Glossary of Drug Slang Terms

Opioid slang can overlap, especially because street drugs like heroin are often mixed or misrepresented. 

Common heroin and opioid slang terms

• H
• Smack
• Horse
• Black tar
• Boy
• Dog food
• China White
• Dope
• Junk
• Mud
• Brown sugar

Because today’s opioid supply is far more dangerous than it used to be, someone may use older heroin language even when the drug actually contains fentanyl or another synthetic opioid. 

The DEA continues to list terms such as Smack, Horse, Mud, Brown Sugar, Junk, Black Tar, and Big H for opioids and heroin.

Urban Dictionary is an even more up-to-date source for terms like this, though it’s crowdsourced, so it cannot be relied upon as much as government or academic sources.

Fentanyl, Fake Pills, and Emerging Synthetic Opioids

This is one of the most dangerous drug categories for families right now. 

Common fentanyl-related terms

• Fetty
• Fetties
• Freddy
• Blues
• Blue pills
• M30s
• Dirty 30s
• Pressies or pressed pills

SAMHSA’s DAWN (Drug Abuse Warning Network) tracking identified Freddy and Fetties as monitored slang terms for fentanyl, and its 2025 reporting noted M30 and Blues as common slang tied to counterfeit oxycodone-style pills. 

DEA also warns that xylazine is often mixed with fentanyl and is commonly called Tranq.

Some newer synthetic opioids are also showing up in drug markets. DEA identifies isotonitazene with street names including Nitazene, ISO, and Toni.

Prescription Opioids 

Prescription opioids are one of the most commonly misused categories of drugs, especially among teens and young adults. 

Slang terms often refer to brand names, pill colors, shapes, or strengths, which can make them harder to recognize.

Oxycodone (OxyContin, Percocet)

Oxycodone is frequently referenced using shortened names, brand variations, or pill identifiers.

Common terms:

• Oxy
• Percs
• O
• OC
• Oxycotton
• Roxy / Roxies
• Kickers
• Beans

Appearance-based terms:

• Blues
• Blueberries
• Buttons
• 30s
• 512s
• Greenies
• Tires
• Wheels

It is also sometimes called “hillbilly heroin” 

Hydrocodone (Vicodin, Norco)

Hydrocodone slang often includes abbreviations of brand names or references to pill markings.

Common terms:

• Vics
• Vikes
• Hydros
• Norco
• Tabs

Other or less obvious terms:

• Watson-387 (pill imprint reference)
• Fluff
• Scratch
• 357s

Codeine (with promethazine)

Prescription cough syrups containing the opioid codeine and a second drug called promethazine are often blended with soft drinks (especially Sprite) and combined with Jolly Ranchers or similar hard candies.

Common terms for codeine w/promethazine drinks:

• Lean
• Sizzurp
• Purple Drank
• Syrup
• Cody
• Captain Cody
• Schoolboy

Morphine and Other Prescription Opioids

Some opioids are less commonly discussed but still abused. Slang terms may vary more by region or social group.

Morphine:

• M
• Miss Emma
• Monkey
• White Stuff
• Dreamer

Oxymorphone (Opana):

• Pink Lady
• Blue Heaven
• Stop Signs
• Octagons
• Biscuits

Methadone:

• Done
• Dollies
• Fizzies
• Red Rock

Hydromorphone (Dilaudid):

• Dillies
• D
• Footballs
• Juice

These substances may appear in both medical and illicit settings, which can make slang harder to identify without context.

Cocaine

Cocaine slang often sounds casual or coded. 

Common examples of street names for cocaine include:

• Coke
• Blow
• Snow
• Girl
• Yayo
• White
• Powder
• Line
• Soft

Families may also hear pink cocaine, but that term can be misleading. DEA says pink cocaine, also called Tusi, is usually a pink-dyed drug mixture and often does not actually contain cocaine, but rather a combination of drugs. Pink cocaine/tusi blends vary, but often contain MDMA (Molly), crystal meth and/or fentanyl among other substances.

Methamphetamine

Meth slang can vary a lot by region and social circle. 

Slang Terms for Crystal Meth

• Crystal
• Ice
• Clear
• Glass
• Tina
• Shard
• Pookie
• Clear.

MDMA / Ecstasy and Club Drugs

Terms for MDMA and related party drugs can sound harmless or trendy. 

Common examples include:

• Molly
• Ecstasy
• E
• X
• Beans
• Rolls
• Disco biscuits

NIDA notes that MDMA is still most commonly called Molly or Ecstasy. Ketamine may also appear in nightlife settings as Special K, K, Kit Kat, or Vitamin K.

Hallucinogens and Designer Drugs

This category includes substances families may not recognize right away:

• Acid for LSD
• Tabs or paper
• Shrooms for psilocybin mushrooms
• NBOMe compounds, sometimes called N-Bomb
• Bath salts
• Research chemicals
• Plant food
• Glass cleaner

DEA says synthetic cathinones are often marketed as bath salts, research chemicals, plant food, or glass cleaner and lists names such as Cloud Nine, Ivory Wave, Meow Meow, and Vanilla Sky.

Benzodiazepines 

Benzodiazepines are commonly prescribed for anxiety and sleep, but they are also frequently misused. Slang often refers to brand names, pill shapes, or colors.

Alprazolam (Xanax)

Common terms:

• Xans
• Bars
• Zannies
• Zanbars

Appearance-based terms:

• Ladders (rectangular bar shape)
• Bricks
• White bars
• Yellow bars

Because Xanax is often prescribed in bar form, terms like “bars” or “ladders” are especially common.

Diazepam (Valium)

Common terms:

• Vals
• V
• Valium

Less slang-heavy than Xanax, but still used recreationally or alongside other substances.

Clonazepam (Klonopin)

Common terms:

• Klonopin
• K-pins
• Pins

Other Benzodiazepine-Related Terms

• Downers: Refers broadly to depressant drugs like benzodiazepines
• Benzos: General term for the drug class

Stimulants 

Stimulants increase energy, focus, and alertness. Misuse often starts with prescriptions but can shift into dependency or illicit drug use.

Adderall (Amphetamine Salts)

Common terms:

• Addy
• Addys
• Study buddies
• Smart drugs
• Uppers

These terms are often used casually, especially in academic settings, which can make misuse harder to recognize.

Ritalin / Concerta (Methylphenidate)

Common terms:

• Rits
• Skittles
• Vitamin R