Would you recognize any street names for Xanax if you heard them? Could you distinguish between legit pills and counterfeit Xanax? Learn what terms to watch for if you are concerned about a loved one’s drug use. Discover how and why these terms are used and discover the risks of taking “pressed” Xanax.
| Key Facts |
|---|
| Street names for Xanax are often derived from the appearance of the pills. |
| Slang terms are typically used to conceal drug use or drug trafficking. |
| Counterfeit pills (“Pressies”) are often laced with fentanyl which can be lethal. |
| Support is available for anyone struggling with Xanax abuse. |
Street names for substances like Xanax are often used to disguise drug use in conversations, texts and social media posts. This can make it difficult to identify a pill found in a loved one’s possession or understand related terms.
Slang terms can also be used to identify specific pill strengths and types. For example, someone offering Xanax for sale online may use slang to let potential buyers know what is available for purchase.
Note: Keep in mind that these slang terms can also be used in emoji form. For example, a bus emoji could be used to represent the Xanax slang term “Bus” (for yellow, rectangular shaped Xanax pills).
The street names for Xanax are typically derived from the drug’s name, its class or its appearance.
| Shortened Names | Xanax is a brand name for alprazolam. Many slang terms are a shortened form of this brand name such as “Xannies,” “Xans,” “Zannies,” and “Zans.” |
| Drug Class | Alprazolam (Xanax) is a benzodiazepine. This a class of medications that depress the central nervous system. People often use the term “benzos” – short for benzodiazepines – to refer to Xanax. |
| Shape-Based | 2mg Xanax pills have a rectangular shape with two lines that divide the pill into three sections. Many slang terms such as “Bars,” “Ladders,” “Planks,” “Bricks,” and “Handlebars” are based on this shape. |
Xanax is available in a range of colors and shapes that help identify the manufacturer and dosage. Street names for Xanax are often based on these visual characteristics.
Slang terms:
Sticks
White Boys
White Girls
Ladders
These are standard 2mg rectangular white bars and are considered the “classic” form of Xanax. They are often stamped with “XANAX” or “G3722” and are scored with two lines that divide the rectangle into three sections resembling a ladder. (The scoring lines are designed to make it easier to break the pill into smaller doses.)
Slang terms:
School Buses
Yellow Boys
Buses
Canary
The term “School Bus” comes from the yellow color and rectangular shape of the generic 2mg Actavis bar (R039 imprint).
Slang terms:
Hulks
Green Monsters
Green Footballs (oval pills)
Dr. Banner
The Hulk nickname is derived from the green shade of 2mg Dava Pharmaceuticals bars (S903 imprint). This nickname has created a misconception that green bars are stronger but they are typically the standard 2mg dose.
Slang terms:
Boeings
Blue Footballs
Blues
Oval 1mg blue Xanax pills are referred to as blue footballs while newer rectangular 2mg blue pills are referred to as Boeing based on their B707 imprint.
Slang terms:
Peaches
Orange Footballs
Many lower-dosage pills (0.5mg) are widely prescribed and are referred to simply by their fruit-like color.
Slang terms:
Red Devils
R666
Blood
SAFETY WARNING: Legitimate red Xanax does not exist. These red pills are exclusively counterfeit street pills and often contain extremely high doses (5mg+) of dangerous contaminants.
When Xanax pills are made in a home lab rather than a legitimate pharmaceutical facility, they are “pressed.” Drug traffickers use mechanical pill presses to create counterfeit tablets (slang term “Pressies”) by compressing substances into the desired shape.
A significant risk of taking “Pressies” (which are often indistinguishable from real Xanax bars) is the high prevalence of lethal fentanyl doses present in these pills. The DEA reports that 60% of the counterfeit pills they seize are laced with fentanyl. And just 2mg of this potent opioid can be lethal.
Note: In border states, it’s common to encounter counterfeit forms of Mexican Xanax (Farmapram). Slang terms for these pressed pills include “Mexican Bars” and “Blanco Bars.”
Street names for Xanax assist with concealment and marketing.
Concealment
By using street names, users hope to buy or take drugs openly in front of parents, teachers or law enforcement without detection. Because of this, it is important for these authority figures to know and understand current slang terms.
Marketing
Drug dealers use exotic names (like “Red Devils”) to market products as having higher potency or exclusivity. The names may or may not reflect the actual characteristics of the drug.
A common dosage for Xanax is a 2mg pill. It comes in a rectangular shape (a bar).
No. The “Hulk” term is derived from the green color of the pill. Both Hulks and Ladders are typically 2mg doses.
Often, fake Xanax is visually indistinguishable from real Xanax. Possible signs of counterfeit include discoloration, crumbly or rough edges and insolubility. However, the only way to be 100% sure is to have the pills lab tested.
This slang term refers to being heavily intoxicated or blacked out on Xanax.
Is your loved one using slang terms to disguise their Xanax abuse? If you or someone you know is struggling with Xanax addiction, Boca Recovery Centers can help.
We treat a variety of addiction and co-occurring mental health disorders using evidence-based methods. Our accredited facilities have earned an average 4.8-star rating after serving more than 13,000 patients. Call us to discuss Xanax treatment options including detox, inpatient and outpatient programs.
