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 "Be aware. Kids can get any drug they want. You can’t keep them away from it, but you can inform them of it before they see it."
— Anonymous teen

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Drug Paraphernalia

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 as 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."

	Bongs

What do 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.

Visit the Drug Enforcement Agency for a list of drug paraphernalia to watch for.

Where Are Drug Paraphernalia Sold? Are Paraphernalia Illegal?

Drug Lingo: Know What to Listen for

Information provided by the National Drug Intelligence Center, a component of the U. S. Department of Justice.