Klonopin is classified as a benzodiazepine drug. It’s a powerful medication frequently used in cases of panic disorder as well as certain seizure disorders. Klonopin is frequently abused due to its powerful sedative capabilities.
Often, Klonopin is used alongside other drugs (especially opioids and alcohol), which can produce strong adverse reactions, including respiratory failure, coma, overdose, or even death.
The Etymology of Street Names & Slang Terms
Street names and slang terms for drugs, whether they be prescription or illicit, serve a certain purpose for those who either aim to acquire or distribute illegal substances.
Think of slang terms and street names as a secret language of sorts. This language is used to elude law enforcement. An individual who uses slang terms correctly also tends to demonstrate that they are not police, and they are a reliable buyer.
Slang terms also protect dealers and buyers from witnesses and casual observers who are usually not hip to the language. If a dealer or user speaks too plainly, they could be found out.
For example, a drug dealer has more than a few street names, including cooker, mad hatter, pill man (or lady), pump, pusher, and source.
Slang Terms for Benzodiazepines
Klonopin is a type of benzodiazepine, and the common street name for this type of drug is simply benzos, which is sort of an umbrella term that does not indicate the actual type of benzodiazepine.
Other popular benzodiazepines include Xanax (street names: Xannies, bars, Xanbars, zanbar), Valium (street names: V’s, yellow V’s, blue V’s, downers, tranqs), and Ativan (street names: goofballs, nerve pills, downers). Many of these street names serve as umbrella terms that apply to a wide variety of benzodiazepines.
More Slang Terms & Street Names for Klonopin
While drugs like Ativan and Librium have nicknames that are the same as benzodiazepines in general, Klonopin is a more popular drug that has been given many of its own nicknames.
Klonopin has the following street names:
- K & K-pin
- Super Valium
- Pin
- Sleepers
- Chill pills
- Planks
Users and dealers might also call Klonopin roofies, although the term getting roofied generally means being dosed with Rohypnol (flunitrazepam) without one’s knowledge. Rohypnol is a type of benzodiazepine, so it’s understandable that there would be cross-pollination when it comes to street names and slang terms.
Why Knowing Slang Terms Is Beneficial to Non-Users
It might not seem like the most productive vocabulary lesson, but knowing common street names and slang terms for drugs will help raise your awareness, which will help protect you if you are ever in the presence of these types of drugs or others.
At the end of the day, retaining this sort of knowledge about Klonopin and other benzodiazepines will help you better recognize signs of abuse, whether it’s a friend, acquaintance, or family member. If you hear these terms, you may be able to intervene and help a friend before their substance abuse spirals.
If you or someone you know has a problem with Klonopin or any other type of benzodiazepine, it’s important to seek professional help as soon as possible. Resources are available in your area to ensure those who are struggling with substance use disorder get the professional treatment they need.
Don’t ever attempt to simply stop taking Klonopin or any benzodiazepine on your own without medical supervision if you’ve been taking it for a while. You’ll need medical detox to safely withdraw from Klonopin. Detox should be followed by comprehensive addiction treatment, including both individual and group therapy
- Benzodiazepines Are Efficacious and Safe for Long-Term Use: Clinical Research Data and More than Sixty Years in the Market. (August 2022). Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics.
- Long-Term Benzodiazepine (Xanax, Klonopin, Ativan) Use Destroys Neural Connections in the Brain. (March 2022). SciTech Daily.
- Detecting Novel and Emerging Drug Terms Using Natural Language Processing: A Social Media Corpus Study. (January–March 2018). JMIR Public Health and Surveillance.