**This blog post was updated on August 8, 2024.**
Key takeaways from this blog post:
- Emojis, such as the pill or syringe emoji, are often used by teens to discuss or signal drug use discreetly.
- Staying informed about evolving emoji slang can help you monitor and guide your child's online interactions, and recognize potential signs of drug use.
- Open communication about drug use and its risks is crucial for prevention and safety.
Every generation has its own drug slang, and the terms and shorthand change with every passing decade. For Gen Z, it’s a little different. Kids today talk about drugs in a way that adds a new twist, using a language they’re fluent in — emojis. These emojis can look like ordinary, harmless symbols, which means parents may easily overlook them. A transaction on Venmo may look completely innocent when in reality it’s a drug dealer’s receipt. A drug-themed social media post may make it past community guidelines, spreading more information about these illicit substances.
Drug Use Is More Common Than Parents Think — And More Dangerous
In Bark’s 2023 research on children and technology, our team found that 58% of tweens and 77% of teens engaged in conversations surrounding drugs/alcohol. Exposure is rampant on content-producing platforms like TikTok and Instagram, where references sneak into videos, captions, comments, and even the songs played in the background. A study in the U.K. revealed that one in four young people has seen illicit drugs advertised for sale on social media.
But perhaps the most frightening thing is how easily kids can purchase drugs thanks to technology. They can be ordered in a matter of seconds on social media and then delivered as easily as a pizza. Drug dealers are also fluent in how kids talk about drugs and use this to their advantage. It also can result in tragedy.
One Mother Stands Up to Big Social Media to #LetParentsProtect
On February 7, 2021, a drug dealer reached out to Dr. Laura Berman’s son, Sammy, on Snapchat. Later on, the dealer dropped off drugs to Sammy at their house. What Sammy took turned out to be a lethal dose of fentanyl, and he had no idea he was taking it. As a result, Dr. Berman and her husband experienced every parent’s worst pain — the loss of their son.
Sadly, Sammy’s story isn’t an isolated incident. Social media poses incredible dangers to kids online — and many big social media companies like Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok refuse to let third parties like Bark monitor their children's activities on their platforms.
To help raise awareness — and to help prevent other families from going through what her family has experienced — Dr. Berman started the #LetParentsProtect movement and petition. The more people sign this petition, the more likely these big social media companies are to take notice and institute changes so parents can better protect their kids online.
Sign the petitionHow Bark Can Help Families Protect Their Kids
The goal of Dr. Berman’s petition is to convince big social media companies to allow third-party services like Bark to work on their platforms. Bark’s advanced monitoring technology enables parents to get alerts for potential issues on their children’s devices, texts, emails, and social media accounts.
For example, if a child were DMing someone about buying drugs using one of the slang emojis discussed above, it could be flagged and sent to the parent, enabling them to intervene and get the child help. Bark does this for many different types of dangers — not just drugs — including sexual content, online predators, suicidal ideation, threats of violence, bullying, and more. Kids don’t always know when to ask for help or when they’re in over their heads, which is why Bark is so important for families.
Drug Slang Emoji Glossary
🌿, 🍁, 🎄, 🍃, 🥦, 🍀, 🌴,💨, 🔥— Marijuana
💉,🐉,🐎 ,🎯,🤎— Heroin
❄️, 🥥,🤧, 🔑,⛄,🎱, 🐡 — Cocaine
🍼,🍇 ,💜,🔮 — Cough syrup
🍬, ❤⚡,🤯, ❌, 🍬, ❤️ — MDMA
🍄 — Psilocybin or “magic” mushrooms
🗿 — Stoned
💎, 🏔, 💙, 🧪 — Crystal meth
🚌,🍫, 💊 — Xanax
💊 , 🅿️, 🔵 , 🍌— Can be used to mean prescription pills, drugs in general, or oxycodone
🔌 — A plug, i.e., a drug dealer or someone who can “hook you up” with contraband
🤑, 💰, 💵, 👑 — drug deal advertising
💨, 🚬 — Smoking a joint
⚗️ — Used to indicate a bong
🚀 — Can mean high-quality or being very intoxicated
⛽ — Gassed, i.e., intoxicated. Can also refer to high-quality marijuana
🔥 — To “blaze” a joint or to be “lit,” meaning intoxicated
🥧 , 🍪 — A large amount of drugs
Common Drug Slang Terms
Cart — Cartridge for a vaporizer
Dabbing — A way to inhale concentrated cannabis oil by dropping some on a hot surface and letting it vaporize
Gas — Marijuana
Hulk — A 2-mg generic benzodiazepine bar
Pen — Vape for weed or tobacco; uses cartridges
Plug — Dealer
School bus — A 2-mg Xanax bar
Special K — Ketamine
Snow — Cocaine
Yayo — Cocaine
Zaza or za— Marijuana
Resources for Families
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