Cost Of Illicit And Legal Drugs Sold On The Street

Drug abuse and addiction can come with a steep financial cost. Wondering how much street drugs cost —including prescription drugs that are resold for profit—is a common question.

Commonly used drugs include:

• illicit stimulants (e.g. cocaine)
• illicit depressants (e.g. heroin)
• prescription drugs sold on the street
• hallucinogens (e.g. club/party drugs)
• marijuana

If you believe a loved one is buying and using drugs, you might wonder how much money they’re spending. If you buy street drugs yourself, you might be wondering how much they cost.

Cost Of Illegal Drugs

Illegal (illicit) street drugs are sold in every area of 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.

Other factors that may affect how much illicit drugs cost include:

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

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

• cost of heroin: $5-20/baggie
• cost of cocaine: $20-30/quarter-gram
• cost of crack cocaine: $10-20/.2 grams
• cost of meth: $15-20/quarter-gram
• cost of molly (MDMA/Ecstasy): $20-25/one “point”

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

Cost Of Legal Drugs On The Street

Legal drugs are also sold 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

Examples of drugs that are sold on the street and common prices include:

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 include:

• cost of OxyContin (oxycodone): anywhere from $12-80
• cost of Vicodin (hydrocodone): $6-8, on average
• cost of Dilaudid (hydromorphone): anywhere from $2-150
• cost of fentanyl: approximately $99 per gram
• carfentanil: approximately $27 per gram
• cost of morphine: $5-50 per gram on average

Benzodiazepine Prescription Prices

“Benzos” are highly sought on the illicit drug market for their depressant effects.

Common prices for benzodiazepine pills sold on the street include:

• cost of Xanax (alprazolam): $2-5/ bar (pill)
• cost of Valium (diazepam): $2-7
• cost of Ativan (lorazepam): $1, on average

Amphetamine Street Prices

Amphetamines are commonly used to treat the behavioral disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), among others.

Street prices for amphetamine pills are as follows, on average:

• cost of Adderall: $15-30
• cost of Vyvanse: $5-10

Other Prescription Drug Street Prices

A vast number of prescription medications are sold on the streets for recreational use.

Some of the most common prescription drug prices per pill on the illicit market include:

• cost of gabapentin: $1-5
• cost of Ritalin: $1-20
• cost of trazodone: >$1
• cost of Wellbutrin (bupropion): $2.50

How Drugs Are Sold: Measurements For Street Drugs

One of the primary factors that can influence the cost of drugs is how it’s sold.

The way that drugs are sold may vary based on: the type of drug, average street pricing, formulation, or the preference of the dealer.

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 marjiana (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 instance, 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. This is an example of drug paraphernalia, which may be identified by a roommate or other loved one.

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 per bag.

Single Doses

Prescription drugs that are resold on the street—as well as party drugs like 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 Abuse And Addiction

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. More than 70,000 people in the United States died of a drug overdose in 2019, devastating the lives of individuals and families.

Call Today To Find Drug Addiction Treatment

Recovering from drug abuse and addiction is possible with treatment. You don’t have to face this alone.

If you or someone you know is abusing drugs, call our helpline today to find a substance abuse treatment program that’s right for you.

Written by the Addiction Resource Editorial Staff