Cost Of Illicit And Legal Drugs Sold On The Street

Understanding the cost of illegal and prescription drugs on the street can help you recognize the serious financial impact that drug abuse has on people’s lives. Drug addiction doesn’t just harm someone’s health and relationships – it also creates a massive money problem that can quickly drain savings, destroy credit, and lead to financial ruin. When someone becomes addicted to drugs, they often spend shocking amounts of money to feed their addiction, sometimes choosing drugs over basic needs like food, rent, or bills.

If you’re worried that a loved one might be buying and using drugs, learning about street drug prices can help you understand the scope of their problem. The information in this guide shows how much different drugs typically cost and explains why addiction becomes so expensive over time. Recognizing these costs can help you spot warning signs of drug use and understand why someone with an addiction might be having money problems. Drug abuse and addiction can come with a steep financial cost, so it’s common to wonder about the cost of drugs sold on the street.

Cost Of Illegal Drugs

Illegal (illicit) street drugs are sold throughout the United States. Unlike medications, illicit drugs are not regulated by the FDA, so the cost can vary greatly from one place to the next.

• the type of drug
• the measurement of the drug (ounce, gram, etc.)
• supply and demand
• law enforcement presence

Illegal drugs sold on the street and their corresponding street dose prices include the following.

Learn more about the cost of illicit drugs sold on the street

Cost Of Legal Drugs On The Street

Legal drugs are sold illegally all over the United States and may be sold by:

• people who have unused prescriptions
• people who steal other people’s prescriptions and divert them for recreational use
• drug dealers who move these prescriptions in areas with high demand

As with illicit drugs, the cost of prescription drugs sold on the street can vary greatly by location, supply and demand, and other factors.

Learn more about the cost of prescription drugs sold on the street

Opiate Prescription Prices

This group includes the deadly opioid fentanyl, as well as less potent forms of opioids used to treat severe to chronic pain, such as Vicodin (hydrocodone) and OxyContin (oxycodone).

Prices of opioids on the street vary by the drug and the dosage. Common prices for some of these opioids per pill (unless otherwise noted) include the following.

Benzodiazepine Prescription Prices

Benzodiazepines are a class of prescription medications that slow down the central nervous system and are commonly used to treat anxiety, panic disorders, seizures, and insomnia. They work by enhancing the effects of a brain chemical called GABA, which produces calming and sedating effects “Benzos” are highly sought on the illicit drug market for their depressant effects.

Common prices for benzodiazepine pills sold on the street include the following.

Amphetamine Street Prices

Amphetamines are a class of stimulant drugs that speed up the central nervous system and increase levels of certain brain chemicals like dopamine and norepinephrine. These drugs make people feel more alert, energetic, focused, and confident, which is why they’re both prescribed medically to treat behavioral disorders and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and abused recreationally.

Street prices for amphetamines per pill are as follows.

Other Prescription Drug Street Prices

A vast number of prescription medications are diverted from their legitimate use in medicine and sold on the streets for recreational use. Some of the most common prescription drug prices per pill on the illicit market include the following.

How Drugs Are Sold: Measurements For Street Drugs

One of the primary factors that can influence the cost of drugs is how they are sold, with different measurement systems creating varying price points. The illegal drug market has developed its own system of weights and measures that differs from legal sales, often using terms such as grams, eighths, quarters, and ounces that may be unfamiliar to people outside of drug culture.

The way that drugs are sold may vary based on the type of drug, average street pricing, formulation, and the preference of individual dealers. For example, powder drugs such as cocaine or heroin are typically sold by weight, while pills are often sold individually or in small quantities, and marijuana might be sold by both weight and pre-packaged amounts. Dealers often adjust their selling methods based on what maximizes profit in their local market.

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One-Eighth Of An Ounce

An eighth of an ounce, also known as an 8-ball, is a common measurement used to describe quantities of drugs like marijuana (weed) or cocaine. An eight-ball is about 3.5 grams.

By The Quarter-Ounce

Street drugs can also be sold by the quarter, or by the quarter-ounce. How far this will get you will depend on the type of drug and your usual dosage. For example, a quarter-ounce of weed, or seven grams, can be used to roll 14 joints at half a gram per joint.

In Grams

Drugs can be sold by the gram. This is common when buying powdered drugs like cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine, as well as non-powder drugs like cannabis and MDMA.

In Bags

Powder drugs like cocaine and heroin may be sold in small baggies. Plastic baggies are even considered an example of drug paraphernalia, which a roommate or loved one can identify.

The cost of drugs sold by the bag will depend on the average weight and the type of drug. For instance, a “baggie” of heroin may cost about $5 to $10.

Single Doses

Prescription drugs that are resold on the street, as well as party drugs such as MDMA, may be sold in single doses for a single event.

A single dose, or a hit, will be less expensive than buying a bottle of pills, buying by gram, or buying by ounce, depending on the type of drug and the typical dosage.

Drug Addiction Treatment Options

The use of illicit drugs like cocaine, or the abuse of prescription drugs, can be a sign of drug abuse. Many drugs commonly sold on the street can become addictive with frequent misuse. This can affect your health, livelihood, and have a steep financial cost. Drug addiction can also be deadly. According to data from the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics, more than 80,000 people in the United States died of a drug overdose in 2024, destroying the lives of individuals and families nationwide.

If you or a loved one are battling a substance use disorder, an addiction treatment program can help you get on track to recovery. Below are some of the most common services available at rehab facilities nationwide.

Treatment options may include:

• residential treatment programs
• medical detoxification
• outpatient programs
• dual diagnosis treatment for co-occurring mental health disorders
• support groups such as Narcotics Anonymous (NA)
• cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
• dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
• case management
• aftercare programs

For more information about addiction recovery, reach out to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

Written by the Addiction Resource Editorial Staff