This page is a resource for parents, educators or anyone else who suspects another person is involved in illegal drug activity.  The page is divided into sections for marijuana, methamphetamines, heroin, prescription medications, ecstasy and mushrooms.  Each section has descriptions of the drug itself, slang terminology, associated paraphernalia and resources for further investigation.

This agency would like to thank the Boise Police Department for their assistance in compiling and distributing this information and the Drug Enforcement Administration for the use of  images and other resources.

Abuse of prescription drugs is a growing problem among young people in this area.   These drugs are very dangerous.  Medication abusers may steal the drugs from parents or others or forge prescriptions.  The drugs may be taken orally, or crushed and injected or snorted to get high.  Common drugs that are abused in our area include: Ritalin, Dexedrine, OxyContin (pictured), Darvon, Vicodin, and Valium.

Look for: A single pill or groups of pills mixed together in unmarked bottles or baggies, not professionally packaged.  Empty prescription bottles with unfamiliar names.

Paraphernalia: dirty spoons and needles, dirty cotton swabs (used to clean the spoon), dirty cotton balls (used as filters for shooting up), mini torches with butane fuel (used to heat up the spoon), snort tubes piece of cut straw, hollow tube of a pen, may have residue inside.

Storage: Empty pill bottles, baggies or small containers.

Ecstasy is a "Club Drug."  Pills often sold or given out at bars, parties or raves (underground parties). One pill is usually a dose for the night.  Ecstasy users exhibit hyperactivity, increased sensitivity and/or paranoia, and decreased inhibitions.

Look For: Pills with pop culture icons printed on them.  Popular icons include a crown, dollar signs, mickey mouse, designer logos sush as CK or the Nike Swoosh.  The pills are often misshapen and the logos may be off center or distorted.

Slang: E, X, E-tard,  E-Bomb when taken with Vics Vapor Rub to enhance the high,  Double stack when pills are doubled up.

Paraphernalia: None.

Storage: Pills are often kept in baggies or other containers to avoid crushing or breaking.

Heroin abuse is being found among users as young as high school age, although the percentage of heroin users is estimated to be very, very small.  Heroin is highly addictive and users often exhibit violent or irrational behavior.

Look for: Heroin is delivered in tiny pieces of small, colorful toy balloons with the drug wrapped tightly inside.  Occasionally it may be wrapped tightly in plastic wrap or foil.  A typical user amount of heroin is only the size of a pencil eraser. Tiny bits of plastic, balloons, burned foil or used syringes may be discarded.

Slang: Chiva or cheeva, black.

Paraphernalia: syringes, burned spoons, dirty cotton balls or Q-tips, tie bands (used to tie around an arm before injecting).  Heroin can also be smoked in pipes, but narcotics officers dont find much of that in this area.

Storage: Small, colorful toy balloons or foil wrappers.

Marijuana is rivaled only by methamphetamines in number of users and availabilty in this area.   Marijuana users are typically younger, less experienced drug abusers.  There are numerous varieties of marijuana, but it typically appears to be small, dried buds of plant material and is recognizable by its pungent odor.

Look for: Marijuana is often kept in baggies or small plastic contains such as film canisters or candy packaging.  Users may have stickers with the numbers 420, which means time to smoke, or 840, double the high.

Slang: Chronic, Dank, Weedud, Green, B.  When high on marijuana, users may say someone is baked or stoned.

Paraphernalia: pipes, bongs, scales, rolling papers, and lighters.  Both metal and colorful glass store bought pipes are popular.  Home made pipes and bongs are made from pop cans, bottles and other sources.  Users may also have clothing, posters or drawings with marijuana or hemp symbols.

Storage: zip-lock baggies (found with plant residue), wooden boxes, film canisters, other unique small storage containers.

Methamphetamines or meth is one of the most dangerous and widely used narcotics in Idaho.   Meth highs last up to a day and the user is typically highly agitated, hyper or euphoric.  There are two varieties of meth - white and brown.  Both varieties are found in powder or crystal form (crystals look like smaller, clearer pieces of rock salt).

Look for: A clear, white or brown powder, white or brown chunky material, or white crystals often kept in small zip-lock baggies called bindles.  Users may discard corners of sandwich baggies or bindles with powder residue.

Slang: Shards (like shards of glass), Crank, Crystal, CR, Powder.  Meth users are Tweekers.  Meth is often bought in a T or Teener (1/16th oz.), or an 8 Ball (1/8th oz.).

Paraphernalia: meth pipes are often made of thin glass and may have white or dark residue inside.  Mini torches (not lighters) and butane fuel or propane bottles (the type used for camp stoves).  Snort tubes called tooters made of pieces of cut straw or hollow tubes of a pens that may have residue inside.  Needles, syringes, dirty spoons and cotton, scales.  Users may have 8-Ball symbols on clothing, key chains or posters.  Users often wear ball caps with a "CR" symbol.

Storage : Meth paraphernalia is often kept in kits.  Purple Crown Royal Bags or other small storage containers often are used for kits.  Small zip-lock baggies with residue.

Mushrooms are a hallucinogen that can be used alone, or treated with LSD.  Dried mushrooms are typically white to light brown in color.   Mushrooms also are often identifiable by the horrible odor eminating from them.

Look for: Dried mushrooms in plastic baggies.  May be found with LSD or marijuana.

Slang: Shrooms.

Paraphernalia: None.  Often found in association with marijuana - see marijuana paraphernalia listing above.

Storage: Almost always found in plastic baggies of some variety.  May be individually wrapped.

Research Resources: Drug Enforcement Administration website.