Help - what do street drugs smell like?

A guy came to my office for the first time - never met him before.

He wants to be more savvy about protecting his teenage children. He smells odd smoke in his house and has seen bits of fine black ash behind boxes in the garage. He knows what marijuana smells like and it is not that.

I would appreciate anyone's street knowledge about what street drugs smell like when burned or smoked.

You can share your knowledge here or e-mail me privately at 'revbkent@sbcglobal.net.


I'll also accept recommendations about where to look for this information. My google searches haven't been fruitful - probably asking wrong. I want to help this guy out if his kids are in trouble. At my former location we housed a CA group where I could ask these questions.

Thanks in advance.

Brian

I believe most Police Depts. offer classes and info on this.
They go through extensive training on it, so would be an excellent source.
Corner a cop at the donut shop. :D
(Just kidding. I have the utmost respect for them).

My experience is limited but when I have been around people who had recently been smoking pot, it smelled like a sweet musty odor.

It might be easier to educate yourself about what people look like when high...for example pupils dilated, etc. granted, such things are subjective, and easier spoted with personal experience, but they may be easier to delineate than smells.
ymmv.

I agree, Paul. I'll pass that along, while I try to find a direct answer to his "odor and ashes" questions.

I did find some info on the smell of Meth - like burning rubber or plastic - but that it varies with the impurities in the Meth. I also could not tell whether they were talking about the smell of production or the smell of use.


Edit: He said the smell was like when a steak our ground beef has to much blood and the blood is burning in the frying pan. (Sorry. That's really gross.)

Maybe he should ask his kids? Tell them what he found in the garage, and see what they say. No need to be accusatory...just have the conversation. For the record i raised 2 daughters...both of them experimented in school..as every kid does...and now one does not drink or use drugs, and the other drinks some, but does not do drugs.

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Originally Posted by Tim Morton

Maybe he should ask his kids? Tell them what he found in the garage, and see what they say. No need to be accusatory...just have the conversation. For the record i raised 2 daughters...both of them experimented in school..as every kid does...and now one does not drink or use drugs, and the other drinks some, but does not do drugs.

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Absolutely

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Originally Posted by Tim Morton

?..experimented in school..as every kid does...

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I can't believe that someone would make such a blatantly untrue statement....... I know lots of kids that have not and would never consider taking drugs.

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Originally Posted by Brian Kent

A guy came to my office for the first time - never met him before.

He wants to be more savvy about protecting his teenage children. He smells odd smoke in his house and has seen bits of fine black ash behind boxes in the garage. He knows what marijuana smells like and it is not that.

I would appreciate anyone's street knowledge about what street drugs smell like when burned or smoked.

You can share your knowledge here or e-mail me privately at revbkent@sbcglobal.net .


I'll also accept recommendations about where to look for this information. My google searches haven't been fruitful - probably asking wrong. I want to help this guy out if his kids are in trouble. At my former location we housed a CA group where I could ask these questions.

Thanks in advance.

Brian

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Brian ... Meth is an epidemic in Escondido, we lived in Temecula for 10 years and know first hand how bad the problem is. My advice is to encourage your friend to take swift action if Meth is what he's smelling. It's a very difficult drug to quit from what I've seen.

Tim

Here's some background music for this thread, courtesy of Lynyrd Skynyrd:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6q9nBusrq8

One thing is for sure, just about everyone I have known with big problems has "experimented" with drugs, and just about everyone I have known who has "experimented" with drugs has big problems.

If I were this guy, I would get right on top of this.

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Originally Posted by Robert McGowen

I can't believe that someone would make such a blatantly untrue statement....... I know lots of kids that have not and would never consider taking drugs.

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sorry to offend..a better less offensive choice would have been "as some kids do"...

I wouldn't waste any time on smells. There are too many ways that people will try to hide or mask a smell, resulting in a different smell altogether.

And anyone that has watched Cops knows that people caught red handed won't admit to drug possession or use. You won't get honest answers from the kids. I've known parents that were told "it is just a little pot" only to later discover the kids were doing heroin.

I'd waste no time in getting them to the doctor to run an illicit drug panel.

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Originally Posted by Phil Thien

I wouldn't waste any time on smells. There are too many ways that people will try to hide or mask a smell, resulting in a different smell altogether.

And anyone that has watched Cops knows that people caught red handed won't admit to drug possession or use. You won't get honest answers from the kids. I've known parents that were told "it is just a little pot" only to later discover the kids were doing heroin.

I'd waste no time in getting them to the doctor to run an illicit drug panel.

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You don't think that might be a tad heavy handed?

You can check my credentials to answer this question in this thread, second post down.......
Here

In reality, a police department is not going to help you with identifying the smell.

Even if he knew EXACTLY what the smell was, that does not tell him at all who is using.

Someone mentioned that you do not have to be accusatorial, and that is true. In my opinion though, you DO have to hand them a drug test that tests at a minimum heroin, cocaine, meth, and marihuana. Explain to them why you are handing it to them, and make them take it right then. Anything short of that is doing a disservice to your children. A parent's job is not to be their child's friend, it is to be their parent.

Off rant!

That addresses the fact that he doesn't even know if a family member is using. Thank you.

There is a whole new crop of synthetic marijuana type products on the market that are pretty popular with the younger generation. Many are legal, but states are doing what they can to try to get on top of it and add them to controlled substance lists. Many of these products could have an odd smell to them that doesn't necessarily smell like marijuana or tobacco. There is also another group of substances that are in the "bath salt" group. They label them "not for human consumption" but they are being used for just that.

Educate yourself by doing a search for either bath salts or synthetic marijuana. This might point you in a better direction.

Also, the guy that came to see you needs to be alert to behavior and physical changes in the suspected users. That might clue him in more.

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Originally Posted by Brian Kent

I agree, Paul. I'll pass that along, while I try to find a direct answer to his "odor and ashes" questions.

I did find some info on the smell of Meth - like burning rubber or plastic - but that it varies with the impurities in the Meth. I also could not tell whether they were talking about the smell of production or the smell of use.


Edit: He said the smell was like when a steak our ground beef has to much blood and the blood is burning in the frying pan. (Sorry. That's really gross.)

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If meth smell like burning rubber or plastic then anyone who use it would be easy to detest when smoking
the word detest was misspell, it were meant to say detect

Just for context, we address all kinds of things in counseling, so it is the specific question of smells that I did not know what to do with.

All of the rest of the pointers are valid advice for people to read too, so I thank you for all of the comments.

I think that idea of getting a test kit and running it is the best way. It will not be popular but being a parent is not popular and my wife and I were not popular. We told our kids that it was our job to check up on them and keep them going in the right direction. We were lucky and never had to run drug tests. We did check occasionally on if the kids were where they said they would be. We also told them that we would check their rooms because they were our rooms and it was part of our job.

It is not easy being a parent and there are some tough things to do. I would never want to look back and say that I wished I had checked on the kids more often.

IT is not easy to quit drugs after you use them for a while SO TALK NOW BEFORE THEY GET too dependence on the crap, the talk is that people whom craved sweets also may become drunks, I knew a numbers of drunks but never did a survey of their eating habits

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Originally Posted by Tim Morton

You don't think that might be a tad heavy handed?

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It is all in how you approach it.

But first, let me say that, where there is smoke, there is fire. I cannot help unless I have all the facts. I cannot count on the drug user to provide me with all the necessary details. Therefor the drug test is pretty much required.

If I had to order drug tests, I'd simply explain it thusly: "I don't like it any more than you do. But drugs are a powerful motivator and users will lie, cheat, and steal. I don't want to put you in the position where you feel you have to do any of those things, so we're going to do the smart thing and get some testing going."

Thankfully, I have never been put in this situation, but I know quite a few others that have.

Without getting too political I feel all drugs are gateway drugs.

I watched as my very first best friend (friends from the time we were two or three years old) became an alcoholic, then started using marijuana, then started using all sorts of prescription pills, then started using all sorts of other drugs.

You see, his parents thought it was cute to have him mix their martinis starting at about ten. By twelve he was a secret alcoholic. By fourteen he was smoking pot, and it just got progressively worse.

He died from an overdose three years ago. He had been clean for several years, but pain killers after a motorcycle accident got him going again.

His parents were unable to cope. He manipulated them like a virtuoso playing a violin.

I've noticed that most of the kids I've known that have become heavily involved in drugs had/have parents that were completely ineffectual. Probably the single biggest failure I've seen is that the parents attempt to reason with the children. IMHO, there is really very little reasoning with someone addicted to drugs.

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Originally Posted by ray hampton

IT is not easy to quit drugs after you use them for a while SO TALK NOW BEFORE THEY GET too dependence on the crap, the talk is that people whom craved sweets also may become drunks, I knew a numbers of drunks but never did a survey of their eating habits

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I agree. Starting at a young age my mother explained the dangers of drugs, their addictive nature. I have done the same thing with my kids. You have to start early.

I was a full blown alcoholic by age 19. I came from a very loving, supportive family, my parents set firm, reasonable limits on us. My fathers family was full of alchoholics, but my father wasnt one of them. these things are very complex.
My opinion is it doesn't matter at all, how it happens. The issue is how to help the addict recover, and stay in recovery.
ymmv

you could have the ash tested or if a pipe was found or aluminum foil..possible they could have a trace amt. revealed in a test.Local labs test for mold,asbestos,radium,water purity etc;they should be able to test residues and if not where to point you.

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Originally Posted by Brian Kent

Edit: He said the smell was like when a steak our ground beef has to much blood and the blood is burning in the frying pan. (Sorry. That's really gross.)

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Sounds like animal sacrifice!

Seriously, I have two suggestions:

First, most communities have youth drug abuse prevention and counseling organizations that have local high school students do presentation to the area junior high schools. My daughter was involved with the one in Princeton, NJ called "Corner House" but I am sure they exist all across the country. Those organizations have excellent up-to-date information about what the current "drugs of choice" are in your area. I went to college in the early 70s, so I am not unexperienced in the drug culture, but when I went to a Corner Houe presentation a few years ago, I learned about no less than half a dozen drugs that I had never heard of before.

The other is that parents can buy drug detection kits for most of the major drugs. A parent can test the kids' keyboards, desks, etc. and the test will pick up the residue of the drug. Not perfect, but people who use illegal drugs lie. And they're excellent at it. It is unlikely that a parent will get the truth from an actual drug using child. A parent might get the truth if it was a one-time thing, but not if a kid is a real drug user.

I think the surest sign is when a child's friends suddenly stop coming to your house and your child instead starts hanging out with new friends elsewhere - especially if the house they're hanging at belongs to someone who is often not home. I used to be shocked at the number of parents who let there kids go to someone's house but won't call the parents to see if there is anyone home. Kids get away with stuff because they know that their parents won't call someone they don't know to check if their own kid is telling the truth.

HTH,

Steve

sounds to me like maybe one of the newer synthetic "spices" or synthetic weed. they have interesting smells to them, i know quiet a few who do them cause theyre "legal" but i dont touch them. ive heard they are wosre for you because of the chemicals in them, but part of the reason theyre legal is cause the high from them only lasts 30 minutes? not entirly sure on that.

at home drug testing, needs to be totaly by suprise. if it doesnt show up its a newer synthetic type, if they refuse to give a sample i would be concerned

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Originally Posted by ray hampton

If meth smell like burning rubber or plastic then anyone who use it would be easy to detest when smoking

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As a guy who is trying to quit, I find that most non-smokers do detest us.

If you force them to take a drug test, which is your right as a parent if they are under 18, and they haven't been using, they soon will be. By forcing them to take a drug test you say loud and clear "I don't trust you to make your own decisions." In my opinion it would be better to sit down with them and talk to them about it, but the fact that the parent has already spoken to someone else about it before talking to their own children about it makes it look like there is some sort of communication problem.

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Originally Posted by Jim Rimmer

As a guy who is trying to quit, I find that most non-smokers do detest us.

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Jim,

I suspect Ray meant "detect" not detest. But as a former smoker, I apprecieate your comment and realize the hardships endured when quiting. I smoked 1 1/2 packs per day for 41 years before I gave up the habit.

Moses,

I would suggest that a parent asking their kid to take a drug test is rather stating they care enough about their child to take a chance on upsetting them. A parents responsibility is to be a parent first and a friend second, if possible.

Beyond that I would suggest that being a parent is the job for which all of us had the least amount of training and as a result have to play it by ear. I am the oldest of 6 kids and it amazed me how differently my sibblings got treated. I am sure my mother and father felt they learned some lessons with me and as a result modified their approach with my sisters and brother. I don't see this father asking for advice as demonstrating a family communication problem but rather a concerned parent seeking other parents' advice, recommendations and opinions before making a decision, taking action and possibly making a mistake. Communication problem? I don't think so.

I have passed on your advice to the dad and won't comment any further about his specifics.

I welcome the continued discussion because parents and kids and protection from drugs is very important, and my responses will now be general ones, no longer related to this specific case.

Thanks, friends.

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Originally Posted by Jim Rimmer

As a guy who is trying to quit, I find that most non-smokers do detest us.

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but do they detect your smoke

With today's young people smoking just about anything. It's hard to say what anything smells like. Most drug stores have drug test kits, so you can always test them. Most departments use presumptive kits that are low cost, so if you take in residue, they would probably test it for you. You should call ahead though, to prevent any awkward situation. Otherwise document symptoms. Meth will cause dilated (widened pupils) accelerated pulse, body temp and rigid musculature. Heroin or an opiate has the opposite effect. Flacid muscles, constricted pupils and decreases pulse, BP and Body temp. The best thing I ever learned in DRE class was that pot smokers usually have LOC (lack of convergence). They can't cross their eyes. They will be looking straight at you, but they'll swear their eyes are crossed.
State police is probably the best place to go for information, usually they are better funded on the education side of the house. If its' meth they'll be able to tell pretty quick. it Destroys people's appearance pretty rapidly. Lot's of pick marks.