Street Names for Opioids (Slang Terms)

woman standing outside looking away representing street names for opioids
Updated February 22, 2024
Updated February 22, 2024
Picture of Authored By:

Authored By:

Joe Gilmore

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Edited By:

Amy Leifeste

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Medically Reviewed By:

Javier Rodriguez-Winter

Picture of Authored By:

Authored By:

Joe Gilmore

Picture of Edited By:

Edited By:

Amy Leifeste

Picture of Medically Reviewed By:

Medically Reviewed By:

Javier Rodriguez-Winter

woman standing outside looking away representing street names for opioids

Many people are aware of prescription opioids by their commercial names, yet these medications often have street names, slang terms, and generic labels. Those misusing legal or illicit substances might use a street name for opioids for many different reasons, including evading law enforcement attention and maintaining privacy in conversations and written communications. If you’re concerned that a loved one is abusing drugs, be alert for the frequent use of unusual, unfamiliar, or slang terms. Read on to learn more about these street names for opioids and opiates.

What Are Street Names for Opioids?

Opioids, a category of drugs frequently misused, have a variety of street names, which differ based on the specific medication. These names serve as covert language within the drug community, allowing people to communicate about these substances freely and without attracting unwanted attention.

Here are some of the most common branded opioids along with their street names.

Oxycodone

  • Hillbilly Heroin
  • Blues
  • Cottons
  • OCs
  • Oxycoffins
  • Ox
  • Os
  • Orange Counties
  • Ocean Cities
  • Oceans
  • Orange Crates
  • Orange Crush
  • Itchies
  • Kickers
  • Killers
  • Candy
  • Beans
  • 20s/40s/80s
  • Perks
  • Oxys

Hydrocodone

  • Hydros
  • Lorris
  • Tabs
  • Vics
  • Vicos
  • Vikes
  • Watsons
  • 357s/387s

Fentanyl

  • Fire
  • Tango & Cash
  • TNT
  • Poison
  • Murder 8
  • King Ivory
  • Jackpot
  • He-Man
  • Great Bear
  • Goodfellas
  • Friend
  • Dance Fever
  • China White
  • China Town
  • China Girl
  • Apache

Oxymorphone

  • Biscuits
  • Blue Heavens
  • Blues
  • O
  • O Bombs
  • Octagons
  • Stop Signs
  • Hydromorphone
  • Dillies
  • Dust
  • Footballs
  • Juice
  • Smack

Meperidine (Demerol)

A man stares out the passenger in deep thought representing what is a street name for opioids
  • Demmies
  • Pain Killer

Codeine

  • Captain Cody
  • Cody
  • Coties
  • Doors and 4s
  • Karo
  • Lean
  • Nods
  • Pancake
  • Purple Drank
  • Schoolboy
  • Sizzurp

Methadone

  • Am I Done
  • Fizzies
  • Wafer
  • Chocolate Chip Cookies

Morphine

  • Dreamer
  • First Line
  • God’s Drug
  • Hows
  • M
  • M.S.
  • Miss Emma
  • Mister Blue
  • Mokey
  • Morf
  • Morpho
  • Unkie
  • White Stuff

This list of slang terms for opioids illustrates the extensive and varied language surrounding opioid misuse. Developing an awareness of these terms can help inform early intervention and appropriate treatment.

Brand Names for Opioids

Here are ten of the most common branded opioids:

  1. OxyContin (oxycodone): A long-acting pain reliever used for chronic pain management.
  2. Vicodin (hydrocodone/acetaminophen): A combination medication used to treat moderate to severe pain.
  3. Percocet (oxycodone/acetaminophen): Used for managing moderate to severe acute pain, combining oxycodone with acetaminophen.
  4. Duragesic (fentanyl): A potent synthetic opioid, often used in patch form for continuous pain relief.
  5. Dilaudid (hydromorphone): A fast-acting opioid for moderate to severe pain, available in injectable and oral forms.
  6. Methadose, Dolphine (methadone): Used for pain management and as part of drug addiction detox programs.
  7. Demerol (meperidine): An older synthetic opioid used for moderate to severe pain, although less commonly prescribed now due to safety concerns.
  8. Roxicodone (oxycodone): Immediate-release oxycodone, used to manage moderate to severe pain.
  9. Norco (hydrocodone/acetaminophen): Similar to Vicodin, used for pain relief with a different hydrocodone to acetaminophen ratio.
  10. MS Contin (morphine controlled release): Often used for managing moderate to severe pain where continuous analgesia is required.

These medications, while effective for pain management, carry risks of dependence and addiction, so they should be used only under strict medical supervision.

Slang Terms for Opioids in Other Counties

A few examples of slang terms for opioids in other countries include:

  • United Kingdom: Gear and Smack for heroin, Df’s for dihydrocodeine tablets
  • Australia: Hammer and H for heroin, Oxy for oxycodone
  • Canada: Percs for Percocet, Down for fentanyl
  • France: Hero for heroin, Poudre commonly referring to heroin powder
  • Germany: H for heroin, Oxys for oxycodone

These terms can vary widely, not only from country to country but also within different regions and communities within those countries, demonstrating the diverse and adaptive language of drug use.

Street Names for Opioids Mixed with Other Drugs

Combining opioids with other substances can significantly increase their potency and risks. Street names for these mixtures often reflect their components or effects. Here are some common terms:

  • Speedball: A speedball is heroin mixed with cocaine, a dangerous combination that combines the stimulant and depressant effects of each drug.
  • Purple Drank: Codeine cough syrup mixed with soda and sometimes candy, popularized in hip-hop culture and highly addictive.
  • Cheese: A mixture of heroin and cold medications or antihistamines, typically in powder form for snorting.
  • Eightball: Sometimes used to refer to a mix of heroin and crack cocaine, although it originally denotes a 3.5g mixture of drugs (one-eighth of an ounce).
  • Goofball: Heroin mixed with methamphetamine, delivering both depressant and stimulant effects.

These mixtures are especially dangerous as they often increase the risk of overdose and other adverse effects, highlighting the importance of awareness and education on the risks of polysubstance abuse.

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Get Treatment for Opioids Addiction at California Detox      

If you have been abusing opioids and xylazine and you need help recalibrating your life, reach out to California Detox.

Many people find that treatment for opioid abuse is simplified when it begins with supervised detox. Engage with our supervised medical detox program in Laguna Beach, CA, and take advantage of continuous care and medications as you begin your recovery under close supervision.

During ongoing inpatient treatment at our beachside rehab, you’ll engage with a personalized array of therapies that include:

  • Medication-assisted treatment
  • Talk therapies
  • Group therapy
  • Family therapy
  • Holistic treatments
  • Individual counseling
  • Aftercare and support

Begin your recovery from opioid abuse in California by calling 949.694.8305.

FAQs

A street name for opioids refers to slang or informal terms used to describe these drugs outside of their official names. These terms help dealers and consumers discuss opioids discreetly, avoiding attention from law enforcement and others.
There are numerous street names for opioids, with common ones including oxy, percs, hillbilly heroin, and vikes for prescription opioids. Heroin is often called brown, smack, or black tar, while fentanyl is known as fent, fet, and fetty.

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