Identifying Drug Paraphernalia

Drug paraphernalia awareness is important when understanding if a family member or a loved one is using.

These are the items family members use to hide or consume drugs. You may find these items in hidden away in their bedroom, car as well as their clothing pockets.

• Plastic baggies, as well as small paper bags
• Cigarette packages
• Electronic-cigarettes (also called E-cigarettes)
• Small glass vials
• Pill bottles
• Candy or gum wrappers
• Baseball cap/ski cap
• Belt buckle
• Felt tip marker as well as lipstick dispensers
• Makeup bags

Drugs and Specific Paraphernalia

Heroin

• Needles
• Tin foil
• Pipes
• Plastic pen case, also a cut up drinking straw
• Small spoon

Cocaine

• Pipes
• Small mirrors, small spoons, short plastic straws, also a rolled-up paper tubes
• Razor blades
• Lighters

Marijuana

• Rolling papers
• Cigars used to fill with marijuana also called a blunt
• Pipes (metal, wooden, acrylic, glass, stone, plastic, as well as ceramic)
• Bongs (a filtration device to smoke marijuana)
• Roach clips (a metal holder for a marijuana cigarette)
• E-Cigarettes (to smoke marijuana concentrates)

Ecstasy/MDMA/Molly

• Glow sticks, surgical mask/dust mask
• Pacifiers and lollipops (to prevent teeth grinding, also jaw clenching)
• Bags of candy to hide pills

Inhalants

• Rags for sniffing
• Tubes of glue
• Balloons
• Nozzles
• Bottles or aerosol cans with hardened glue, sprays, paint, as well as chemical odors

Items used to cover up drug use.

• Mouth wash, mints, and breathe sprays
• Eye drops for bloodshot eyes
• Sun glasses for red eyes, changes in pupil size, also eye movement

Items or associations that may indicate interest in illegal drugs or drug use.

• Clothing, jewelry, tattoos, also slang with drug culture messages.
• Websites, music, as well as publications that glamorize drug use.

Where do they buy paraphernalia?

Over the Internet, at tobacco shops, head shops, gift and novelty shops, gas stations, as well as convenience stores.

Legal consequences

Federal law states it is illegal for any person

1. To sell or offer for sale drug paraphernalia;
2. To use the mail or any other facility of interstate commerce to transport drug paraphernalia; or
3. Import or export drug paraphernalia.

See Drug Paraphernalia, 21 U.S.C. 863, Controlled Substance Act Offenses and Penalties, www.DEA.gov

Also, for more information on possession of drug paraphernalia, check your state’s drug paraphernalia laws found in the state’s criminal code.