Adolescent Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention Glossary

This glossary contains various words and phrases associated with drug use. Some of the words or phrases are medical terms while others are slang terms that may be used by adolescents. It is helpful to have a general knowledge of these terms so you will understand the information you read on these webpages and other drug abuse resources. If you are a parent, being able to recognize slang terms assoicated with drug abuse may make it easier to communicate with your child about drugs and to spot a potential drug abuse problem in your child. If you are an adolescent, you may also benefit by understanding the terminology as you will be more aware of potentially dangerous situations and may be more confident about avoiding drug use.

Acid: street name for the hallucinogen LSD

Addiction: intense physiological and psychological craving for a drug

Adolescence: the period between when a young person leaves childhood, around the age of puberty, and grows up enough to accept young adult responsibilities for independence, eight to twelve years later

Aerosol: gas that is used to propel (push) other substances out of a pressurized can

AIDS: (Acquired Immodeficiency Syndrome): fatal disease, usually spread by sexual contact or by exposure to contaminated blood through hypodermic needles

Alcoholic: person who is suffering from the disease of alcoholism, who has lost the ability to control drinking

Alcoholism: an illness that causes people to become dependent on alcohol because of changes in the brain

Anesthetics: gases and drugs that are used to cause unconsciousness and numbness to pain

BAC (Blood Alcohol Content): used to measure the amount of alcohol in the body and whether or not a person is legally intoxicated

Black Market: an illegal market or illegal selling and buying of products or services

Blackout: no memory of what went on while drinking or using other drugs

Bummer: slang term for an unpleasant reaction to a drug that is expected to provide a high

Candy Flipping: slang term for mixing LSD with MDMA, also know as ecstasy

Carcinogen: Substance that causes cancer

Chemical Dependence: a strong feeling or need for a drug that causes people to keep taking the drug even when it is harmful

Cirrhosis: scar tissue replaces normal liver tissue and is accompanied by a decline in liver function; the most advanced form of alcoholic liver injury

Cocaine: a powerful central nervous system stimulant taken from the leaves of the coca plant and made into a powder that is sniffed, smoked, or injected

Codependency: when one person takes responsibility for fixing another person's substance abuse or addiction, and sacrifices personal well-being trying to change what he or she cannot control

Coke: slang term for cocaine

Convulsion: intense, uncontrollable contraction of muscles

Crack: a highly addictive form of cocaine, made by mixing cocaine with baking soda and water

Crash: physical pain and mental depression that follows the high of a drug

Denial: convincing oneself that what has happened, is happening, or is going to happen did not, is not, or will not happen

Depressant: substance that decreases the activity of the nervous system

Depression: deep feeling of sadness; can be temporary or of long duration

Detoxification: the process of ridding the body of alcohol or other drugs

Dextromethorphan: an over-the-counter cough suppressant that when abused causes hallucinogenic and dissocative effects

Drug: a chemical substance that changes how the mind or body functions

Drug Raid: entering a place and then serving a search warrant to someone who is suspected of selling drugs. People can be arrested, and drugs and money can be taken by Drug Enforcement Administration agents or police officers during drug raids

Drug Trafficking: smuggling, selling, and distributing illegal and legal drugs

DUI: driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs

DWI: driving while intoxicated

Emphysema: serious disease of the lungs, often caused by smoking

Enabling: helping to protect someone from the hurtful consequences of his or her destructive choices, so he or she just keeps engaging in problem-causing behavior

Ether: liquid used to freebase cocaine

Flashback: a recurrence of a drug-induced hallucinatory experience some time after the drug has been taken

Freebase: a paste of cocaine and chemicals that is smoked to give a greater high than cocaine alone

Freebasing: a dangerous process of mixing cocaine with ether so it can be smoked

Freon: Brand name of a common aerosol propellant and refrigerant

Gateway Drugs: drugs such as alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana, that can lead to the use of harder drugs such as cocaine and crack

Grass: slang term for marijuana

Hallucination: false perception of objects or events, often as a result of drug use

Hallucinogen: agent that produces hallucinations

Hangover: headache and other negative effects usually felt the morning after consuming alcohol or other drugs

Heroin: a strong, physically addictive narcotic

HIV: (Human Immunodeficiency Virus): virus that is believed to cause AIDS

High: slang term for reaction to hallucinogenic drugs

Hooked: being addicted to alcohol or other drugs

Inhalant: a chemical that is volatile and gives off fumes

Intervention: when a group of concerned people meet the alcoholic (or drug user) face to face with the goal of getting him or her to be evaluated by a trained professional and following through on the recommendations of the evaluation

Intoxication: to ingest a substance that excites the body to the point that physical and mental control is diminished

Joint: cigarette made of marijuana; sometimes called a reefer

Ketamine: a veterinary tranquilizer that is used for its hallucinagenic effects. It is known on the street as special k or vitamin k

Lid: amount of pot (marijuana) sold, usually slightly less than an ounce

LSD (Lysergic Acid Diethylamide): a powerful hallucinogen discovered by experiments with the ergot fungus, now artificially made for sale on the black market

Magic Mushrooms: certain mushrooms that produce hallucinogenic effects

Mainline: to inject a drug directly into a vein

Mescal Buttons: the hallucinogenic ingredient in the peyote plant

Methadone: a man-made drug that prevents the high of heroin and helps the user stop the use of heroin

Narcotic: drug that eases pain and alters the mind

Nitrous Oxide: anesthetic commonly used in dentistry and for minor surgery. Also the propellant for whiipped topping, such as whipped cream

Overdose: a deadly or toxic amount of drugs

Paranoia: an unreasonable feeling of distrust; thinking that everyone is out to get you

PCP (Phencyclidine): a drug used for its hallucinogenic effects, known on the street as angel dust and rocket fuel

Peer: person who has equal rank with others in age or status, as among adolescents

Peer Pressure: urging by one's friends or social group to undertake a particular action

Peyote: a hallucinogenic cactus found in parts of Mexico and Texas. It is used among American Indians in religious ceremonies

Prevention: keeping legal and illegal drug use and abuse problems from occurring

Psilocin: a hallucinogenic ingredient found in magic mushrooms

Pot: street name for marijuana

Psychedelic: type of drugs that cause hallucinations and other changes in one's feelings and awareness

Psychoactive: altering mood or behavior

Purifying: mixing coca leaves with acid or kerosene to make cocaine powder

Recovery: the process through which a substance abuser or addict learns to live within himself or herself, with other people, and with the world in a healthy and rewarding drug-free way

Reefer: cigarette made of marijuana, also called a joint

Relapse: resuming substance abuse after drugs or alcohol have been given up

Roach: last tiny butt of a joint or reefer

Roach Clip: Clip or bobby pin used to hold the roach

Robo-ing or Robo-tripping: term used for abusing dextromethorphan, an over-the-counter cough suppressant

Side Effects: unwanted or negative effects from taking a drug

Skin-popping: slang term for injecting heroin just under the skin

Skittling: term used for abusing dextromethorphan, an over-the-counter cough suppressant, because the pills resemble skittles candy

Snorting: taking a drug by inhaling it

Snuff: a form of powdered tobacco that is inhaled, chewed, or placed against the gums

Sober: a state where no alcohol or other mind altering substance has been used

Sobriety: an alcohol-free/drug-free life

Social User: person who does not use a drug on a daily basis but may use in social situations

Solvent: volatile substance, in which things dissolve

Speed: street name for amphetamines: also called uppers, pep pills, bennies, exies, meth, crystal, crank

Stash: drug supply

Stimulant: drug that speeds up the work of the body

Stoned: being high on pot (marijuana)

Stoner: hard-core marijuana user

Substance Abuse: use of addictive substances, such as drugs and alcohol

Synthetic: artificially made from chemicals in a laboratory

THC (tetrahydrocannabinol): the main chemical in marijuana

Tolerance: needing more of the drug to get the same effect

Treatment: medical and psychological help given to people who wish to stop abusing drugs. People who go through treatment usually need help in kicking the habit.

Withdrawal: discomfort that happens in the body after drugs that it has grown used to have been taken away

Sources

McFarland, R. "Drugs and Your Brothers and Sisters." The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc.; New York: 1993.

Sherry, C. "Inhalants." The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc.; New York: 1994.

Pickhardt, C. "Keys to Raising a Drug-Free Child." Barron's; New York: 1999.

Myers, A. "Drugs and Peer Pressure." The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc.; New York: 1995.

Smith, S. L. "Peyote and Magic Mushrooms." The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc.; New York: 1995.

Smith, S. L. "Marijuana." The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc.; New York: 1995.

Monroe, J. "LSD, PCP and Hallucinogens: Drug Dangers." Enslow Publisher, Inc.; Berkeley Heights: 2000.

Phillips, J. E. "LSD, PCP, & Other Hallucinogens." Chelsea House Publishers: Philadelphia, 2000.

Peck, R. G. "Crack." The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc.; New York: 1997.

Hurwitz, S., Shniderman, N. "Drugs and Your Friends." The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc.; New York: 1993.

Sales, P. "Alcohol Abuse: Straight Talk Straight Answers." Ixia Publications; Honolulu: 1999.

Smith, S. L. "Heroin." The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc.; New York: 1995.

www.usdoj.gov/dea/pubs/straight/words.htm

"What Every Parent Needs to Know About Cough Medicine Abuse." Partnership for a Drug-Free America.