Common Drug Paraphernalia

Depending on an addict's preferred method of substance administration, one or more tools may be necessary or helpful. Because most substances can be administered in a few different ways, this article categorizes paraphernalia by method of administration rather than substance. Individuals who have behavioral addictions such as eating disorders, sex addiction, or gambling addiction may also have unique tools or objects to achieve their goals.

Snorting – Before a drug can be snorted by an addict, it must be in powder form. If the original drug is sold as a tablet (like the majority of prescription drugs and some club drugs), an addict may use a blunt object to smash and grind it into powder and a bowl to contain the fine powder (similar to mortar and pestle). Razor blades are often used to move the powder into lines before snorting.  Mirrors are commonly used to hold the substance – perhaps because their reflective properties ensure that even a small amount of the substance would not be wasted – but any flat surface would fulfill an addict's need. Addicts will also have straws or pieces of paper that have been rolled (dollar bills are considered to be an ideal size) through which to snort the drug.  Among the drugs that may be snorted are prescription medicines (opiates are one of the most frequently abused), cocaine, heroin, meth, ketamine, and PCP.

Injection – Injection includes intravenous (IV) injection, subcutaneous injection (under the skin – also known as, “skin popping”), and (usually accidentally) intramuscular injection.  An addict who is injecting substances will have needles/syringes; alcohol swabs or isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) and cotton balls to sterilize the injection site; bands of rubber or cloth to function as a tourniquet; spoons or other containers to mix and/or liquefy powders; and lighters or matches to heat the drug.  If they are careful, they will also have some sort of container for secure disposal. Users who are desperate or short on cash may skip the sterilization step and/or share supplies with others, both of which increase the risk of infection and diseases like HIV/AIDS and hepatitis.  Some of the substances that an addict might inject are crack, crystal meth, ketamine, and heroin.

Smoking – Addicts who smoke substances may have pipes (store bought or homemade) or bongs. Also known as a water pipe, a bong has an area to hold the substance that is being smoked as well as another compartment; the smoke travels through water and is then concentrated directly before the mouthpiece. Bongs are sold in a wide variety of shapes and materials.  Because it is illegal to sell paraphernalia for use with illegal substances, most retailers circumvent the law by advertising that bongs are only to be used for tobacco products. Additionally, if an addict is smoking a substance (including tobacco, marijuana, crack, and meth), he or she will also have lighters or matches and, possibly, papers for rolling the substance into a cigarette or joint.

Huffing – “Huffing” is the term used to describe how addicts inhale any number of volatile substances.  In addition to the substances themselves (such as butane lighters, gas cans, aerosol canisters, etc.), a person who is addicted to inhalants may also have rags (which they saturate with a liquid and keep with them to use whenever they need a high) and cans or paper bags that they may put over their nose and mouth to concentrate fumes.

Anal – A less popular type of administration, individuals who use this method may have objects to help administer the substance to this area; for example, a turkey baster or similarly propelling device may be used.

Behavioral Addictions – People who suffer from eating disorders often spend significant amounts of time looking in mirrors and weighing themselves.  They may have a large stock of laxative or diuretic medications and posters or collages of very skinny people to “inspire” them to continue their regimen of calorie restriction, or their cycle of bingeing and compensating through purging or exercise.  People with any type of behavioral addiction may have special objects that are important to their rituals.  For example, a person with binge eating disorder may have a special pan that they will use consistently when preparing food for a binge, or a gambling addict may always wear the same socks when attempting to win money because he or she believes that doing so will increase the chances of a win.  Likewise, an individual with a screen addiction may be obsessed with obtaining the newest technological devices as soon as they have been released.