Street Names For Ativan (Lorazepam)

Ativan is a brand name for lorazepam, a prescription benzodiazepine medication commonly used to treat anxiety disorders, panic attacks, and insomnia. While Ativan is legal and safe when taken as prescribed by a doctor, it’s frequently misused for its sedative and calming effects, which can lead to dependence and addiction. The drug has significant street value, and people who buy or sell Ativan illegally often use slang terms or street names to discuss the drug without drawing attention from law enforcement or others.

Understanding the street names for Ativan can help parents, teachers, healthcare providers, and loved ones recognize when someone may be involved with illegal benzodiazepine use or misuse. These code words help hide drug transactions and make it harder for people to identify when Ativan is being abused.

Find out more about popular street names for commonly abused drugs

Popular Street Names For Ativan

Ativan is abused with and without a prescription, often to ease the effects of opioid withdrawals. Its prescribed use is to treat symptoms of anxiety. People that misuse drugs like lorazepam often seek out the strong sedative effects.

Common street or slang names for Ativan include:

• candy
• control
• downers
• silence
• sleeping pills
• tranks

People that buy prescription benzodiazepines on the street may also use the following general names to describe Ativan.

Street names for Ativan and other benzodiazepines include:

• bars
• benzos
• blues
• chill pills
• nerve pills
• planks
• xannies

Ativan, like other benzodiazepines sold on the street, may be laced with traces of synthetic opioids to increase effects. This contamination also increases the risk of respiratory depression and overdose death. Strong benzos like Ativan are sometimes used recreationally with marijuana or alcohol. It is also used in “speedballs” that combine either cocaine or amphetamines with a depressant (benzodiazepine or opioid).

Dangers Of Ativan Abuse

Ativan abuse carries health risks that can be life-threatening, particularly when combined with other substances. Taking higher doses than prescribed, crushing pills, or using without a prescription can cause extreme drowsiness, confusion, impaired coordination, slowed breathing, memory problems, and loss of consciousness. Combining Ativan with alcohol, opioids, or other depressants dramatically increases the risk of respiratory depression, overdose, and death.

Long-term abuse leads to physical dependence where the body requires the drug to function normally. Tolerance develops quickly, meaning people need higher doses, escalating overdose risk. Withdrawal from Ativan is dangerous and potentially life-threatening, causing severe anxiety, panic attacks, tremors, seizures, and hallucinations. Chronic abuse also causes worsening anxiety and depression, cognitive impairment, and increased risk of accidents due to impaired judgment.

Treatment For Ativan Addiction

Ativan addiction requires professional treatment due to dangerous benzodiazepine withdrawal. Treatment begins with medical detoxification in a supervised facility where healthcare professionals safely taper the dose gradually over weeks or months to prevent life-threatening complications like seizures. Abruptly stopping Ativan after regular use is extremely dangerous and should never be attempted without medical supervision.

Evidence-based treatment typically includes residential or outpatient programs using cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), individual counseling to explore underlying causes like anxiety or trauma, group therapy for peer support, and dual diagnosis treatment for co-occurring mental health disorders. Treatment ensures individuals receive appropriate psychiatric care and alternative anxiety treatments that don’t involve addictive medications. Aftercare connects individuals with ongoing therapy, support groups, and more.

Written by the Addiction Resource Editorial Staff