Estimating specificity of drug and alcohol subcultural groups with slang names for drugs

Constructed a drug slang association test by selecting words from dictionaries on drugs such as slang for drugs or alcohol that referred to the drug or the user of drugs. Evidence for a general subculture drug factor was found in the sense that 83 opiate addicts (prisoners) knew more slang words for heroin, Benzedrine, barbiturates, and marihuana than did the 23 normals (undergraduates) or 23 alcoholics (halfway house residents). Specificity emerged from the fact that alcoholics knew more alcohol-related slang than normals or opiate addicts. Opiate addicts also knew more heroin-related slang relative to other slang. (8 ref)