Glossary

 

Benzodiazepine:

A group of depressants used to induce sleep, prevent seizures, produce sedation, relieve anxiety and muscle spasms, etc.

Bioavailability:

A drug’s ability to enter the body

Biofeedback:

This is the process of gaining awareness of many physiological functions like heart rate, brain activity, etc. Some of the processes that can be controlled include brainwaves, muscle tone, skin conductance, heart rate and pain perception. At Banyan, we use Biofeedback to improve health, performance, and the physiological changes that often occur in conjunction with changes to thoughts, emotions, and behavior.

Blood Alcohol Level/Concentration:

The concentration level of alcohol in the bloodstream expressed as a percentage by weight.

Buprenorphine:

It can treat pain as well as addiction to narcotic pain relievers. (e.g. Buprenex).

Caffeine:

An alkaloid that acts as a diuretic and a stimulant (found in coffee, sodas and teas).

Carcinogen:

A cancer-causing chemical agent typically found in cigarettes

Causal Factors:

Various pre-disposed conditions that lead to individual chemical dependency problems (e.g. conditioning, environment, genetics, etc.)

Ceiling Effect:

Occurs when the dosage of buprenorphine is increased beyond maximum levels and no differences result.

Central Nervous System (CNS):

The brain and spinal cord.

Cirrhosis:

Chronic liver damage from a variety of causes leading to scarring and liver failure typically caused by alcohol and chronic drug use.

Clinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale (COWS):

A scale used to determine the severity of opioid withdrawal.

Codeine:

The pain-relieving sedative agent contained in opium.

Codependency:

An excessive emotional or psychological reliance on a partner, typically a partner who requires support due to an illness or addiction.

Cold Turkey:

Abruptly quitting a drug by choice in order to try to quit long-term.

Compulsion:

A psychological condition in which a person does a behavior compulsively, having an overwhelming feeling that they must do so.

Craving:

A powerful and strong desire for a substance. It’s also a symptom of the abnormal brain adaptions that result from addiction.

Crisis Intervention:

The methods used to offer immediate, short-term help to individuals who experience an event that produces emotional, mental, physical, and behavioral distress or problems.

Cross-Dependence:

The ability of one drug to suppress the withdrawal symptoms of one’s physical dependence on another. For example, methadone can be used to suppress withdrawal in persons physically dependent on heroin.

Cross-Tolerance:

Occurs when one’s tolerance for one drug results in their lessened response to another. Cross-tolerance has been observed with pharmaceutical drugs such as anti-anxiety agents and illicit substances, and sometimes the two of them together. Often, a person who uses one drug can be tolerant to a drug that has a completely different function.

D.O.C.:

This stands for drug of choice.

Denial:

One’s failure to either admit or realize his or her addiction or to recognize and accept the harm it can cause or has caused.

Depressants:

Sedatives that act on the Central Nervous System (e.g. to treat anxiety, high blood pressure, tension, etc.) Depressants are also occasionally referred to as "downers" as they lower the level of arousal when taken.

Depression:

One of the most frequent types of distress resulting from addiction. It is a mental health disorder characterized by persistently depressed mood or loss of interest in activities, causing significant impairment in daily life.

Detoxification (Detox):

The medical process of removing a toxic substance (e.g. a drug) from the body. This typically involves abstention from drink or drugs until the bloodstream is free of toxins.

Disease Model:

A theory of alcoholism that considers the addiction a disease rather than a social or psychological issue.

Disease:

A condition featuring medically significant symptoms that often have a known cause.

Dopamine:

A chemical produced naturally by the body and found in the brain, dopamine functions as a neurotransmitter—a chemical released by neurons (nerve cells) to send signals to other nerve cells. The brain includes several distinct dopamine pathways, one of which plays a role in reward-motivated behavior. Most types of rewards increase the level of dopamine in the brain, and many addictive drugs increase dopamine neuronal activity.

Drug Misuse:

One’s use of a drug not specifically recommended or prescribed when there are more practical alternatives; when drug use puts a user or others in danger.

Drug Tolerance:

A progressive state of decreased responsiveness to a drug.

DSMV:

The handbook which is the standard classification of mental disorders used by mental health professionals in the United States.

Dual-Diagnosis:

is the term used when a person has a mood disorder such as depression or bipolar disorder (also known as manic depression) and a problem with alcohol or drugs. A person who has a dual diagnosis has two separate illnesses, and each illness needs its own treatment plan.

DUI:

Stands for Driving Under the Influence of alcohol or another illicit substance that impairs one’s ability to drive.

DWI:

Stands for driving while intoxicated.

Dysphoria:

The opposite of euphoria. A state of unease or generalized dissatisfaction with life.

Enabling:

Helping an addicted person do things they can or should be doing for themselves, which causes disease progression. For example, giving them money when they ask for it and helping them have access to buy or use drugs.

Endogenous Opioid:

The opioids released by neurons that the body naturally produces in order to help us tolerate pain.

Endorphins:

Opium-like substances produced by the brain; natural painkillers.

Ethanol:

Ethanol, also called alcohol, ethyl alcohol, and drinking alcohol, is a compound and simple alcohol.

Euphoria:

A pleasurable state of altered consciousness; one reason for the preference of one addictive behavior or substance over another.

Evidence-based Treatment:

Scientifically validated treatment studies that have been conducted and extensive research has been documented on a particular treatment, and it has proven to be successful. The goal of EBT is to encourage the use of safe and effective treatments likely to achieve results and lessen the use of unproven, potentially unsafe treatments.

Excipient:

An inactive substance added to a drug to help bind the active ingredient.

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS):

Birth defects/abnormalities in babies of alcoholic and alcohol abusing mothers.

Fetal Drug Syndrome (FDS):

Birth defects/abnormalities in babies of drug abusing mothers.

Food and Drug Administration (FDA):

Administers federal laws regarding, for example, the safety and effectiveness of drugs.

Habit:

An outdated term for addiction/physical dependence.

Hallucinogen:

Chemical substance that distorts perceptions, sometimes resulting in delusions or hallucinations. The common types of hallucinogens are psychedelics, dissociatives and deliriants.

Harm Reduction:

Often the first stage of addiction treatment; reducing therapy instead of stopping the target behavior.

Heroin:

It’s also known as diamorphine among other names, is an opioid most commonly used as a recreational drug for its euphoric effects. It is used medically in several countries to relieve pain or in opioid replacement therapy. It can be injected, smoked, snorted or inhaled.

Hydrocodone:

An effective narcotic analgesic first developed as a cough medication.

Induction:

Beginning phase of buprenorphine treatment.

Inflation:

An addiction behavior’s tendency to slowly but surely increase in frequency

Intoxication:

A state of being drugged or poisoned which results from abuse of alcohol, barbiturates, toxic drugs, etc.

Legal Drugs:

Everyday drugs like alcohol, caffeine, carbohydrates, nicotine, etc.

Maintenance:

Stabilization of a patient who is indefinitely on a drug’s lowest effective dose.

Medical Model:

An addiction theory that considers addiction a medical rather than social issue.

Metabolism (of drugs):

The chemical and physical reactions carried out by the body to prepare for a drug’s execution.

Methadone:

It’s sold under the brand name Dolophine, among others, is an opioid used to treat pain and as maintenance therapy or to help with tapering in people with opioid dependence. Detoxification using methadone can either be done rapidly in less than a month or gradually over as long as six months.

Monotherapy:

Therapy using one drug

Morphine:

Morphine is a pain medication of the opiate type which is found naturally in a number of plants and animals and directly affects the central nervous system (CNS) to decrease the feeling of pain.

Mu Agonist:

A drug that stimulates physiologic activity on mu opioid cell receptors.

Mu Opioid Receptor:

Nerve cell receptor that mediates opioid addiction and tolerance through drug-induced activity.

Naloxone:

sold under the brand name Narcan among others, is a medication used to block the effects of opioids, especially in overdose. Naloxone may be combined within the same pill as an opioid to decrease the risk of misuse. When given intravenously, it works within two minutes, and when injected into a muscle, it works within five minutes. It can also be sprayed into the nose.

Naltrexone:

Naltrexone is a medication that stops the activity of opioids. It is primarily used in the management of alcohol dependence and opioid dependence.

Narcotic:

A drug that produces sleep/drowsiness and that also relieves pain while being potentially dependence producing.

National Board of Addiction Examiners (NBAE):

Provides certification for individuals in the addiction field

Negative Reinforcement:

Repetitive behavior to avoid something unpleasant.

Neurotransmitter:

Neurotransmitters, known as chemical messengers, are endogenous chemicals that enable neurotransmission. They transmit signals across a chemical synapse, such as a neuromuscular junction, from one neuron (nerve cell) to another "target" neuron, muscle cell, or gland cell. Neurotransmitters are released from synaptic vesicles in synapses into the synaptic cleft, where they are received by receptors on the target cells.

Nicotine:

Tobacco’s extremely toxic main active ingredient.

Nonopioid:

A drug that doesn’t activate opioid receptors

Obsession:

A mental behavior one repeats involuntarily that can be harmful (e.g., needing an alcoholic drink).

Off-Label Use:

Physician-approved use of a drug for uses other than those stated on its label.

Opiate:

The poppy’s natural ingredients and their derivatives (opium, morphine, codeine, and heroin).

Opioids:

Opium’s synthetic form.

Opium:

One of the most popular drugs; contained in muscle-relaxers, sleeping pills, and tranquilizers.

Over-the-Counter Drugs:

Legal non-prescription drugs.

Oxycodone:

A medicine used for relief of moderate to high pain.

Painkillers:

Analgesic substances (opioids and nonopioids). Some include: codeine, fentanyl (Actiq, Duragesic, Fentora), hydrocodone (Hysingla ER, Zohydro ER), hydrocodone/acetaminophen (Lorcet, Lortab, Norco, Vicodin),hydromorphone (Dilaudid, Exalgo), meperidine (Demerol), methadone (Dolophine, Methadose).

Partial Agonists:

Bind to and activate receptors to a lesser degree than full agonists.

Pharmacology:

Scientific branch of medicine concerned with the uses, effects, and modes of action of drug.

Physical Dependence:

The body’s physiologic adaptation to a substance.

Placebo:

A substance with no pharmacological elements that may elicit a reaction because of a patient’s mindset.

Polysubstance Abuse:

Concurrent abuse of more than one substance.

Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS):

Withdrawal symptoms after initial acute withdrawal.

Precipitated Withdrawal Syndrome:

Precipitated withdrawal occurs when a full agonist, such as heroin, is displaced from opioid receptors by an antagonist, such as naloxone.

Prescription Drugs:

Only available by a physician’s order.

Psychedelic Drugs:

The drugs produce an intensely pleasurable mental state. Examples are LSD or acid, psilocybin mushrooms, commonly known as magic mushrooms or shrooms, or mescaline the active constituent of peyote.

Psychoactive Drug:

A mind- and behavior-altering substance which include: cocaine, crack cocaine, methylphenidate (Ritalin), ephedrine, MDMA (ecstasy), mescaline (cactus), LSD blotter, psilocybin mushroom (Psilocybe cubensis), Salvia divinorum, diphenhydramine (Benadryl), Amanita muscaria mushroom, Tylenol 3 (contains codeine), codeine with muscle relaxant, pipe tobacco, bupropion (Zyban), cannabis, hashish.

Psychological Dependence:

One’s compulsion to use a psychologically based drug for pleasure; may lead to drug misuse.

Psychopharmacology:

The study of how drugs affect consciousness, mood, sensation, etc.

Psychotropic Drug:

Any drug that acts on one’s psychic experience or mood behavior.

Receptor:

Protein on a target cell’s membrane or cytoplasm with which a drug interacts.

Recidivism:

One’s return to a negative behavior or relapse (e.g. drug use).

Recovery Rates:

The percentage of addicted persons undergoing treatment who partake in abstinence in their first year.

Recovery:

Reducing or ceasing substance abuse; often followed by one’s personal life being turned around by way of a supportive environment to return to a normal state of health, mind, or strength.

Relapse Prevention Plan:

A relapse prevention plan is simply a plan for how you can prevent a relapse or a return to drug use after a period of abstinence. A relapse prevention plan can be a simple plan that is a couple of pages long or a detailed plan for making changes to all the areas of your life that have been damaged by drug use.

Relapse:

Symptom recurrence after a period of sobriety or drug use cessation.

Remission:

A symptom-free period.

Reversed Tolerance:

When a lower dose of a drug produces the same desired or observed effect that previously resulted only with higher dosages.

Screening:

Measurement tool for the extent of one’s addiction (e.g., self-completion questionnaire/life-history assessment)

Side Effects:

Secondary effects of a drug; these are usually undesirable.

Societal Denial:

Society’s denial of the historical value of drug-induced pleasure and euphoria.

Steroids:

A steroid is an organic compound with four rings arranged in a specific molecular configuration. Examples include the dietary lipid cholesterol, the sex hormones estradiol and testosterone and the anti-inflammatory drug dexamethasone.

Stimulant:

Drugs that act on the Central Nervous System, resulting in alertness, excitation, and wakefulness.

Sublingual:

Drugs that enter the blood through the membranes under the tongue.

Substance Abuse (Chemical Dependence):

Substance abuse, also known as drug abuse, is a patterned use of a drug in which the user consumes the substance in amounts or with methods which are harmful to themselves or others, and is a form of substance-related disorder.

Synergism:

The greater effect that results when one takes more than one drug simultaneously.

Synthetic:

Not natural occurring.

Talc:

Dangerous substance used in manufacturing pharmaceuticals.

Therapeutic Community:

A setting where people with similar issues can meet to support each other’s recovery.

Therapeutic Dependence:

A patient’s tendency to demonstrate drug-seeking behaviors because they fear withdrawal symptoms.

Titration:

The gradual adjustment of the amount of a drug.

Tolerance:

Condition in which one must increase their use of a drug for it to have the same effect.

Toxicity:

A degree to which a chemical substance or a particular mixture of substances can damage or poison an organism.

Tranquilizers:

A type of drug that can help relieve the symptoms of severe psychosis.

Trigger:

Anything that results in psychological and then physical relapse.

Ups or Uppers:

Drugs that produce a euphoric effect (e.g. stimulants, amphetamines).

Urge-Peak Cycle:

Ongoing urge-peaks, usually followed by relapse.

Urge-Peak:

A sudden, unpredictable increase in addiction cravings; they usually involve temporary mental unawareness (e.g. not realizing the amount of drinks one has had).

Urges:

Less powerful desires than cravings; can be suppressed by willpower.

Withdrawal Symptoms:

Severe and excruciating physical and emotional symptoms that generally occur between 4 to 72 hours after opiate withdrawal (e.g., watery eyes, yawning, loss of appetite, panic, insomnia, vomiting, irritability, jitters, shakes, etc.)

Withdrawal Syndrome:

Combined reactions or behaviors that result from the abrupt cessation of a drug one. It’s also called discontinuation syndrome which is a set of symptoms occurring in discontinuation or dosage reduction of some types of medications.

Withdrawal:

The abrupt decrease in or removal of one’s regular dosage of a psychoactive substance.

Drug Slang 

If you suspect that your loved one is suffering from addiction, there are common slang terms for drugs that you should become aware of. Although there are plenty of medical terms used to describe drugs and alcohol, there are also numerous street names for drugs out there that you may be less familiar with. By educating yourself on these popular slang drug terms, you will be more likely to identify an addiction, especially if the addict is being deceitful or is in denial. If you have any suspicions, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the most popular drug slang and to keep an eye out for signs of addiction. If you are worried that your loved one is heading down the wrong path, let us step in. With our drug and alcohol addiction treatment, we help people just like you get their loved ones the help they need. 

Drug Slang List 

There are so many drug street names out there already, not to mention the new drug slang terms created all the time, but we have compiled a list of some of the most common drug slang that you should be aware of. 

Amphetamines: 

Category of powerful stimulants that are often used to treat attention deficit disorder (ADD). They work on the central nervous system. Some people abuse these drugs to help them focus and eventually become addicted. There are multiple prescription medications that contain amphetamines. 

Common drug slang names for amphetamines include: 

• Amy 

• Addys 

• Beans 

• Black Birds 

• Black Mollies 

• Cartwheels 

• Chunk 

• Diablos 

• Diet Pills 

• French Blues 

• Greenies 

• Horse Heads 

• Jelly Babies 

• Lid Poppers 

• Little Bombs 

• Morning Shots 

• Peaches 

• Pixies 

• Speed 

• Sweeties 

• TR-6s 

• Truck Drivers 

• Wheels 

• Zoomers 

Cocaine: 

A strong stimulant drug that is usually snorted. Cocaine comes from the coca plant that is most often found in South America. This drug is most often used recreationally and comes in the form of a fine white powder. People on cocaine will experience excitability, euphoria, increased mental alertness, and overconfidence. 

Common street names for cocaine include: 

• A-1 

• Angel Powder 

• Audi 

• Belushi (when mixed with heroin) 

• Big C 

• Blanco 

• Blizzard 

• BMW 

• Blow 

• C-Dust 

• Candy 

• Cecil 

• Chevy 

• Coca-Cola 

• Coke 

• Crusty Treats 

• Death Valley 

• Devil’s Dandruff 

• Double Bubble 

• Dust 

• Florida Snow 

• Gold Dust 

• Happy Dust 

• Heaven Dust 

• Icing 

• Movie Star Drug 

• Nose Candy 

• Paradise White 

• Powder 

• Racehorse Charlie 

• Sleigh Ride 

• Speedball (when mixed with heroin) 

• White 

• White Lady 

• Zip 

Crack Cocaine: 

A form of cocaine that can be smoked, known as freebasing. This substance is extremely addictive because of its intense high, and addicts can become completely preoccupied with the drug. Crack cocaine typically comes in the form of crystal rocks that range from white to yellow. When crack cocaine is burned it smells like chemicals. 

Street names for crack cocaine include: 

• 501s 

• Apple Jack 

• Beemer 

• Blowcaine 

• Bomb 

• Breakfast of Champions 

• Bump 

• Candy 

• CD 

• Cloud Nine 

• Devil Smoke 

• Dime Special 

• Eye Opener 

• Freebase 

• Ice 

• Kryptonite 

• Nuggets 

• Pony 

• Slab 

• Speed Boat 

• White Ball 

• Yale 

Cough Medicine: 

Certain cough medicines can contain ingredients that produce psychoactive effects and can easily be misused and lead to addiction. 

Common street names for these cough medicines include: 

• Drex 

• Robo 

• Rojo 

• Red Devils 

• Poor Man’s Ecstasy 

• Drank 

• Velvet 

• Triple C 

• Orange Crush 

Fentanyl: 

An increasingly dangerous synthetic opioid that’s either prescribed or illegally used. It has a high risk for addiction and dependence as it is 100 times more potent than morphine. There is also a large risk of overdose. 

Fentanyl slang names include: 

• Apache 

• Butter 

• China White 

• Crazy One 

• Dragon 

• Fent 

• Fenty 

• Jackpot 

• Lollipop 

Heroin: 

A very addictive opioid that’s used illegally, often injected. Heroin can also be smoked. Heroin is illegal in the United States, but some other countries use it for pain relief. In a pure form, heroin is a fine white powder, but often it is gray, brown, or black. 

Heroin slang names include: 

• Antifreeze 

• Aunt Hazel 

• Big H 

• Bird 

• Black Olives 

• Black 

• Sheep 

• Black Tar 

• Brick Gum 

• Brown Sugar 

• Capital H 

• Cement 

• Chocolate 

• DOA 

• Diesel 

• H 

• Salt 

• Smack 

• Roofing Tar 

• Tootsie Roll 

• Wings 

LSD: 

A strong hallucinogen and psychedelic drug that can cause confusion and a change in their perception of reality. LSD is synthetic and typically comes in a crystal form that’s odorless and colorless. 

Common slang terms for LSD include: 

• Acid 

• Black Star 

• Blue Heaven 

• Blue Sky 

• California Sunshine 

• Coffee 

• Dental Floss 

• Dots 

• Electric Kool Aid 

• Hawaiian Sunshine 

• Jesus Christ Acid 

• Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds 

• Pink Panthers 

• Pizza 

• Pure Love 

• Purple Haze 

• Sunshine 

• White Dust 

• Zen 

Marijuana: 

A plant that’s smoked, often considered a gateway drug. Marijuana comes from the Cannabis plant and is used both recreationally and medicinally. 

Slang terms for marijuana include: 

• 420 

• African Bush 

• Aunt Mary 

• Blue Crush 

• Broccoli 

• Catnip 

• Colorado Cocktail 

• Dojo 

• Gold Leaf 

• Green Goblin 

• Hash 

• Jamaican Gold 

• Khalifa 

• Leaf 

• Stavia 

• Smoke 

• Stems 

• Zambi 

MDMA: 

A club drug that produces euphoria, typically taken in pill form. Someone on this drug will feel increased energy, pleasure, as well as empathy and can cause distorted perception of time and surroundings. These effects can last several hours. 

MDMA street names include: 

• Dancing Shoes 

• E 

• E-Bomb 

• Ecstasy 

• Love Drug 

• Love Potion #9 

• Molly 

• Rolling 

• Scooby Snacks 

• XTC 

• X 

Methamphetamines: 

A central nervous system stimulant that includes medications for ADHD. It can be smoked, snorted, injected, or taken as a pill. 

Nicknames for methamphetamines include: 

• Aqua 

• Bump 

• Chalk 

• Clear 

• Colorado Rockies 

• Crank 

• Fizz 

• Hard Ones 

• Hot Ice 

• Ice 

• Lemon Drop 

• Meth 

• Soap Dope 

• Yellow Barn 

• Zip 

Crystal Meth: 

• Users of Crystal Methamphetamine: People who use crystal meth are often referred to by various slang terms including:  

• Cranker 

• Cranker man 

• Geeker 

• Jibhead  

• Meth head 

• Meth maggot 

• Meth monster 

• Smack head 

• Speed freak 

• Tweaker.  

• Using Crystal Methamphetamine: The act of using meth has its own set of slang expressions, such as: 

• Blowing clouds 

• Clouds 

• Smokin' rain 

• Tweaking 

• Twirling.  

Xanax: 

A prescription drug used to treat anxiety and other issues can be highly addictive. It is a benzodiazepine that creates a calming effect. 

Other names for Xanax include: 

• Bars 

• Footballs 

• Planks 

• Sticks 

• School Bus 

• Xanies 

• Zannies 

• Z-Bars 

What to Do if Your Loved One is Using Drug Nicknames 

If you hear your child, friend, or loved one using slang for drugs, drug jargon alone is not enough to identify an active addiction. You should also keep a lookout for signs of addiction, including behavioral or physical changes.  

Sources: 

• DEA -  https://www.dea.gov/sites/default/files/2018-07/DIR-022-18.pdf