COMMON STREET OR SLANG DRUG NAMES

teenagers smoking

Updated September 2023

Names for Drugs That Every Parent Should Know

It’s every parent’s worst nightmare to discover that your child, regardless of age, has a problem with illicit drugs. Drug addiction, by nature, is hidden in deceit, manipulation and lies. In addition, most addicts will go to great extremes to hide their drug taking, especially from those in authority or anyone who may challenge them. 

As a parent, it can be very difficult to confirm suspicions of drug taking and signs of drug addiction. Your child may give any number of sometimes plausible excuses for their irrational and erratic behaviour. However, having the full facts of drug addiction is a powerful tool in setting healthy boundaries and in challenging a person to accept addiction help. Street terms for drug names can be perplexing, and the same slang phrase can also refer to numerous different sorts of substances — complicating the difficult process of determining which drugs someone is using.

Common street names for drugs evolve similarly to other slang terms, and others remain consistent. Knowing the most used slang for drugs and their “street” names may help you identify a drug your child is using.

This post provides a list of drugs and some of the common drug names, along with the signs and symptoms associated with the use of each drug. You could potentially figure out the particular drug your child may be consuming if you are familiar with the many street drug names, common slang words and their effects. 

By no means is this list fully comprehensive of the hundreds of drugs that are sold for illicit use, but it does contain a carefully selected choice of some of the most commonly used drugs.

Contents

Useful Drug Terminology — Fast Find

List of Drug Names – Fast Find

  1. Marijuana/Cannabis
  2. Psilocybin Mushrooms
  3. Amphetamines
  4. Ecstasy/MDMA
  5. PCP
  6. Ketamine
  7. Hallucinogens (LSD)
  8. Crystal Meth
  9. Cocaine
  10. Crack Cocaine
  11. Heroin
  12. Designer, Over the Counter (OTC), and Prescription Drugs

Drug Use Slang Terms for all Types of Drugs

In order to make it more difficult to understand when drug use is being discussed, various slang terms for illicit drug use are common. These terms refer to using all types of illegal drugs, legal highs and prescription drugs.

Some of the most common terms are:

  • Getting geared up
  • Chicken flipping
  • Tweaking
  • Zooming
  • Getting scattered.

Drug slang is always changing, and these terms may become obsolete within a short space of time. If you hear a term you are unsure about, the FRANK website provides a drug A-Z list with updated information on these and many other terms.

Drug Slang for Selling Drugs and Drug Use

Drug slang is not just applied to the names of drugs; it is also commonly used to describe drug use and the sale of drugs. In fact, this is the language you are more likely to hear. As children are aware that specific illegal drug slang terms are becoming better known, they are more likely to avoid using them. 

Becoming familiar with up-to-date general terms for drug dealers and drug users can help you detect if your child is planning to buy drugs, has been using, or is talking about someone they know who uses drugs. 

Slang terms for drug dealers include:

  • Dummy man
  • Collie man
  • Kushman
  • Mailman
  • Buddha
  • Mad hatter
  • Medicine man.

Slang terms and drug street names can also be applied to specific drugs. Below are some of the most common drugs and their associated drug slang.

Common Street Names for Drugs

 

1. Marijuana/Cannabis

Cannabis, also commonly referred to as marijuana or weed, is the most widely abused illicit drug in the UK. Most commonly rolled with tobacco and smoked, this is often referred to as a spliff or joint. Cannabis can also be smoked in a bong or added to food, commonly referred to as edibles.

Common street drug names for marijuana/cannabis include:

Puff MaryJane/Ann Broccoli
Chiba Mota Mootie
Aunt Mary Sweet Lucy Haircut
Mootie Frob Jane
Weed Skunk Hash
Hashish Bud Dope
Bhang Draw Ganja
Herb Sinsemilla Grass

 

Slang terms for smoking marijuana/cannabis include:

Toking Poking Blazing
Being blazed Cheeching Mowing/Mow the grass
Blasting Going loco Hitting the hay

 

Signs someone has smoked or consumed cannabis include:

  • Bloodshot eyes 
  • Droopy eyelids
  • Appearing very relaxed
  • Slurred or slow speech
  • Giggles
  • Hunger (the munchies).

Risks — The biggest danger with cannabis is that the THC content comes in varying strengths and is psychoactive. This means that THC can trigger the onset of mental health problems that can not always be reversed by no longer using cannabis.

Addiction — Cannabis is not physically addictive; however, many people who use it do report physical withdrawal symptoms. These include headaches, muscle pain and problems sleeping. It also has strong psychological effects, which may result in a psychological addiction that can be very intense in some users.

Find more about the effects, signs, and treatment on our cannabis addiction page.

 

2. Psilocybin/Magic Mushrooms

 Psilocybin mushrooms are often referred to as magic mushrooms and shrooms, which contain the active substance psilocybin. They can be eaten raw or dried, made into tea or cooked in food. 

Common street drug names for mushrooms include:

Gooms Zoomers Boomers
Caps Shrooms Mushies
Magics Liberties Liberty caps
Amani Agaric Philospher’s stones

 

Signs someone has used magic mushrooms include:

  • Hallucinations
  • Euphoria
  • Anxiety
  • Restlessness
  • Paranoia
  • Delusions/confusion.

Risks — The most concerning danger is that regular use of magic mushrooms can lead to long-term psychosis, which might cause hallucinations and delusions. Other problems such as memory loss, flashbacks and chronic fatigue can also result from long-term use.

Addiction — Physical addiction is not linked to the consumption of mushrooms and psychological addiction is not common.

 

3. Amphetamines

Amphetamines are usually sold as pills, although they can also be sold in powder form. Made from synthetic stimulants, they can be illegal drugs or prescription medications. They work by giving the user extra energy and inducing euphoria.

Common drug names for amphetamines include:

Amy Cartwheels Christina              
Bumblebees Chochos Chalk
Chicken powder Speed Whizz
Base Sulph Billy

 

Prescribed amphetamines are used to treat medical conditions such as narcolepsy and treat symptoms of ADHD as they promote the ability to focus and concentrate. They are among the most commonly abused prescribed drugs that can be bought online. 

Prescription clinical amphetamine names include:

Adderall Methylphenidate Ritalin
Mydayis Dyanavel XR Adzenys XR-ODT

 

Prescription amphetamine street drug names include:

Vitamin R Jif Rittys
Rits Beans Addys
Truck drivers Zing

 

Signs someone has used amphetamines include:

  • Very talkative
  • Unusually happy
  • Very alert
  • Agitation
  • Increased sexual desire.

Risks of taking amphetamines include:

  • Cardiac (heart) problems and cardiac arrest (heart attack)
  • Overheating
  • Dehydration
  • Insomnia, which can cause psychosis and hallucinations.

Addiction — Amphetamines are both physically and psychologically addictive and addiction can occcur relatively quickly.

Find more about the effects, signs and treatment on our amphetamine addiction page.

 

4. Ecstasy/MDMA

Ecstasy is a Class A drug commonly abused in clubs, parties, and raves. It is sold in pills, powder form and liquid, often called MDMA. 

Common drug names for ecstasy/MDMA include:

Dingers Dizzle Biscuits
Beans Bikkies Superman
Mandy Dolphins Cowies
Molly Mitsubishis Xtc
Dizzle           Pink Superman/ Superman Rolexs                        

 

Signs someone has taken ecstasy include:

  • Loss of inhibition
  • Strange mouth movements 
  • Slurred speech
  • Sweating.

Risks of ecstasy include:

  • Dehydration
  • Overheating
  • Liver damage 
  • Kidney damage and failure
  • Cardiac (heart problems)and Cardiac arrest (heart attack)
  • Haemorrhaging.

Addiction — Ecstasy is not physically addictive, but users can quickly become psychologically addicted to the physical and psychological effects.

Find more about the effects, signs, and treatment on our ecstasy/MDMA addiction page.

 

5. PCP

PCP comes in oil/liquid form, powder, crystals or pills. PCP oil is a yellow colour. Powder and crystals can look similar to cocaine and crack cocaine and vary from white to a pale brown shade. PCP can be smoked by putting it onto the substance being smoked (such as tobacco or marijuana), snorted or swallowed. 

Common drug names for PCP include:

Hog Sherm Ashy Larry
Dippers Woolies Angel dust
Peace pills

 

Signs someone has taken PCP include:

  • Hallucinations
  • Excessively happy 
  • Aggression and violence
  • Paranoia.

Risks of PCP include:

  • Overheating
  • Convulsions
  • Shallow breathing and respiratory failure.

Addiction — PCP is extremely addictive and users can become physically dependent and develop intense psychological addiction to this substance after just a couple of uses.

 

6. Ketamine

Ketamine is sold as a powder and can look like cocaine, although the powder often has a pale brown colour.

Common drug names for ketamine include:

Special K Super K Vitamin K
Wonk Kat

 

Signs someone has taken ketamine include:

  • Slurred or slow speech
  • Rapid eye movements
  • Loss of coordination
  • Being unable to move or respond to a stimulus (often called being in a k-hole).

Risks of ketamine include:

  • Respiratory failure
  • Cardiac (heart) problems or cardiac (heart) failure
  • Psychosis and hallucinations.

Addiction — Ketamine does not cause a physical addiction as it does not cause physical withdrawal symptoms. However, users can become psychologically addicted to ketamine and its effects.

Find more about the effects, signs, and treatment on our Ketamine addiction page

 

7. LSD

LSD comes in different forms. The most common are paper tabs, although they can also be sold in liquid form or pellets.

Common drug names for LSD include:

Alice Biddie                                    Tabs                           
Teletubbies Acid Blotter
Cheer Dots Drop
Paper mushrooms/ Paper Hawk Window

 

Signs someone has used LSD include:

  • Dilated pupils
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Lack of coordination
  • Confusion
  • Excitement and giggling. 

Risks of LSD include:

  • Loss of memory
  • Paranoia
  • Flashbacks 
  • Visual distortions.

Addiction — LSD is not physically addictive, although some people may find the effects psychologically addictive. The main dangers are the mental health risks and permanent mental health problems. These include ongoing anxiety, depression and paranoia.

 

8. Crystal Meth

Crystal meth comes in tablets, powder or crystal format that are usually smoked, although it can be swallowed, snorted or heated to turn it into a liquid that can then be injected.

Common drug names for crystal meth include:

Chunk Tina  Roosk
Ice Rizz Glass
Christine Crank Yaba

 

Signs someone has used crystal meth include:

  • Extremely alert and energetic
  • Lack of inhibitions
  • Agitation
  • Paranoia
  • Confusion
  • Aggression and violence
  • Sexual arousal and desire to take part in a sexual-based activity.

Risks of taking crystal meth include:

  • Psychosis
  • Cardiac (heart) problems and Cardiac arrest (heart attack)
  • Stroke
  • Lung damage and respiratory failure
  • Kidney damage and kidney failure
  • Gastrointestinal damage.

Addiction — Crystal meth is a very physically and psychologically addictive substance, which can lead to serious addiction after the first use.

Find more about the effects, signs, and treatment on our crystal meth addiction page.

 

9. Cocaine

Cocaine is a powerful stimulant that comes in a white powdered form and also in an off-white rock form. The powdered form of cocaine is most commonly used and is usually snorted, sometimes through a rolled banknote. Cocaine has increased in purity over recent years and is more readily available. It has also become more acceptable, and as a result, more deaths are being recorded than ever before.

Common drug names for cocaine include:

Snow Ching Sugar
Dust Chang Bernice
Blow Coke Charlie
White Sniff

 

Signs someone has used cocaine include:

  • Enlarged pupils
  • Euphoria
  • Increased sex drive
  • Extreme confidence
  • Talking fast.

Risks of cocaine include:

  • Psychosis 
  • Cardiac (heart) problems and cardiac arrest (heart attack)
  • Damage to the cartilage inside the nose (when snorted)
  • Respiratory (breathing) problems
  • Death from overdose.

Addiction — Psychological and physical addiction is associated with cocaine use; however, some people do manage to use cocaine sporadically without becoming addicted to it.

Find more about the effects, signs and treatment on our cocaine addiction page.

 

10. Crack Cocaine

Crack cocaine comes in crystals and is smoked in a pipe or bong. This delivers a more powerful effect than cocaine, but one that lasts for a shorter time. Crack cocaine is extremely addictive, and users can become hooked after just one use. It carries the same dangers and risks associated with powdered cocaine.

Common drug names for crack cocaine include:

Rob Ford Mandy candy Candy
Hubba Hubba rock Rocks
Pebbles Toot Crack

 

Addiction — Crack cocaine is extremely addictive, and physical and psychological addiction can occur after the first time using crack cocaine.

Find more about the effects, signs, and treatment on our crack cocaine addiction page.

 

11. Heroin

Heroin is a powerful drug that can be smoked in a pipe or bong and can also be heated into a liquid to inject intravenously. Deaths involving heroin and morphine (heroin is converted into morphine by the body) have increased due to heroin being mixed with fentanyl — a deadly, powerful synthetic opioid drug up to fifty times stronger than street heroin.

Common drug names for heroin include: 

Brown Junk Horse
Chiva Brownstone Captain Jack
Smack Gear Skag                     

 

Signs someone has taken heroin include:

  • Pinpoint pupils
  • Being sleepy
  • Slurred or slow speech 
  • Periods of unconsciousness
  • Euphoria.

Risks of heroin include:

  • Death from overdose
  • Respiratory failure
  • Choking on vomit, which can cause death
  • Damage to veins and arteries (when injected)
  • Gangrene (when injected).

AddictionHeroin is highly addictive due to its notorious withdrawal symptoms and intense euphoric high. 

Find more about the effects, signs and treatment on our heroin addiction page.

 

12. Designer, Over the Counter (OTC) and Prescription Drugs

Prescription drug addiction can be just as, if not more, powerful than illegal drugs and cause dangerous physical and psychological issues. 

Common drug names for designer drugs are sometimes referred to as legal highs:

Bath salts                                                                                 Benzo Fury (6-APB, 6-(2-aminopropyl) benzofuran).
N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT)                            Mephedrone (4-methylmethcathinone), also known as Meow Meow
Flakka (alpha-PVP)  Gamma hydroxybutyrate (GBH) 
Mexxy or methoxetamine (MXE) Benzodifurans (Bromo-Dragonfly)
1-benzylpiperazine (BZP)                                    Trifuoromethylphenylpiperazine (TFMPP)
Novel benzodiazepines such as:

  • Diclazepam
  • Flubromazepam
  • Pyrazolam.                          

Common over-the-counter (OTC) drugs that are abused include:

Cough medicine /syrup Nasal decongestants Opiod based painkillers
Sleeping tablets/ antihistamines Motion sickness pills Erectile dysfucntion medicine (Viagra)

 

Addiction Addiction is possible with almost all legal highs and OTC drugs, and should always be taken seriously.

Common drug names of prescription drugs that are abused include:

Antidepressants such as:

    • Prozac (fluoxitine)
    • Bupropion
    • Venlafaxine.

Opioids and morphine based painkillers such as: 

  • Oxycodone/ Oxycontin
  • Fentanyl
  • Methadose
  • Dolophine
  • Roxonal
  • Duramorph
  • Tylox
  • Percodan
  • Percocet
  • Vicodin.

Benzodiazepines such as: 

  • Xanax
  • Klonopin
  • Ativan
  • Valium
  • Librium
  • Ambien
  • Diazepam.

Sleeping tablets:

  • Sonata
  • Lunesta
  • Zopiclone.

Stimulants such as:

  • Adderall
  • Dexedrine
  • Methylphenidate
  • Ritalin
  • Concerta
  • Mydayis
  • Dyanavel XR
  • Adzenys XR-ODT.

Anticonvulsants such as:

  • Pregabalin
  • Dilantin
  • Lamictal
  • Carbamazepine.

Addiction — Prescription drugs are extremely addictive and addiction after just one use is highly associated with opioid-based prescription drugs.

More information about addiction to prescription drugs.

 

Resources  for Slang and Street Names for Drugs 

Here are a few useful resources for keeping up to date with drug slang terms.

The DEA (The United States Drug Enforcement Administration) — Many common street drug names and drug slang originate from America. The DEA, therefore, provides a downloadable resource of drug slang code words.

FRANK is an online resource that provides information on drugs (both illegal and prescription). There is also a helpline and text service for people who want help and advice.

Related Reading: What You Need to Know About Club and Party Drugs 

Help for Drug Addiction

Addiction is classified as a disease and is not a lifestyle choice. Drug use and addiction often control the individual to such an extent they will take drugs regardless of the risks or consequences.

 

We can offer free advice on supporting and treating addiction. Step by Step Recovery rehab centre in Essex exists to help individuals beat drug addiction permanently. Please complete our online assessment form to learn more about our addiction treatment and aftercare. Alternatively, please call our understanding team on 0800 170 1222 for more information about our private addiction treatments and residential rehab facility. 

Why choose Step by Step?

Request a call back

Click here for full privacy notice. By clicking send you agree to us using the information provided to manage your enquiry. If enquiring on behalf of someone else, you must obtain their consent to providing us with their information.