San Antonio – The Drug Enforcement Administration decodes common emojis used by drug dealers to discuss drugs used.
A community member who works closely to help young drug addicts find a path to recovery said that sometimes there is no decoding – the drug talk is in plain sight and easy to understand.
A mother, Veronica Kaprosy, is currently waiting months to find out if her 17-year-old daughter, Danica, died of a drug overdose.
“Death is permanent. She will never come back,” she said.
However, in the meantime, Kaprosy is using her grief to help warn other parents to relentlessly get involved in their teenager’s affairs on social media and on their phones.
“Be more involved, don’t give them that privacy they don’t need or deserve,” she said. “Look in their phone, know who they are talking to. Know their friends, be on their Instagram.
The DEA has published a page of common emojis used by drug users and dealers to discuss the most common drugs.
Corey Handy, a DEA special agent in charge, said social media is where most drug sales take place.
“Drug dealers, or drug dealers, no longer hang around street corners. They use social media platforms,” Handy explained. “I encourage parents to be more curious. Ask questions, ask “who are you texting?” What are you talking about ? »
Bea Blackmond, program administrator at Rise Recovery Academy, a high school for students battling substance abuse, said drug use was sometimes in plain sight.
“It’s not even about the emojis, you know, we’re talking about their Instagrams, their Snapchats, you know, and they show exactly what it is that [dealers] have to offer,” she explained.
Blackmond said the parents involved never go out of style, suggesting parents to mind their teenager’s business and not give them space to hide things.
“Parents think they’re like, oh I have to give them their space. But in reality, we have to bring them a lot closer,” Blackmond said.
Families with young adults struggling with addiction who need help can contact 210-SAY-CARE.
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