What are your teens even saying?! If you’ve ever wondered what your kids might actually be texting, this guide is for you!

This awareness campaign is brought to you in partnership with Empower Tusc.

A few weeks ago we discussed texting, emojis, and drug use. (You can find that at The Emoji Playbook: pt1!) And as we mentioned then, sometimes emojis are just emojis. If you and your teen have an open and honest line of communication, you likely have nothing to worry about; a crystal ball is just a crystal ball. But if you’re worried about your young adult, read on.

What Are They Texting?

Now that we’ve covered emojis, let’s talk about slang words…

Marijuana: weed, grass, fattie, indo, joint, bud, ganga, pot, dope

Cocaine: snow, dust, Charlie, nose candy, flake, white, yahoo

Methamphetamine: glass, crank, ice, speed, meth, white cross, fire, chalk

Heroine: antifreeze, Big H, brown sugar, dope, H, golden girls, horse, junk, skag, tar, train

Adderall: study buddies, smart pills, smart skittles, addies

Ritalin: kibbles & bits, pineapple

Ketamine: Special K, vitamin K, breakfast cereal, cat valium, horse tranquilizers, K, ket, new heroine, super acid

Teens and young adults are creative. Slang changes all the time, but many experts and rehabilitation professionals agree that these are some of the most commonly used terms. If your child is using this kind of language, ask them about it and talk about the dangers of drug and substance abuse.

EmpowerTusc provides resources and assistance for families and individuals struggling with addiction. Visit their website at EmpowerTusc.com or give them a call at (330) 440-7319. You can also check out their list of local resources for those struggling with addiction, dependency, grief, anxiety/depression, and more.

Audrey Mattevi, Reporting