Meth Street Names & Slang Terms

Methamphetamine is a potent and long-acting drug in the amphetamine class, the same class of drugs that stimulant medications like methylphenidate (Ritalin/Concerta) belong to.

While methamphetamine is a Schedule II substance produced pharmaceutically as Desoxyn and prescribed for treatment-resistant attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy, it’s more commonly known as a highly illicit, dangerous, and notorious street drug.

Street Names For Methamphetamine

Some of the most common street names for meth are crystal meth, ice, speed, and crank, referring to the drug’s appearance and stimulant effects.

Other nicknames for meth include: 

• go fast
• croak
• chalk
• cotton candy
• wash 
• trash 
• dunk 
• gak
• pookie 
• cookies 
• Cristy
• Christina 
• Tina
• glass 
• L.A. glass/ice
• no doze 
• white cross,
• rocket fuel 
• poor man’s coke
• yaba
• quartz

Other terms like speedball, shabu, twisters, hugs and kisses, biker coffee, and party and play may refer to specific combinations of methamphetamine with other drugs of abuse, including fentanyl, prescription opioids, MDMA, PCP, and alcohol.

Slang Terms For Meth Use

As a stimulant drug, or upper, meth increases activity in the central nervous system. This may produce a highly euphoric ‘rush’ of pleasure which is followed by an energetic stimulant high, in a cycle that is often repeated for as long as possible.

Regardless of how long a binge continues, it will eventually be followed by an exhausted comedown or crash which may or may not also involve symptoms of psychosis.

Slang names for getting high on meth or coming down afterwards include: 

• gearing up 
• getting on the ice
• getting on the rock 
• hot rolling 
• getting fried
• getting foiled 
• getting rolled
• getting scattered 
• zooming
• spinning out 
• tweaking

Risks Of Methamphetamine Abuse

In the short term, methamphetamine abuse can increase a person’s wakefulness and energy level, decrease inhibition, boost sexual interest, suppress appetite, and cause a pleasurable euphoria.

However, methamphetamine also increases breathing, heartbeat, body temperature, and blood pressure, which can cause serious overdose effects including sudden death from heart attack and stroke.

Long-Term Health Effects

The long-term effects of meth abuse can also increase the risk of:

• severe sleep disturbances
• permanent damage to organs including the heart, brain, liver, kidneys, and lungs
• unhealthy weight loss and malnutrition
• premature aging and severe skin and teeth problems
• contraction of infectious diseases including HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and others
• psychosis and mental health effects including paranoia, hallucinations, mood disturbances, delusions, and other violent or bizarre behavior
• compulsive and escalating drug addiction (substance use disorder) and related behavioral health issues

Meth Addiction Treatment

While chronic methamphetamine abuse can be difficult to recover from, there are a variety of evidence-based treatment options available at treatment centers in Ohio that can help participants overcome their history of substance abuse and addiction to build a lasting recovery.

Personalized substance abuse treatment programs for meth addiction can include:

• medical detox services
• inpatient/residential drug rehab
• dual diagnosis care for co-occurring mental health disorders
• behavioral therapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy and contingency management
• aftercare support, including case management, peer support, and employment assistance

To learn more about methamphetamine recovery services for yourself or your loved one, please contact Ohio Recovery Center today.