Based Terms Another common source for the street name of a drug is the effect that it has on the user. Because barbiturates and benzodiazepines act to depress the central nervous system, many slang names for depressants refer to slowing down. Block BustersBustersDownerDouble TroubleGoofersDrowsy HighDowniesIdiot PillsLay BackStumblersStoppers Plays on the Real Names For depressants, one of the most common sources for nicknames comes from the real names for the medications. Many depressants street names are shortened or alternative versions of their brand names or generic medication names. For example: BarbiesBarbBambsLudsLudesNimbiesNemmiesNebbiesQuadPhenosPhenniesQuasSoftballsSeggySeccySopersTuieTranqsTootiesTooles Cultural or Colloquial References Some drug names come from how, when and where they are used. Cultural references and colloquial uses can become nicknames for sedatives and tranquilizers just as they can for other drugs. These include: Christmas RollsChoralsDollsDisco BiscuitsGangster PillsGorilla Pills People and Fictional Characters Almost all drugs of abuse have a group of nicknames that refer to people or fictional characters. Some of them are logical uses of the name, while others don't seem to make any sense at all. The same is true for some street names of depressants Mickey FinnsKing Kong PillsMother's Little HelperMighty Joe YoungMickeys Purely Deceptive Names Like most drug slang terms, some nicknames for depressants have origins that do not seem to make any sense at all. The names are seemingly created for no other reason than to disguise the topic of conversation. These terms include: Backwards, Coral, Joy Juice, Jellies, and Peth. How Depressants Affect Your Central Nervous System Amphetamines Amphetamines have a long list of slang names based on appearance, the effect the drug has, and of course, names for deceptive purposes only. Appearance-Based Terms Amphetamines are sold in pill form and may come in several different colors, with corresponding slang names. Black and WhitesBlack BeautiesBlack BirdsBlack BombersBlack MolliesBlacksBlue BoysBrowniesBumblebeesChalkFrench BluesHeartsOrangesPeachesPink HeartsRosaRosesSnow PalletsWhite, Whites Effects-Based Terms Amphetamines are stimulants, so many slang terms for these drugs refer to that simulating effect. AmpsBrain TicklersCartwheelsCo-PilotsCoast to CoastsForwardsHead DrugsJolly BeansLeapersLid ProppersLightningMarathonsPep PillsPixiesRhythmRippersRoad DopeSnapSparkle PlentySparklersThrustersTruck DriversTurnaboutUppersUppiesWake-UpsZoomers Deceptive Terms Some terms for amphetamines may be based on prescription medications (such as dexies and diet pills). Or the origins may be unclear, but the intent is usually to conceal the behavior of using the drug. BenniesBenzChicken PowderChristinaCrisscrossCross TopsCrossroadsDominoesDouble CrossFivesFootballsHorse HeadsJam CecilJelly BabyJugsMinibenniesNuggets SplashSplivins Methamphetamines Similar to amphetamine, methamphetamine (meth) also has a variety of colorful street names, often based on the appearance of the drug or the effects it has. These terms include: AccordionAquaBatuBlueBlue Bell Ice CreamBumpChristyClearClothing CleanerCrankCreamCri-CriCrinkCriscoCryptoCrystalFizzG-FunkGlassGo-FastHawaiian SaltL.A. GlassL.A. IceLemonsLemon DropMotorPeanut Butter CrankPopsiclePurpleShardsShatterSuper IceWalking ZombieWitches TeethYellow BarnZip Meth Addiction and Health Risks Ecstasy or MDMA Some of the most colorful slang terms are used for Ecstasy or MDMA, based on the name of the drug, effects, and appearance. These terms include: AdamBaby SlitsBeansBooty JuiceCandyChocolate ChipsClarityDancing ShoesDecadenceDisco BiscuitsDovesE-BombEHappy PillsHug DrugLove DrugLove TripMalcolmMollyScooby SnacksSkittlesSlitsSmarteesSpeed for LoversThizzVitamin EVitamin XXTC Ecstasy (MDMA): Everything You’ve Been Afraid to Ask A Word From Verywell While all slang, including drug slang, changes frequently and can vary significantly by region and subgroup, it can help to be aware of some of these terms. If you are concerned that a loved one is using drugs unsafely, seek support from a healthcare provider or therapist and research ways to better communicate with a person who is facing addiction. 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. Common Misconceptions About Substance Use 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 1 Source 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. U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Drug slang code words. Get Treatment for Addiction Advertiser Disclosure × The offers that appear in this table are from partnerships from which Verywell Mind receives compensation.