What is drug paraphernalia?

History of Use

Drug paraphernalia have a long history of use. By the 1970s in the United States, recreational drug use reached epidemic proportions, giving rise to drug paraphernalia stores known as head shops. These stores, which often also sold music, sold a variety of specialized drug-related items. These items, which included water pipes called bongs and marijuana cigarette holders known as roach clips, catered to, enhanced, and glamorized drug use. Head shops openly displayed other items that advertised and promoted drug culture, including clothing, jewelry, tattoo designs, posters, and publications.

The commercial distribution of drug paraphernalia and the growing drug problem prompted antiparaphernalia laws. In 1979, the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) enacted the Model Drug Paraphernalia Act to help states prohibit the sale and possession of any article used to prepare and consume illicit drugs. The act defined drug paraphernalia, listed criteria to determine the presence of drug paraphernalia, and prohibited advertisements for drug paraphernalia. By the 1980s, many states required businesses to obtain a license to sell drug paraphernalia, forcing many head shops to close.

To further restrict access to drug paraphernalia, the DEA drafted the Federal Drug Paraphernalia Statute as part of the Controlled Substances Act (1970) to regulate the possession, selling, offering, and transport of illegal drug paraphernalia. Many US states enacted their own regulations prohibiting drug paraphernalia.

Drug paraphernalia are frequently designed with bright and colorful logos to attract teenagers and young adults. Various drug paraphernalia can be acquired on the Internet, through mail-order businesses, and in tobacco and specialty shops. Sometimes, drug paraphernalia are labeled with misleading disclaimers to minimize the dangers associated with illicit drug use. Drug paraphernalia items are continually evolving along with illegal drug activity.

Common Drug Paraphernalia

Drug paraphernalia can be categorized as user or dealer specific. User paraphernalia consists of items that facilitate drug use, such as hypodermic needles and syringes, pipes (metal, wooden, acrylic, glass, stone, plastic, ceramic), pipe screens, bongs, roach clips, spoons, tubes, razor blades, mirrors, rolling papers, and drug kits. Dealer paraphernalia consists of items that facilitate the production, trafficking, and concealment of illicit drugs and include blenders, scales, bowls, baggies, capsules, balloons, vials, and diluents and adulterants for mixing illegal drugs.

Drug paraphernalia also encompasses drug storage or “stash cans” to conceal drugs. These items include bags, envelopes or flaps, purses, pen cases, small vials and containers, cigarette packs, pill bottles, film canisters, water bottles, gum and candy wrappers, pagers, soda cans, lipstick dispensers, and make-up kits. Stash cans may be specially constructed with hidden compartments to conceal drugs.

Drug paraphernalia can be difficult to identify because ordinary household products can be used to disguise illicit drug use. Sunglasses can be used to hide pupil dilation and red eyes. Breath sprays, mints, air fresheners, perfumes, and incense can be used to mask drug-related odors. Clothing may have hidden drug compartments.

Drug-Specific Paraphernalia

Different drug paraphernalia can be associated with different methods of drug transmission, such as inhaling, smoking, and injecting. Drug paraphernalia designed to aid in the inhalation and smoking of illicit drugs such as marijuana, crack, and cocaine includes pipes, smoking masks, roach clips, miniature spoons, bongs, hoses, tubes, and lighters. Hypodermic syringes, needles, and lighters are well-known drug paraphernalia for preparing and injecting drugs such as heroin and methamphetamine.

Drug paraphernalia can be associated with specific drugs such as ecstasy, cocaine, and marijuana and with methamphetamine production and inhalant use. Ecstasy paraphernalia includes pacifiers, lollipops, and mouth guards to aid in relieving jaw clenching, teeth grinding, and dry mouth. Glow sticks, flash lights, vapor rubs, and masks enhance stimulation while candy pieces and jewelry can be used to hide pills.

Cocaine paraphernalia includes pipes, glass tubes, small spoons, and lighters for smoking. Razor blades, cards, and mirrors are typically used to organize cocaine into lines for snorting through straws. Marijuana paraphernalia includes chillums or cone-shaped pipes, rolling papers to form cigarettes, stash cans, roach clips to hold the joint, and deodorizers or incense to disguise the odor.

Drug paraphernalia associated with methamphetamine production includes flasks, funnels, tubing, adaptors, joints, cooking equipment, and thermometers. Drug paraphernalia associated with inhalant use includes rags for sniffing, spray cans, glue, paint, plastic bags, balloons, nozzles, and bottles.

Bibliography

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Hagan, Holly, et al. “Sharing of Drug Preparation Equipment as a Risk Factor for Hepatitis C.” American Journal of Public Health 91.1 (2001): 42–46. Print.

Inciardi, James A., ed. Handbook of Drug Control in the United States. Westport, CT: Greenwood, 1990. Print.

Korsmeyer, Pamela, and Henry R. Kranzler, eds. Encyclopedia of Drugs, Alcohol, and Addictive Behavior. 3rd ed. Detroit: Macmillan, 2009. Print.

Scheb, John M., and John M. Scheb II. Criminal Law and Procedure. 7th ed. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, 2010. Print.