If your kids were talking about cocaine in front of your face, would you know it?
There are dozens of slang names for cocaine. They vary according to the type of cocaine (e.g., crack, freebase, or powdered).
With so many different ways to name cocaine, your teens might talk about drug use in the home, and you’d never know.
Instead of talking about coke, your teens may talk about moonrocks or pebbles.
Knowing all the terms for cocaine can help you recognize a coke problem in your own home.
Here’s what you need to know:
Slang Names for Crack Cocaine
There are plenty of ways to talk about crack cocaine. Crack is a form of cocaine that is processed into a rock formation and smoked. It can be somewhat popular in teens because crack is the cheapest form of cocaine.
Teens may call crack:
- Ball
- Chalk
- Gravel
- Kibbles & Bits
- Moonrocks
- Nuggets
Slang Names for Powdered Cocaine
Powdered cocaine is another popular form of cocaine. It’s the most popular form in adults, but teens may not be able to afford its heftier price tag.
You might hear names for powdered cocaine that include:
- Blow
- Dust
- Powder
- Pearl
- Snow
- Sugar
Slang Names for Injecting Cocaine
It’s not as common for teens to inject coke. The process takes more time, and it’s harder to hide from parents. The health effects can be much worse, too.
Still, if your teen talks about injecting coke, it will probably be in code. They may talk about shooting up, the term for injecting liquid coke.
They may also call it:
- Spiking
- Booting
- Slamming
If teens talk about the syringe they use to inject, they may call it a rig, point, or the works. Injecting a friend or teaching them to inject is called giving wings.
Rarely, you may hear about booty bumping, which is rectally injecting cocaine with a needleless syringe. This is less common in teens and very dangerous.
Slang Names for Amounts of Cocaine
Some slang names for cocaine refer to a specific amount of a drug.
If you hear your teen talking about a bump, that’s the amount it takes to feel a single rush. It’s usually the smallest effective dose.
A line is a single dose of cocaine, laid out in a 2 to 4-inch path for snorting.
An eightball is a common amount for teens to purchase, or an eighth of an ounce. Less commonly, a brick is an entire kilogram of cocaine.
Slang Names for Cocaine Mixed With Other Drugs
Some teens mix coke with other drugs to change the high. Some common combinations include:
- Cocaine and marijuana, called snowcapping, snowdusting, or coca puffs
- Cocaine and heroin, called a speedball or snowball
- Cocaine and ecstasy, called bumping up
- Cocaine and LSD, or Ethan
- Cocaine and tobacco, or flamethrowers
It’s rare for teens to mix coke with PCP, but if they do, they might call it beam-me-up, Scottie.
It’s extremely dangerous to mix cocaine with other drugs. That’s especially true for stimulants like ecstasy and PCP. Consider getting your teen help immediately if you think they’re mixing coke and other drugs.
I Heard My Child Using Slang for Cocaine—Are They Addicted?
If you’ve spotted someone talking about rigs and bumps on your child’s Snapchat, or heard them whispering about moonrocks while friends are over, then you may have cause for concern.
It’s important to handle the situation with sensitivity. Your child won’t give up more information if they feel attacked. There’s a lot of peer pressure for kids to use drugs, so even a “good kid” may end up hanging out in the wrong crowd.
Hearing cocaine slang from your kid is a sign that you should look for evidence that they’re using. They could be using, or they could be hanging out with kids that use.
The signs of coke use in teens include:
- Agitation
- Dilated pupils
- Increased activity
- Paranoid behavior
- Sniffling, runny nose, bloody nose, or sinus issues
You may notice that your child gets moody or angry when they haven’t been alone for a while. That could mean coke withdrawals between doses. Your child may withdraw from school, family, and social activities because it means time away from cocaine.
You may also see physical evidence of cocaine. That can mean:
- Baggies
- Baking soda
- Needles
- Pipes
- Powder residue
- Syringes
What to Do If Your Child is Using Coke
If there’s reasonable evidence that your child is using coke, the next step is to have a compassionate conversation with them about their use.
It’s common for teens to be combative when they’re abusing drugs. You may have a hard time getting your concern across to your teen because they feel attacked.
If that’s the case, then an addiction support hotline can help you in a few ways.
They can:
- Guide a compassionate conversation with your child
- Help you find addiction support and resources in your area
- Connect you with professional services, including intervention
From there, our treatment center directory can help connect you with the right center in your area. Search through our database to find quality treatment centers near you. With empathy and care, your teen can overcome their drug abuse problem.
Source:
- Common Street Names for Cocaine
- Street Names (n.d.)
- Common Street Names of Cocaine and Methamphetamine used as a Jargon (n.d.)