Heroin is a powerful opioid drug that is similar to morphine. While this drug is similar to morphine, it is completely illegal. Heroin is a Schedule I controlled substance, indicating no medical use and a high potential for misuse and addiction.
Drug dealers and drug users may refer to heroin by one of its street names, nicknames, or slang terms. If you are worried that your loved one is using heroin, being aware of its street names and nicknames can help you determine whether your loved one is using the drug.
How to Tell If Someone You Love is Using Heroin
Heroin is one of the most addictive and dangerous drugs in the United States. If you are worried that your loved one is using heroin, there are some signs to watch out for.
If your loved one is experiencing work or school issues, this is a sign of drug use. They may also start asking you for money due to financial issues and using all of their cash to purchase heroin.
Someone who is abusing heroin may experience behavioral changes as well. Heroin can cause someone to experience frequent mood swings, display secretive behavior, and stop caring about their physical appearance.
Other signs of heroin abuse include:
- Slurred speech
- Mood swings
- Scars from shooting up on arms, toes, fingers, or legs
- Disrupted sleep patterns (sleeping too much or too little)
- Problems with attention and memory
- Lack of attention to surrounding people and things
- Problems with coordination
- Confusion
If your loved one is addicted to heroin, they will experience symptoms of heroin withdrawal when they are not using the drug. Symptoms of heroin withdrawal mimic the symptoms of severe flu, such as body temperature fluctuations, excessive sweating, goosebumps, and abdominal pain.
Heroin Street Names, Slang Terms, and Nicknames
Another way to tell if your loved one is using heroin is to pay attention to the slang terms they use. There are a wide variety of street names associated with heroin and people use them to keep their drug use a secret. Drug dealers also use these terms over the phone to ensure that law enforcement cannot tell that they are talking about heroin.
Street Names for Heroin
Heroin is usually in powder form and white or brown in color. However, there is another type of heroin known as black tar, because of its appearance. While this drug is usually injected, many people snort or smoke the drug as well. Many of the drug’s slang terms are derived from the appearance of the drug or how it makes people feel.
The street names associated with heroin include:
- Smack
- H
- Dog food
- Tar
- China or china white
- Junk
- Brown sugar
- Hell dust
- Skag
- Mud
- Dragon
- Dope
- Boy
- Black, black tar, black pearl, black stuff
- Brown
- Mexican brown, Mexican mud, Mexican horse
- Snow or snowball
- Scat, sack, skunk
- Number 3, number 4, number 8
- Thunder
- Beast
- Hero
Nicknames for Heroin Mixed With Other Drugs
Sometimes, heroin is mixed with other drugs to produce stronger effects. Heroin-drug mixtures often have their own slang terms, such as:
- Heroin and marijuana – atom bomb, a-bomb, woolie, woo-woo
- Heroin and cold medicine – cheese
- Ecstasy and heroin – h-bomb, chocolate chip cookies
- Heroin and Xanax – chocolate bars
- Heroin and LSD – neon nod, beast
- PCP, heroin, and LSD – LBJ
- Heroin, cocaine, and marijuana – el diablo
- Heroin and cocaine – boy-girl, he-she, dynamite, goofball, primo, snowball
- Crack and heroin – chocolate rock, dragon rock, moonrock
- Heroin and Ritalin – pineapple
Mixing heroin with alcohol or other drugs is extremely dangerous. Other substances can increase the effects of heroin, leading to a life-threatening overdose. If someone is experiencing the symptoms of a heroin overdose, emergency medical services should be contacted immediately.
Slang Terms for Using Heroin
There are also slang terms that describe the act of using or getting high on heroin. People use these nicknames so that they can talk about getting high in front of other people without getting found out. In other words, your loved one could be talking about using heroin right in front of you.
The slang terms for using heroin include:
- Chasing the dragon
- Daytime (being high)
- Evening (coming off of the high)
- Dip and dab
- Do up
- Firing the ack-ack gun
- Give wings
- Jolly pop
- Paperboy
- Channel swimmer
Finding Help for Heroin Abuse and Addiction
Heroin is an extremely addictive drug, causing people to become addicted after only a couple of uses. This substance is extremely dangerous as it has the potential to cause life-threatening overdoses. If you or a loved one abuses heroin, it’s time to seek professional help.
Here at Mandala Healing Center, our world-class recovery facility offers detox, residential treatment, and holistic healing services that can help you or a loved one get back on your feet. Contact us today for more information on how to get started.