Drug Slang
by Karen Littleton
For physicians who deal with patients they might suspect as recreational
drug users, it’s often easier to communicate with them about their usage
in a language they understand.
A teenager might deny the use of methylenedioxymeth-amphetamine if questioned,
but if the doctor asks, “Have you ever taken a hit of ecstasy?” the patient
might say yes.
On the other hand, a patient might report feeling dazed and confused after a
weekend of “dropping roofies.” Without the patient knowing that roofies are formally
known in the medical community as Rohypnol, the physician may not know how
to react or what to do to help the patient.
Following is a list of common (and uncommon) slang names for drugs that
have the potential for abuse. Some are regional, some are silly, some are out of
vogue among the drug abusing population, but some just might help a physician
communicate — and hopefully help — a patient whose substance abuse might
become life threatening.
GHB (gamma hydroxybutyrate):
Goop, Grievous Bodily Harm, Liquid
Ex, Max, Soap
Ketamine (ketamine hydrochloride):
Cat Valium, K, Jet, Special K, Super
Acid
MDMA (methylenedioxymethamphetamine):
Ecstasy, Essence, Ex, XTC,
Hug Drug, Go
Rohypnol (flunitrazepam):
Date Rape Drug, Forget Me Drug,
Roofies, Rophies, Mexican Valium
Psilocybin Mushrooms:
Caps, Magic Mushrooms, Musk,
Sacred Mushrooms, ‘Shrooms
PCP (phencyclidine):
Angel Dust, Dust, Elephant Tranquilizer,
Horse Tranquilizer, STP
Cocaine:
Base, Blow, Bolivian Marching
Powder, Coke, Flake, Freebase,
Incentive, Nose Candy, Peruvian Flake
Crack cocaine:
Base, Cat Pee, Rock, Jelly Beans,
Tornado
Crack users:
Crackhead, Crack ‘ho
LSD:
Acid, Blotter, Blue Cheer, Blue Flat,
Dots, Microdots, Owsley, Purple Haze,
Tabs, Window Pane
Methamphetamine:
Crank, Crystal, Crystal Meth, Glass,
Go Fast, Ice, Meth, Speed, Tweak
Heroin:
Big H, Black Tar, China White,
Horse, Junk, Smack
Marijuana:
Acapulco Gold, BC Bud, Blunt, Bud,
Bush, Colombian, Dope, Doobie,
Ganja, Grass, Hemp, Homegrown,
Joint, Panama Red, Maui Wowie,
Mota, Loco Weed, Pot, Redbud,
Roach, Sinsemilla, Skunk, Spliff,
Stuff, Thai Stick, Weed
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