What You Need to Know About Drug Dealer Slang

Whether you are a parent, a teacher, or a concerned friend, you may have heard someone using slang drug terms and wondering what they meant. This is drug dealer slang. Some of these terms stay constant and have for years, while others change frequently. Despite this, it is always good to be aware of the current lingo.

Although all these terms may not be related to drugs, you should take it seriously when you hear drug dealer slang. Even if someone is simply joking, you should take action. By using drug dealer slang, you are already feeding into the drug culture. In addition, it is usually a hint that someone is using drugs if he or she uses drug slang on a daily basis.

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Why Should You be Aware of Drug Dealer Slang?

If you were to see one of your children speaking to a friend stating that they “cannot wait to get strung out later,” this could be thought of a joke. Unfortunately, this term means to get extremely high on drugs.

As the drug crisis grows in the United States, parents, teachers, and law enforcement need to be as vigilant as possible. Even Drug Enforcement Administration agents have stated that drug dealer slang helps catch dealers and users alike. Drug dealer slang is a key warning sign of substance abuse.

drug dealer slang

Why Does Drug Dealer Slang Exist?

Drug dealers created drug dealer slang because they know they cannot blatantly walk up to someone and offer them ecstasy. Instead, they may offer the chance to “roll.”

Drug dealers also know that by calling drugs different names, the buyer feels like they are in the know, makes the drug seem less dangerous, and creates a drug culture.

By using drug dealer slang, these street names cover up the stigma behind drug use.

Think about users of fake marijuana, known as “spice.” Calling it by a name that could be found next to garlic in your kitchen cabinet sounds better than “a dangerous chemical that can induce seizures.”

Having a trendy name takes away the sound of danger and guilt associated with drug use.

Various drug dealer slang terms are good to know when trying to spot drug users.

Individuals Who Use Drugs Heavily

This is essentially drug dealer slang for drug users.

The term used will vary based upon the drug being used, but some common terms include:

  • Addict.
  • Druggie.
  • Fiend.
  • Hophead.
  • Burnout.
  • Dopehead.
  • Doper.
  • Junkie.
  • Stoner.
  • User.
  • Zombie.

Individuals Who Sell Drugs

Drug users might use drug dealer slang to describe the person who provides them with the drugs, such as:

  • Dealer.
  • Cooker.
  • Dope Peddler.
  • Dummy Man.
  • Hookup.
  • Mad Hatter.
  • Middleman.
  • Mule.
  • Pill Lady.
  • Pusher.
  • Source.

Addiction and Withdrawal Slang

Although addiction is typically a result of doing drugs, drug dealer slang for someone who is addicted to drugs can include phrases like bent, dependence, hang-up, hooked, and strung out.

Drug users even have their own drug dealer slang terms for withdrawal. Terms to signify withdrawal include clucking, detox, DT’s, jonesing, shakes, super-flu, around the time (time after withdrawal), and cold turkey (stopping drug use suddenly).

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Understanding the Psychological Appeal of Drug Dealer Slang

Drug dealer slang often carries with it a psychological allure that extends beyond mere communication about illicit substances. For many, especially youths and young adults, the adoption of this secretive language serves as a rite of passage, a sign of rebellion, and a means to establish an identity within a particular social group. The use of slang associated with drug culture allows individuals to feel a sense of belonging and differentiation from mainstream society. This identification can be particularly appealing during adolescence, a time characterized by exploration of identity and a desire for acceptance.

Understanding the psychological motivations behind the use of drug dealer slang can aid parents, educators, and counselors in addressing the underlying issues of belonging and identity that might lead individuals to engage with drug culture in the first place.

The Role of Social Media in Spreading Drug Dealer Slang

Social media has become a platform for the distribution of drug dealer slang, which makes the terms spread throughout different social networks. These type of social media platforms, specifically Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat have normalized people sharing the slang on their platforms, making it socially acceptable to use. Social media primarily is used by the younger generation, which is how it impacts them more when sharing visual and interactive posts online. This is how they learn most things, which includes drug dealer slang.

For guardians and educators, the challenge lies in monitoring social media trends and engaging in open dialogues about the content encountered online. Staying informed about the latest slang and understanding its context on social media can help in guiding conversations about the realities and dangers of drug use.

drug slang

Drug Dealer Slang for Various Drugs

To create a drug culture for specific drugs, drug dealer slang exists regarding users of individual drugs, as well as what it is called to be under the influence and how to use that specific drug.

Marijuana user slang:

  • Airhead.
  • Blazer.
  • Weedhead.
  • Dankhead.
  • Druggie.
  • Herbalist.
  • Pothead.
  • Stoner.
  • Toker.
  • Smoker.

Under the influence of marijuana:

  • Baked.
  • Blazed.
  • Geeked.
  • Cross faded (if combined with alcohol).
  • Faded.
  • Lit or lit up.
  • Stoned.
  • Ripped.

Marijuana paraphernalia:

  • Blunt.
  • Bowl.
  • Bong.
  • J or joint.
  • PAX.
  • Spliff.
  • Bubbler.
  • Doobie.
  • Fatty.
  • Roach.

Slang for an ecstasy user:

  • Peeper.
  • Pill face.
  • Thizz face.
  • Roller.

Under the influence of ecstasy:

  • Dosed.
  • Faced.
  • Peaking.
  • Smacked.
  • Rolling.
  • Rolling balls.

Slang for a cocaine user:

  • Cokehead.
  • Snowbird.
  • Snowblower.
  • Cokie.

Slang for using cocaine:

  • Blow coke.
  • Do a line.
  • Do a rail.
  • Freebasing.
  • Hitting the slopes.
  • Go skiing.
  • Snort.

Purchase amounts of cocaine:

  • Bump.
  • Hit.
  • Key bump.
  • Line.
  • Rail.
  • Brick.
  • Eightball (3.5 grams).
  • Kilo (1 kilogram).

Slang for a user of crack cocaine:

  • Basehead.
  • Buffer.
  • Chaser.
  • Garbage head.
  • Pipero.
  • Puller.
  • Closet baser.
  • Crackhead.

Using crack cocaine:

  • Basing.
  • Blast.
  • Chasing.
  • Freebasing.

Crack paraphernalia:

  • Crack pipe.
  • Glass.
  • Rock pipe.
  • Pookie.
  • Stem.

Slang for a user of heroin:

  • Chipper.
  • Cotton shooter.
  • Hype.
  • Jolly popper.
  • Junie.
  • Junker.
  • Sleepwalker.

Slang for using heroin:

  • Chase the dragon.
  • Cooking (preparing the heroin to inject).
  • Gravy.
  • Shoot or shoot up.

Methamphetamine user slang:

  • Cranker.
  • Geeker.
  • Meth head.
  • Meth maggot.
  • Meth monster.
  • Smackhead.
  • Speed freak.
  • Tweaker.

Using meth:

  • Blow clouds.
  • Tweaking.
  • Twirling.
  • Smoking rain.

Slang for meth paraphernalia:

  • Monkey crusher.
  • Pipa.
  • Pookie.
  • Twizzal stick.
  • Oil burner.
  • Bowlo.
  • Booger pipe.

Signs of Needing Treatment

Drug abuse is a serious problem that must be taken care of as soon as possible. Sometimes when people misuse drugs it’s because they are trying to cope with emotions, also known as self-medicating. When someone uses illegal or prescription drugs to get high, that’s also a big indicator that they are abusing drugs. If a drug is prescribed to you, it’s important to only take the amount instructed and no more or less as well as not sharing it with others who weren’t prescribed the drug.

There are both behavioral and physical signs of drug abuse to look out for, including the following:

  • Using drug dealer slang.
  • Problems in relationships, such as fights or breakups.
  • Legal and financial problems due to the high cost of drugs and the amount needed to fuel an addiction.
  • A decrease in performance at work, school, or other activities.
  • Neglecting responsibilities.
  • Social withdrawal.
  • Lack of motivation.
  • Changes in thinking or an increase in poor decision-making.
  • An increase in risky behaviors, such as unprotected sex, stealing, or driving under the influence.
  • An uptake in mood swings.
  • Changes in sleeping habits.
  • Bloodshot or watery eyes.
  • Larger or smaller than usual pupils.
  • Poor coordination.
  • Slurred speech.
  • Tremors.
  • Persistent coughing or runny nose.
  • Bad hygiene.
  • Changes in eating habits.
  • Unusual smells on clothing, on the body, or the breath.

Preventive Strategies for Parents and Educators

To prevent the younger generation from using drug dealer slang, it’s important to come up with strategies amongst parents and teachers and take a more proactive approach. It also is important to have a safe and comfortable environment for young adults to communicate their curiosities and feelings they’ve had about drugs. This will give them a place to talk to someone about it with fear of judgement.  It’s important not to overwhelm them with tons of information and give them little doses of education on the topic as well as resources they can utilize on their own time, whether it’s a credible website with facts or if it’s a pamphlet to thumb through.

Having the type of drug prevention programs in place at schools is so important to foster a safe environment for students to be curious and ask questions so they aren’t put in dangerous situations in the future. Knowledge on the topic is power that is needed to make the right decisions on their own when they become young adults and are surrounded by all types of people.

Rehabilitation and Recovery: Beyond the Slang

Getting recovered from addiction makes people less likely to use drug dealer slang as much. Going to get professional help at an addiction rehab gives people overcoming addiction and dependence on substances the support they need to properly address the psychological, emotional, and social factors that contributed to their substance use disorder. To have a successful recovery program, it must give someone the tools to develop coping mechanisms, strategies for relapse prevention and being able to rebuild healthy relationships and building up self esteem.  It’s essential to have strong support systems, which comes from family, friends, and a supportive community of others who have struggled with addiction to keep someone in recovery accountable for their actions.

As someone continues on their journey of progressing through recovery, they are able to live a life drug free and move away from drug culture with language associated with it. Part of the treatment process is to continue with therapy, support groups and having a healthy lifestyle outside of what once confined you to drug addiction and the habits that were formed from that time in your life.

Payment Options for Drug Addiction Treatment in California

Looking at rehab prices might seem too expensive, but it’s important to know that most rehabs take insurance.  We have a team of financial professionals who provide free insurance verification. No person should feel strapped for money when needing to get necessary help for addiction, so our financial experts at Resurgence Behavioral Health can help set up a manageable payment plan or payment option for you.

Payment plans are also an available option for people who might not qualify for insurance coverage for addiction treatment in California. The staff at Resurgence Behavioral Health can help you or someone you know with affording addiction treatment without feeling stressed about the money component of enrolling in rehab.

How to Get Help for Drug Addiction

If you have become more aware of someone you know using drug dealer slang, then it may be a sign that there is a possible addiction or drug abuse issue at hand. Contact us at Resurgence Behavioral Health to learn about your addiction treatment options. Get help today for them.

The team at Resurgence Behavioral is knowledgeable about drug dealer slang — and, more importantly, how drug addiction and substance use disorder can be treated. Together, we can help you or a loved one gain the tools necessary to live a healthier, better life free from the shackles of drug addiction. Take the first step today by contacting us online or calling 855-458-0050.

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