score drugs

Origin

The word "score" has a long and varied history, originally referring to a notch or mark, then evolving to mean a tally or point in games, and by the 19th century, achieving a goal or acquiring something desired. It's this latter sense of successful acquisition that paved the way for its modern usage in the illicit drug trade. As drug culture became more prominent in the mid-20th century, especially in America, the existing slang for obtaining something—be it a date, a deal, or points in a game—was readily adapted. "Scoring drugs" implies the successful completion of a transaction, often one that requires effort or navigation of a subculture, giving the clandestine act a verb that subtly emphasizes the achievement of a specific, albeit illegal, objective.