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What does Charlie mean in drug terms?


The term “Charlie” is a common slang term used to refer to the illegal drug cocaine. Cocaine goes by many street names, and Charlie is one of the most well-known nicknames for the drug. In the 1970s, cocaine started being called Charlie, along with other nicknames like coke, snow, toot, and blow. Understanding drug slang terms like Charlie is useful for parents, educators, healthcare workers, law enforcement, and others who want to stay informed about the language that surrounds illicit drug use.

What is cocaine?

Cocaine is a powerful stimulant drug that is derived from the coca plant native to South America. Cocaine comes in two main forms:

Powder cocaine

Powder cocaine, often just called cocaine, is a fine, white crystalline powder. It is commonly snorted through the nose, though it can also be dissolved in water and injected. The effects of powder cocaine include euphoria, energy, talkativeness, and mental alertness. Cocaine is highly addictive.

Crack cocaine

Crack is a form of cocaine that has been processed into rock crystal form. Crack rocks are smoked in a pipe, glass tube, or makeshift pipe. Smoking crack cocaine produces quicker, more intense effects than snorting powder cocaine. However, the effects do not last as long. Like cocaine, crack is very addictive.

Both powder cocaine and crack cocaine are Schedule II controlled substances, meaning they have a high potential for abuse and addiction. Cocaine overdoses can lead to heart attack, stroke, and death. Prolonged cocaine use can cause mental health problems like psychosis, paranoia, and aggression.

History of the term “Charlie”

So when and why did people start calling cocaine “Charlie”? Here is a brief history behind this slang term:

Year Meaning
Late 1800s Cocaine was first isolated from coca leaves and marketed as a surgical anesthetic and elixir tonic.
Early 1900s Cocaine became popular as a recreational drug. It was an ingredient in early formulations of Coca-Cola.
1970s “Charlie” emerged as a common street name for cocaine alongside terms like coke, snow, blow, and toot.
1980s The crack cocaine epidemic caused a surge in cocaine use and slang terms.

The origins of calling cocaine “Charlie” are not totally clear, but here are some theories behind the meaning:

– It may refer to Charlie as a proper name, like a nickname for cocaine similar to nicknaming marijuana “Mary Jane.”

– It could connect to the term “Chalk Charlie” referring to chalk sellers who secretly sold cocaine on the side, or cocaine being as white as chalk.

– It may refer to cocaine being an “upper” drug that gives you energy like the “uppers and downers” phrase. Charlie is an upbeat name.

– It may link to the term “Charley horse” meaning a leg cramp. Cocaine was historically used by athletes.

– It could come from a shortened version of “coca leaves” sounding like “Cola Charlie” when pronounced quickly.

Whatever its exact origin, the term Charlie caught on as a well-recognized slang name for cocaine by the 1970s and 80s.

Pop culture references

As cocaine surged in popularity in the 1970s, Charlie started cropping up in movies, music, and pop culture reflecting the rise of cocaine use and drug culture at the time. Here are some notable references to Charlie as cocaine:

Songs

– “Cocaine” by Eric Clapton (1977) features the lyrics “If you want to hang out, you’ve got to take her out, cocaine.”

– “Caroline, No” by The Beach Boys (1966) includes the line “Oh, Carol, I know” which when slurred sounds like “Oh, Cocaine.”

– “That White Powder” by Northside Nitty (1990s) rap song repeats the lyrics “That white powder, that Charlie.”

Movies

– Scarface (1983) stars Al Pacino as drug kingpin Tony Montana with a mountain of cocaine on his desk.

– Annie Hall (1977) shows Woody Allen’s character with a big sneeze of cocaine.

– The Wolf of Wall Street (2013) features lots of recreational cocaine use by stock brokers.

TV

– Miami Vice (1980s) had an episode called “Red Tape” referring to the color of a type of cocaine.

– There are many references to Charlie on shows like Saturday Night Live, Family Guy, The Simpsons, and others.

As pop culture normalized cocaine, Charlie became a recognized slang term even for those not using the drug.

Charlie as a nickname for other drugs

While Charlie is most commonly used to mean cocaine, it can also rarely refer to certain other drugs. Here are some examples:

Methamphetamine

Methamphetamine is sometimes called Charlie when it is in powder form and being snorted rather than smoked or injected. So Charlie can refer to the white powder stimulant effects of both cocaine and meth.

LSD

Charlie may occasionally refer to LSD or “acid.” This is linked to the slang term “Taking a trip” meaning having a psychedelic experience. Charles is a name associated with tripping.

Charlie Sheen

Actor Charlie Sheen’s very public drug problems led some people to use “Charlie Sheen” or just “Charlie” to refer to drug binges and cocaine. But this meaning is much less common.

In most cases, Charlie still refers specifically to cocaine rather than other drugs.

Regional variations

Slang terms can vary by region, so Charlie may have slightly different meanings in different areas. Here are some regional connotations:

United Kingdom

In parts of the UK, Charlie can refer to amphetamine sulfate powder rather than cocaine. Amphetamine use is more common than cocaine in some areas.

Australia

Charlie is used in Australia as slang for cocaine, especially among high-end users. But it is not as common as terms like coke or snow.

United States

In the U.S., Charlie is well-known across all areas as a nickname for cocaine. It became very prevalent slang in the 1980s crack epidemic.

So while Charlie generally means cocaine, regional slang differences are worth being aware of. The term may not refer exclusively to cocaine in all areas.

Associated slang terms

Charlie is often used in association with other cocaine-related slang words:

Snow

Snow is used to describe cocaine for being white like snow. “Let’s get some snow” means obtaining cocaine.

Nose candy

Nose candy refers to cocaine that is snorted through the nose. So “getting some nose candy” means doing cocaine.

Blow

Blow is used as a verb meaning “to snort cocaine.” People may refer to cocaine itself as blow.

White girl

White girl is slang connecting the color white to cocaine. “She’s my white girl” would refer to someone’s cocaine habit.

Learning the context around terms like Charlie provides insight into the coded language of illegal drug culture. Law enforcement and addiction treatment providers need to understand key terms which can vary over time.

Actual chemical name

While Charlie, coke, and blow are all slang terms, the chemical name for cocaine provides the full scientific identification:

Benzoylmethylecgonine

The chemical name for cocaine is benzoylmethylecgonine. This long, complex name is why cocaine is more commonly referred to by its nickname charlie or other slang terms. The chemical formula for cocaine is C17H21NO4.

Knowing the technical chemical name can help remove ambiguity and clarify specifically which drug Charlie refers to.

Conclusion

In summary, Charlie has emerged as a widely used slang term for cocaine over the past 50 years. It may occasionally refer to methamphetamine or other drugs, but mostly Charlie signifies cocaine. Understanding drug slang like Charlie can help parents, educators, counselors, doctors, police, and community members stay informed about trends, risks, and coded language surrounding drugs like cocaine. While pop culture has normalized Charlie as a harmless nickname, it signifies usage of an addictive and dangerous illicit drug. Being aware of the meaning behind drug slang empowers families and communities to make healthy choices and stop substance abuse in its tracks.