What are Drug
Paraphernalia?
The term "drug paraphernalia" refers to any equipment that is used to
produce, conceal and consume illicit drugs. It includes but is not limited to
items such bongs, roach clips, miniature spoons, and various types of
pipes.
Under federal law the term "drug paraphernalia" means "any equipment, product or
material of any kind which is primarily intended or designed for use in
manufacturing, compounding, converting, concealing, producing, processing,
preparing, injecting, ingesting, inhaling or otherwise introducing into the
human body a controlled substance."
WHAT DOES DRUG
PARAPHERNALIA LOOK LIKE?
Identifying drug paraphernalia can be challenging because products often are
marketed as though they were designed for legitimate purposes. Marijuana pipes
and bongs, for example, frequently carry a misleading disclaimer indicating that
they are intended to be used only with tobacco products. Recognizing drug
paraphernalia often involves considering other factors such as the manner in
which items are displayed for sale, descriptive materials or instructions
accompanying the items, and the type of business selling the items.
The appearance of drug paraphernalia varies depending upon the manufacturer and
intended purpose. Increasingly, bongs, pipes, and other paraphernalia are
manufactured in bright, trendy colors and bear designs such as skulls, devils,
dragons, and wizards. Manufacturers attempt to normalize drug use and make their
products attractive to teenagers and young adults. |
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Go to any shopping mall and you might be surprised to learn of the countless
stores selling items that not only promote drug use, but also provide the means
for teens to engage in drug-related activities.
Posters, stickers, T-shirts, key chains, and air fresheners may be obvious items
to spot in a line-up, but drug paraphernalia comes in many forms. Some
paraphernalia is specifically designed to look like everyday items that you
might find in a teen's room, backpack, purse or car.
According to the Drug Enforcement Agency, drug paraphernalia is often marketed
specifically to youth — with colorful logos, celebrity pictures and designs like
smiley faces on the products. The items are meant to look harmless and disguise
the dangers of taking controlled substances. Other paraphernalia made to look
like magic markers can conceal pipes, and small, hand-painted, blown glass items
look more like pretty trinkets than pipes or stash containers.
How can you tell if your child is using drugs? You may already know the physical
warning signs, but it’s time to learn what paraphernalia is used to engage in
drug-related activities and how to identify these items. Parents’ attentiveness
is critical. By knowing what to look for, parents can continue to play an
important role in the lives of their child.
Watch List for Parents
▪
Changes in friends
▪ Negative changes in schoolwork,
missing school, or declining grades
▪ Increased secrecy about possessions
or activities
▪ Use of incense, room deodorant, or
perfume to hide smoke or chemical odors
▪ Subtle changes in conversations with
friends, e.g. more secretive, using “coded”
language
▪ Change in clothing choices: new
fascination with clothes that highlight drug use
▪ Increase in borrowing money
▪ Evidence of drug paraphernalia such
as pipes, rolling papers, etc.
▪ Evidence of use of inhalant products
(such as hairspray, nail polish, correction
fluid, common household products); Rags and paper bags
are sometimes used
as accessories; Bottles of eye drops, which may be used to
mask bloodshot
eyes or dilated pupils
▪ New use of mouthwash or breath mints
to cover up the smell of alcohol
▪ Missing prescription drugs—especially
narcotics and mood stabilizers
These changes often signal that
something harmful is going on—and often that
involves alcohol or drugs. You may want to take your
child to the doctor and as him or her about screening your child for drugs and
alcohol. This may involve the
health professional asking your child a simple
question, or it may involve a urine
or blood drug screen. However, some of these signs also
indicate there may be
a deeper problem with depression, gang involvement, or
suicide. Be on the
watch for these signs so that you can spot trouble
before it goes too far.
What is my next step as a parent or employer?
As a parent
or employer you want to make sure that your
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Source:
The White House Office of National Drug Control |
