Just when you think you’ve got social media, messaging, and texts finally all figured out—including how to use a few basic emojis and still look savvy—things evolve. Emojis have developed into a complex language of their own.
From
to
these pictures paint…well, maybe not 1000 words, but they at least depict a couple of emotions.
They can also be used to set up a drug deal. Those drug my involve counterfeit pills containing lethal amounts of fentanyl.
Emojis and Drug Deals
Yes, those cute little word-pictures are being used in texts, on messaging apps, and other social media platforms to turn what looks like an innocent conversation into an order for illicit drugs, including delivery—a little like a pizza, only deadlier.
Emojis are so ubiquitous, that a nefarious emoji conversation can be hard to pick out, unless you’re aware of the duplicate meanings. Sometimes a
emoji can innocently mean “snow,” you know, the white stuff falling from the sky. Other times, it means “snow,” the white stuff snorted to get high…as in cocaine.
So, when you look at your kid’s texts and see
(another emoji for cocaine), how do you know if the planned meetup is for an fun afternoon on the slopes or to snort a few lines?
What you should know about emojis and street drugs:
Emojis alone are not damning
One of the funniest threads on Reddit related to emojis was regarding how easily the innocent use of these symbols in everyday conversations can be misconstrued. It was pointed out that someone texting about eating a chocolate bar and watching it snow out the window could easily post:
Evidently I’m addicted to cocaine
and Xanax
!!
The DEA suggests that before assuming the worst, it’s important to take into account the bigger picture (no pun intended). This should not only include those questionable emoji strings, but also changes in behavior, changes in grades or social interaction, and sudden changes in finances.
It’s not the emojis, but the string of emojis (and the responses) that count
The idea of drug deals via social apps may leave you scratching your head, but users know how to create a series of emojis that translate into specific jargon. The sending and receiving of messages, in sequence, need to make sense to those deciphering the intent. Otherwise, instead of a delivery of ZBars*, you might actually end up with, well, a melted chocolate bar delivered to your porch.
Conversations like
can mean a large batch of potent “Xanax” is available. This
can mean the drug package has been delivered. Or this
can mean a supply of “Xanax” is being brought to school today. Or maybe your kid is really just wanting to get a chocolate bar from his friend at school in trade for that healthy lunch you sent.
Barriers to Understanding Emojis
If you want to learn more about what various emojis mean, the DEA has published a decoder.
But keep in mind that emojis may vary by locale, similar to how slang for street drugs differ from town to town. For example, the emoji for marijuana is
in some places, while in others it’s
.
To further complicate the issue, emojis don’t appear the same on different platforms and apps, similar to font changes. Even while writing this article, emojis that I copied from one platform look different after being pasted into this post.
Hidden Conversations
Social Media Apps
Even if visible messages seem innocent enough, many apps are used to create private conversations. Parents, believing they have a handle on their kid’s Facebook or Instagram feeds, often have no idea about these “below the radar” conversation threads. Some platforms, like SnapChat, have long been used to hide private conversations through functions such as blocking screenshots and the automatic disappearance of conversations after a set period of time. Today, an even wider array of platforms, including Facebook Messenger, Tik Tok, and YouTube, are used for private conversations. They’re also used increasingly for drug transactions, due to the ability to operate in plain sight and yet maintain privacy.
Dating Apps
Even dating apps aren’t immune and are being used to create a very “different” kind of meet-up. For example, a recent sting operation on Grindr resulted in over 60 drug-related arrests in operation “Swipe Left for Meth.”
App Hopping
To further enhance anonymity of drug transactions, some deals are partly conducted on one app, the may be completed on a second app. For example, a drug sale conversation with a
(dealer) begun on Instagram may move to What’s App to finalize
details.
Random Texts Offering Drugs for Sale
Don’t be surprised If you get unexpected messages or texts with a string of emojis that look like a drug deal offer. On some apps, users report getting multiple unsolicited drug offers daily. The sender’s name is often coded with either emojis or letters, signaling the intent.
The
emoji in the name can mean drug dealer,
offers ecstacy, and
advertises meth.
A random capital “T” in the sender’s name can be code for selling “Tina,” one street name for crystal methamphetamine (meth).
One dealer recently arrested in Arizona used “Fetty” as part of his name to advertise his fentanyl pill sales.
The Link Between Emojis and Fentanyl Overdose Deaths
Apart from sounding silly, these cute emojis combined with the ubiquitous access to cellphones and social media, have brought drug dealers right to the palm of any kid’s hand (and into your home). And with the rise in fentanyl-tainted street drugs, the risk that these dealers are selling deadly products is very high.
Fentanyl has been found in counterfeit pills that look nearly identical to real prescription drugs, including “oxycodone,” “Adderall,” “Vicodin,” and “Percocet.”
In 2023 alone, 80 million fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills were confiscated in the US. These pills look nearly identical to real prescription drugs, including oxycodone, Adderall, Vicodin, and Percocet, and Xanax just to name a few.
Analysis of street pills show that about 40% of counterfeit “oxycodone” and “Xanax” contain lethal amounts of fentanyl.
Street drugs like cocaine and ecstasy have been increasingly found to contain fentanyl.
Even marijuana has been linked to fentanyl overdoses.
The old smile and wink that “teens will experiment” is now tantamount to supporting a game of Russian Roulette with drugs. Unfortunately, often the first time some people even hear about this hidden fentanyl danger is when they lose a loved one to the drug.
Emojis have helped contribute to the illicit drug use surge that led to over 100,000 overdose deaths last year, alone. Many of these deaths involved accidental fentanyl use through counterfeit or tainted drug supplies. And the problem has continued to escalate in recent months.
The Fentanyl Supply Problem
Stats you need to know:
In a recent safety surge in Arizona, 1500 pounds of fentanyl powder** and over 8 million fake pills were seized, much coming through the southern border, headed across Arizona to other parts of the USA.
46 overdoses and 39 overdose deaths were directly linked to these drug sources before they could be seized.
Of these, 76 cases involved drug deals via social media apps
Fentanyl powder- it’s important to understand how much fentanyl all that powder represents. Here’s the math:
1 pound fentanyl makes ~ 225,000 lethal doses
1500 pounds x 225,000 =~340 million lethal doses
That is enough to kill every. single. person. in the USA …with some pills left over.
What you can do:
WIth all the fentanyl showing up in coutnerfeit pills and the ability for our loved one’s to hide potentailly dangerous converstaions from us, it can seem hopeless to make a useful impact. But you really can. Arm yourself with knowledge, then go use it to help others.
Learn about the use of emojis by the illicit drug market
Don’t automatically assume all emojis spell dange, but be vigiliante about conversations your loved one’s may be having. Look for trends in questionable emoji use.
Learn more about the trends in social media apps. Finding out what your kids are being exposed to is essential.
Check out these other sources of information:
Openly talk with your children- let them come to you with questions and know there is an open door. Don’t judge them, teach them. See this article for more information.
Reach out to friends, family, and neighbors to make sure they are aware of the problem.
Don’t shy away from these overwhelming numbers of drugs coming into the US. Dive into ways you can help in your own community and in the US.
Share this information with others.
Here is the link to copy this information and email, Tweet, text, or post to those you care about.
Comments and Such:
Did you find the information here helpful? Were you aware of the widespread use of emojis in drug deals? or the blatant use in popular apps? Share in the comments.
The post Fentanyl: The Frightening Link Between Emojis and Lethal Pills first appeared on Miffie Seideman.