Familiarizing yourself with teen slang can be overwhelming—especially when there seem to be new secret text codes, emojis, and phrases emerging online every other week. The number of existing terms and expressions that currently exist, and that are ever-evolving with TV, movies, music and pop culture, can be daunting for a parent to understand. Fortunately, Parentology has got you covered.
Find out how often your teen gets “lit”—along with what substances they use to do so—with our comprehensive list of party drug slang terms all parents need to know. We’ve also created unique cards with quick definitions for easy reading and sharing.
1. Nic/Device – Nicotine
In part of the recent rise in teen nicotine use, these terms are common in teen vocabulary. Nicotine is usually shortened to “nic,” and vaporized (“vaped” or “hit”) out of an electronic cigarette — referred to as a “device.” These devices include the popular, easy-to-hide JUUL products as well as several other e-cigarette brands, like Suorin and PHIX.
Example: “I can’t wait to use my new device, but I still need nic. ”
2. Kush/Flower – Marijuana
You’re probably family with the many names for marijuana, but when it comes to modern party drug slang terms “pot” is out of date — teens are more likely to use “kush,” “flower,” and even “bud.”
Example: “I’m gonna pick up some flower for tomorrow’s party.”
3. Domed/Headed – Nicotine Rush
Teens use these terms to describe the sensation of taking a long hit from a nicotine device. The effects of e-cigarettes are usually described as a fast-acting, dizzying head rush, sometimes referred to as a “dome” (due to the way it makes your “dome” feel).
Example: “I took way too many hits. I’m so domed right now.”
4. Faded/Cooked/Baked – High Off Marijuana
These slang words describe one’s experience smoking marijuana, not nicotine. Yes, “high” still works, but teens are more likely to get more creative with the lingo.
Example: “Let’s get some food, I’m baked.”
5. Addy/Study Buddy/Study Drug – Adderall
While some do mix it with other drugs at parties and music events, Adderall is more popular among college students and high schoolers as a study drug. Some students are prescribed Adderall or Vyvanse for ADHD, and a few of those will sell some of their supply to friends. Students typically take Adderall to cram for exams.
Example: “Do you have an addy? I’m not ready for the chemistry final.”
That’s not the only popular prescription party drug to know about…
6. Beans/Bars/Xannies – Xanax
Like Adderall, Xanax is a drug that’s prescribed to some teens and adults, but is often abused. While sedatives are appropriate for diagnosed anxiety, some young people experiment with them at parties, combining the pills with alcohol. Combined, Xanax and alcohol can do severe long-term damage to the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. Keep an eye out for the words “xannies” “beans” and “bars.”
Example: “He took a bean last night, probably doesn’t remember anything.”
7. Drank/Sizzurp – Codeine
Codeine is a strong narcotic used to treat pain and coughs. It’s usually in the form of cough syrup, hence the term“sizzurp.” When taken recreationally, which is illegal, codeine is often mixed with a bottle of soda. The combination is called “drank” or “purple drank.”
Example: “Want to pour up some drank? I got sizzurp.”
8. Coke/Yay/Blow/Snow – Cocaine
While cocaine is generally less accessible to teens, it’s still possible to find, given its prevalence on college campuses. Cocaine is the second most frequently used illegal drug globally, after cannabis. If your teen is texting about “yay” “blow” or “snow,” they might be looking for this stimulant. Be aware — it’s extremely addictive, especially when mixed with alcohol.
Example: “We got yay for the party, want some?”
9. X/E/Ecstasy – MDMA
“X” or “E” stands for ecstasy, otherwise known as “molly” or MDMA. The psychoactive substance lasts 3 to 6 hours, increasing heart rate, sexual arousal, and energy levels. Ecstasy is popular for concerts and music festivals. Users often describe it as a “love drug.” Short term, ecstasy raises body temperature and increases blood pressure, which if taken too much, can become fatal. Long term, ecstasy can impair memory and other mental processes.
Example: “Are you going to the concert on Saturday? I’m getting E.”
10. Spice/K2 – Synthetic Cannabis
“Spice” or “K2” are nicknames for synthetic marijuana. The fake substance is much more harmful than actual cannabis — the effects can be similar but are much more likely to be life-threatening. It’s likely that a teen won’t know their cannabis is synthetic, so even if they have experimented with marijuana, it’s important to learn the difference between the real and fake substances. No one has ever died from cannabis use, but hundreds have overdosed from K2 in just the last year.
Example: “This weed doesn’t feel right… I think it might be spice.”
Continue scrolling for all the party drug slang terms you need to know to keep your teen safe!
11. Crossed – Alcohol and Marijuana
Mixing substances is a popular practice at parties. Alcohol and marijuana tend to be one of the most common combinations. So when teens say they’re “crossed,” it means they’ve taken both. Getting “crossed” or “crossfading” too often can lead to future decreased cognitive function.
Example: “I was way too crossed at yesterday’s party.”
12. Acid/Tabs/Shrooms – LSD/Psilocybin
Hallucinogens like LSD and magic mushrooms (psilocybin) are also commonly taken at parties or music festivals. While both drugs produce similar effects, one stays in the body much longer than the other. A trip from magic mushrooms lasts from four to six hours, whereas one from synthetic drug LSD lasts from six to twenty hours.
Example: “I really want to trip today. Got any tabs on you?”
13. Ice – Alcohol
At parties and for fun, teens like to surprise their friends with a bottle of Smirnoff Ice. Recipients, also known as those who got “Iced” must finish their respective bottles all by themselves (ideally in one chug).
Example: “We should totally Ice Jessica for her birthday tomorrow.”
14. Orange Tesla – MDMA
While MDMA is generally recognizable as “X” or “E,” “Orange Tesla” is the name of a specific ecstasy pill with a relatively high MDMA content, popular among young people at concerts and music festivals. Pressed MDMA pills like Orange Teslas can contain traces of unrefined substances that can cause even greater harm to the body.
Example: “I brought a couple of Orange Teslas for tonight’s concert, so we should be good.”
15. Black Tar – Heroin
While heroin use in young teens is on the decline, use in older teens and young adults is steadily increasing– especially with the rise of opioid addiction, which can often lead people to turn to heroin when their prescription supply becomes unavailable. Highly addictive and extremely detrimental to one’s decision-making abilities, “black tar” is a drug that induces devastating physical and mental damage on even the healthiest bodies.
Example: “Down to do some black tar tonight?”
This next one is super popular… and supremely dangerous.
16. Oxy – Oxycodone (Oxycontin)
Although oxycodone or “oxy” can be found in prescribed pills such as Oxycontin, it’s still a highly-addictive drug. As a powerful painkiller, patients recovering from severe physical injury become dependent on “oxy” in order to feel “normal” and pain-free like they used to feel. At parties, “oxy” is often taken with alcohol. Such a lethal combination can slow the user’s heart rate and breathing to dangerously low levels.
Example: “You want to mix some oxy and alc?”
17. Percs – Oxycodone (Percocet)
“Percs” or Percocet is also a commonly abused opioid comprised of oxycodone and acetaminophen. Like “oxy,” “percs” are highly addictive and can be fatal when taken in combination with alcohol.
Example: “I might just pop a perc tonight.”
18. Lit – Alcohol
“Lit” generally refers to the feeling of being so inebriated by drugs to the point that everything feels enjoyable. However, one can be “lit” after having more than just alcohol. “Lit” persons can be “crossed,” or energized off some combination of MDMA and alcohol, or cocaine and alcohol.
Example: “We’re gonna get hella lit tonight!”
Marijuana Specific Terms
While drugs like nicotine, MDMA, and cocaine only come in a few forms, the methods of consumption for marijuana are endless. Here are a few party slang drug terms for specifically marijuana to keep you up to date.
19. CBD
Cannabidiol (CBD) is a cannabinoid, a molecule specific to the cannabis plant. While CBD is believed to help with digestion and relieve anxiety, there is little research to prove its long-term effects on the body. However, studies have show that CBD can have a positive effect on those who suffer from epilepsy.
CBD does not contain the psychoactive ingredient tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is what causes the “high” marijuana users typically seek. There is a growing number of CBD products, including relaxation lotions and oils.
20. Hotbox
To hotbox a place is to smoke marijuana in a closed-off space, typically a small bathroom or car. The goal is to trap the exhaled smoke inside the enclosed area so that it can get inhaled once more, so those inside can get higher on a lesser amount of marijuana.
Example: “You guys wanna hotbox my car tonight?”
There’s more party drug slang terms specific to marijuana that you may not know…
21. Concentrate
A refined or purified form of marijuana. Two types of concentrates are hash and wax. Hash is a concentrate made up of collected trichomes pressed together, which are the salt-like part of the cannabis plant that hold the most THC. Wax is a concentrated form of marijuana that has been dissolved into a solvent. Both are usually consumed with a dabbing rig or dabber.
22. Pen (Vape Pen)
With respect to marijuana, this term refers to the pen-shaped vaporizers (that look like e-cigarettes) that use an oil-based concentrate.
23. Blunt
Ground-up marijuana rolled into a tobacco (cigarette or cigar) wrapper.
24. Joint
Unlike a blunt, a joint is a marijuana cigarette rolled using a paper wrapper as opposed to a tobacco wrapper.
25. Bong
A large water pipe that filters the smoke through water; usually comes with a downstem and bowl piece.
26. Cottonmouth
A symptom of smoking marijuana. Cottonmouth is the unpleasant dryness of the mouth marijuana users often experience after smoking cannabis in its unconcentrated form.
27. Indica
One of the two major strain types of marijuana. Indica strains are known for their effects on the body, attributed to alleviating anxiety, insomnia, and chronic pain.
28. Sativa
Sativa is the other one of the two major strains of marijuana. Sativa strains are attributed to more energetic, uplifting highs, feelings of euphoria, creativity, and paranoia.
29. Hybrid
A hybrid is a strain of marijuana that is derived from combining two different strains, usually a Sativa and an Indica.
30. Dabber (Dab Pen)
A dabber is a long pen-like tool usually made from metal or glass and is heated to a high temperature. It is used to vaporize a small amount of concentrated marijuana in conjunction with a smoking device like an oil rig.