Meth Street Names, Nicknames & Slang Terms

Methamphetamine, or meth, is a powerful stimulant prescribed by doctors in very low doses to control  conditions like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

However, it’s more commonly known as a devastating illicit drug used recreationally for the rush of energy and feelings of invincibility it produces.

Understanding Methamphetamine

Illegal methamphetamine is created in meth labs by combining a number of harsh chemicals like household cleaners and ingredients common in powerful cough medicines. Due to the ease of obtaining these ingredients, homemade meth became a massive problem in rural America, resulting in widespread addiction, a rash of overdose cases, and incidents of poisoning and explosions caused by the volatile chemicals involved in its creation.

The illicit nature of the drug leads both dealers and users to come up with slang terms for meth itself, its use, and other aspects of the culture surrounding it. This way they can elude authorities by avoiding using known terms like meth. Due to this, new slang terms are often adopted and old ones dropped.

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Currently, known common slang terms for meth include:¹

There are also several slang terms for the act of getting high by taking meth. These can include:

• Getting geared up
• Chicken flipping
• Hot rolling
• Getting fried or foiled
• Tweaking
• Zooming
• Getting scattered or spun out

Meth can also be mixed with other illicit drugs in order to intensify its effects or to alter the effects of other intoxicants. Common slang names for these combinations include:

• Fire
• Shabu
• Twisters
• Hugs and kisses
• Biker coffee
• Party and play

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Effects of Meth Use on Communities

It’s especially important to become familiar with slang terms around meth due to the fact that the drug has such a severe impact on communities where it’s available. It’s not just the fact that meth is addictive and its use is dangerous. Meth labs tend to appear in small, rural communities, and it can devastate youth and ruin the local economy.

Meth lab explosions have often been deadly, and not just to the operators. In 2012 alone, there were a total of 11,210 “meth lab incidents” reported in the US by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)². The increasing ease of producing meth to the point that it can be done in a basement, garage, or even in a 2-liter soda bottle puts families and neighbors at serious risk. It’s important that local citizens work together with police to root out these labs.

As dangerous as meth is, it’s even riskier to mix it with other intoxicants. The stimulant effects of meth can already lead to heart failure and seizures, but these risks are compounded when it’s combined with another stimulant. At the same time, combining a stimulant and a depressant can mask overdose symptoms of either drug. In this case, by the time anyone realizes an overdose has occurred, it may be too late to get the person treatment before permanent damage is done.

Meth is one of the most dangerous common drugs available for many reasons. Thankfully, increased awareness about the problem and efforts by authorities have made it so use of the substance is on the decline. However, many people still become addicted to the drug every year. One of the best ways to combat the deaths associated with methamphetamine is to encourage addicted individuals to seek treatment.

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  Sources

  1. KCI.org. Slang, Jargon, and Nicknames for Crystal Meth / Methamphetamine.
  2. Health Research Funding. 18 Fascinating Meth Lab Explosion Statistics.