Common Street Names for Depressants

Common Street Names for Depressants Addiction Drug Use Prescription Medications Print Common Street Names for Depressants By Buddy T facebook twitter Buddy T is an anonymous writer and founding member of the Online Al-Anon Outreach Committee with decades of experience writing about alcoholism. Learn about our editorial policy Buddy T Updated on February 15, 2020 Jonathan Nourok / The Image Bank / Getty Images More in Addiction Drug Use Prescription Medications Cocaine Heroin Marijuana Meth Ecstasy/MDMA Hallucinogens Opioids Alcohol Use Addictive Behaviors Nicotine Use Coping and Recovery As with illegal drugs, prescription and over-the-counter drugs are often referred to by nicknames ordepressants:  Mexican Reds. When prescription drugs make their way to the street to be sold for misuse or nonmedical use,?? they often are given street names to disguise the topic of conversations that might be overheard. If you hear these phrases in your kids conversations, it may be worth probing to see if they are, in fact, talking about prescription medications.?? And your teenager needs to be aware that just because a drug has a cute-sounding name doesnt mean its safe. Kids need to know that a prescription medication that isnt prescribed for them is potentially as dangerous as street drugs. Barbiturates and benzodiazepines, which are medications prescribed as sedatives or tranquilizers to treat anxiety and insomnia have several street names based on different features.?? Usually, these drugs get nicknames based on either the appearance of the pills, effects of the drug, cultural aspects of their usage and sometimes for people or fictional characters. Prescription Drug Nicknames Based on Appearance In the case of depressants, many street names refer to the color(s) of the pills or capsules.?? Blue BulletsBlue BirdsBlue AngelsBlue TipsBlue HeavensBlue DollsBlue DevilGreen FrogGreen DragonsMarshmallow RedsPink LadiesRed BulletsRed and BlueRainbowsRedsStrawberries Nicknames Based on the Effects of Depressants Another common source for the street name of a drug is the effect that it has on the user. Because barbiturates and benzodiazepines act to depress the central nervous system, many slang names for depressants refer to slowing down.?? Block BustersBustersDownerDouble TroubleGoofersDrowsy HighDownerIdiot PillsLay BackStumblerStoppers Drug Nicknames Based on Actual Drug Names For depressants, one of the most common sources for nicknames comes from the real names of the medications. Many suppressant street names are shortened or alternative versions of their brand names or generic medication names. BarbiesBarbBambsLudsLudesNimbiesNemmiesNebbiesQuadPhenosPhenniesQuasSoftballsSeggySeccySopersTuieTranqTootiesTooles Cultural or Colloquial References for Drugs Some drug street names come from how, when and where they are used. Cultural references and colloquial uses can become nicknames for sedatives and tranquilizers just as they can for illicit drugs. Christmas RollsChoralsDollsDisco BiscuitsGangster PillsGorilla Pills?? Geography-Based Names for Drugs For illegal drugs, the geographic origin of the drug can be a factor in the forming of a nickname. The same is not necessarily so for pharmaceutical medications, but theres one geographical name for depressants:  Mexican Reds. Drug Names Based on People and Fictional Characters   Almost all drugs of abuse have a group of nicknames that refer to people or fictional characters. Some of them are logical uses of the name, while others dont seem to make any sense at all. The same is true for some street names of depressants. Mickey Finn??King Kong PillsMothers Little HelperMighty Joe YoungMickeys Purely Deceptive Names for Drugs Like most drug slang terms, some nicknames for depressants have origins that do not seem to make any sense at all. The names are seemingly created for no other reason than to disguise the topic of conversation. Of course, thats the reason that most drug street names are created. BackwardsCoralJoy JuiceJelliesPeth Using Drugs Without a Prescription Is Illegal