Barbiturate Street Names: Historical Slang Lexicon

Barbiturate slang (mid-20th century, largely historical):

• Barbs, Barbies – generic.
• Blues, Bluebirds, Blue heavens – amobarbital (Amytal).
• Yellow jackets, Yellows – pentobarbital (Nembutal).
• Reds, Red birds, Red devils – secobarbital (Seconal).
• Rainbows – mixed colors.
• Downers, Goofballs, Sleepers, Stumbles – effect-based.
• Phennies – phenobarbital.
• Christmas trees – multi-colored capsules.
• Blockbusters – high-dose.

Context

Barbiturates largely replaced by benzodiazepines/Z-drugs; slang now archaic. Current depressant slang: “benzos,” “bars,” “xans,” “downers.”