Heroin Street Names and Slang Terms

person buying heroin using street names

Heroin is a highly addictive Schedule I controlled substance. That means the substance is completely illegal and there are no accepted medical uses for it – it is only sold illicitly on the streets. Being an illegal substance, heroin street names and slang terms are often used to refer to the buying, selling, and using of the drug.[1]

The street names used to refer to heroin are always changing as the culture behind heroin manufacturing and distribution is constantly changing, as well. In addition, the slang terms used for heroin will vary from one country to the next and even from one region to the next. As a result, heroin goes by a variety of different street names.

Let’s take a deeper look into how the manufacturing and distribution of heroin play a role in the slang terms and street names used to refer to the substance by dealers, buyers, drug users, and others.

The Importance of Knowing the Slang Terms for Heroin

If you are concerned about a friend or family member because you think they are using drugs, knowing the street names and slang terms for heroin can help you identify a drug problem. Drug users often use slang terms and nicknames to refer to substances that other people don’t pick up on. However, one part of being educated about addiction and substance abuse prevention is to understand the jargon used by dealers and users.

The Appearance of Heroin and How it Impacts the Street Names

Heroin looks different depending on who and where you buy it from. For example, one type of heroin is commonly referred to as “black tar.” Black tar heroin is given this name because it is a brownish-black, sticky substance that resembles the appearance and consistency of tar. Black tar heroin is formed by combining heroin with an acidic substance, such as lemon juice, giving the drug a stick and dark-colored appearance. Black tar heroin must be dissolved and injected into the veins. Other slang nicknames of black tar heroin include “Mexican mud” or “black pearl.”

Heroin may also come in a powdered form. Heroin powder can come in a variety of different colors depending on how it was manufactured and what it is cut with. Light to dark brown powdered heroin may be referred to as “brown” or “brown sugar.” White powdered heroin, on the other hand, is often referred to as “china white” due to its white coloring.[2] Powdered heroin may be smoked, snorted, or injected.

Heroin Combinations and Cutting Agents and Their Slang Terms

Even if you purchase heroin from a dealer whom you supposedly trust, it’s important to recognize that heroin is rarely sold on the streets in its pure form. Instead, dealers use cutting agents and additives to lower the cost of the substance, increase the potency, and drive a higher profit.

Sometimes heroin is mixed with baking soda, talcum powder, powdered milk, or other inactive substances to simply make buyers believe they are purchasing more heroin than they actually are. Other times heroin is cut with stronger opioids, like fentanyl or fentanyl analogs. This makes the substance cheaper, more potent, and more addictive.

Depending on the type of cutting agent used, people may refer to heroin differently. People may also purposefully mix heroin with other substances and refer to that mixture as a specific name. Common heroin combinations, cutting agents, and mixtures along with their street names are:

  • H-bomb – a mixture of heroin and ecstasy
  • A-bomb/atom bomb – a mixture of heroin and marijuana
  • Screwball/speedball – a mixture of heroin and meth
  • Dragon rock/primo – a mixture of heroin and crack
  • Dynamite – a mixture of heroin and cocaine
  • El diablo – a mixture of heroin, cocaine, and marijuana
  • LBJ – a mixture of heroin, LSD, and PCP
  • Neon nod – a mixture of heroin and acid (LSD)
  • Chocolate bar – a mixture of heroin and Xanax
  • Cheese – a mixture of heroin and cold medicine

When used by itself, heroin is dangerous enough. Accidental overdoses on heroin happen each and every day. Heroin, when mixed with other depressants such as alcohol, benzodiazepines, or opiates is extremely dangerous as it increases the risk of overdose. (otbsd.com)

Jargon Used by Heroin Users

In addition to having specific street names, heroin users may use other slang terms and verbiage to buy drugs, sell drugs, and describe their drug use. For example, certain slang terms may be used to describe how much heroin a person is purchasing. These include:

  • Bag, balloon, bindle, envelope – terms that may refer to the type of bag that a small quantity of heroin is sold in
  • Twenty – $20 worth of heroin
  • Dime bag – $10 worth of heroin
  • Bundle – a term that refers to several small bags of heroin that make up a gram
  • Cook – the act of mixing heroin with water and heating it to prepare it for injection
  • Rig – the needle and syringe used for injection
  • Give wings – a term used to describe teaching someone how to shoot up heroin
  • Nod/nodding out – the term used to describe the effect heroin has on users when they go back and forth between being awake and falling asleep

Understanding the slang words used to describe heroin use can also help you identify a heroin addiction.

General Heroin Street Names: An Overview

Ultimately, there are a ton of slang terms used to describe heroin and the latest street names are changing on a daily basis. One reason the street names for drugs change so often is that manufacturers, dealers, and buyers are constantly coming up with new terms to avoid attention from the police and other authority figures.[3]

Some general slang terms commonly used for heroin include:

  • H
  • Dope
  • Smack
  • Junk
  • Horse
  • Skag
  • Brown
  • Brown sugar
  • Black tar
  • Black pearl
  • Mexican mud
  • Mud
  • China white
  • White stuff
  • Black stuff
  • Hero
  • Beast
  • Boy/boi
  • Dragon
  • Chiva
  • Mexican horse
  • Pluto
  • Skunk

Find Help for Heroin Addiction Today

It doesn’t matter what you call it – heroin is a highly addictive drug that can have fatal effects on drug users. Fortunately, with the help of medical detox, intensive treatment, and continuing care, anyone can overcome their addiction to heroin. If you or a loved one are battling a heroin addiction, it’s time to ask for help. Pick up the phone and call us today to learn about your addiction treatment options.

References:

  1. https://www.dea.gov/drug-scheduling
  2. https://www.dea.gov/factsheets/heroin
  3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5838358/

Medically Reviewed: September 25, 2019

Dr Ashley

Medical Reviewer

Chief Editor

About

All of the information on this page has been reviewed and verified by a certified addiction professional.

Dr Ashley Murray obtained her MBBCh Cum Laude in 2016. She currently practices in the public domain in South Africa. She has an interest in medical writing and has a keen interest in evidence-based medicine.


All of the information on this page has been reviewed and verified by a certified addiction professional.