The long list of depressant street names can leave a person scratching their head, wondering exactly what drug they’ve been taking. But regardless of what kind of depressant you’re taking, addiction can devastate your life. If you’re struggling to stop using depressants, contact the team at Serenity Grove at 844.904.3485 to learn about our drug rehab center in Georgia.
What Drugs Are Depressants?
The first step to understanding depressant street names is learning which drugs fall under the depressant class. The term depressant refers to a specific drug action, namely, slowing down the central nervous system.
This includes the category of drugs known as opioids, such as:
- Heroin
- Morphine
- Oxycontin (oxycodone)
- Vicodin (hydrocodone)
- Codeine
It also includes benzodiazepines, such as:
- Xanax (alprazolam)
- Valium (diazepam)
- Restoril (temazepam)
- Klonopin (clonazepam)
There are also substances classified as depressants that include:
- GHB
- Sleeping pills
- Barbiturates
- Alcohol
While this list is long, it is by no means comprehensive. Dozens of other drugs fall under the depressant class, and more continue to be produced by pharmaceutical companies for a variety of purposes.
Common Depressants’ Street Names
Depressants’ street names vary wildly, and some drugs have several different names, depending on your location and the people you surround yourself with. By far, the most common depressants of abuse are alcohol, opioids, and benzodiazepines. Since alcohol is a legal substance, it typically doesn’t have street names. Yet, opioids and benzodiazepines have several depressant street names.
Opioid Street Names
There are several opioid street names that usually refer to the specific drug being offered. Below, we’ve listed the drug name followed by common street names with a brief description, when appropriate.
Heroin
- Dope
- Black — Refers to black tar heroin, a common formulation on the West coast of the United States
- China white — Powdered heroin that is either white or tan in appearance and is often seen on the East coast
- Smack
Oxycodone
- Oxys
- Roxys — Roxicet, a formulation of oxycodone that typically comes in 30 mg doses
- Dirty 30s — Pills that are pressed to resemble Roxicet but actually contain fentanyl or other synthetic opioids
- O.C.
- Percs — Percocet, an oxycodone formulation that contains acetaminophen
Codeine
- Purple drank — This street name, and the ones that follow, all refer to a specific combination of codeine and cough syrup that often has a purple color
- Sizzurp
- Lean
This list is by no means exhaustive, and many other drugs have their own set of street names to go along with them.
Benzodiazepines’ Street Names
Similarly, benzodiazepines have an extensive set of street names to refer to different formulations and strengths of the drug itself.
Xanax (alprazolam) is sometimes known by the following terms:
- Xanny bars — Typically refers to Xanax pills that come in 2 mg strength and are in the shape of a bar
- Ladders — Another street name for 2 mg Xanax bars
- Footballs — 0.5 mg alprazolam pills, whose oblong shapes resemble footballs
Klonopin (clonazepam) is sometimes called K-pin.
Valium (diazepam) may also be known as Vallies or Jellies.
Again, there are several other drugs that were not listed here, but this list covers the most commonly misused benzodiazepines and their street names.
When You Need Help, Call Serenity Grove
One other common thread in depressant drugs is their high potential for addiction. Our team can help guide you toward making the best decisions for your treatment, and we will be there to support you every step of the way.
Anyone can recover from addiction, and the team at Serenity Grove can help. If you find yourself struggling with your depressant use and are having difficulty stopping on your own, call the professionals at Serenity Grove by dialing 844.904.3485.
