The importance of street drug terms as diagnostic clues

"Words are both better and worse than thoughts; they express them and add to them" [Tyrone Edwards]. Choice of street terms is a clinical expression of the mental state and the drug history of the individual which evolves from repetition and frequent use. Broadened experiences usually accompany continued use, including experimentation with esoteric and powerful drug combinations. Drug terms employed by the user may have diagnostic utility for the experienced clinician in determining severity of symptoms. Recommendations for relapse prevention become more credible through a familiar lexicon. Practitioner understanding of drug terms as a tool to elicit information may lead to a deeper understanding of the breadth and depth of patient use of drugs. The authors recognize that they have contributed to the homogeneity, understanding, and distribution of terms by this article.