Tips for parents and guardians on detecting illegal drug use

By Callie Lyons, RCNN

(EDITOR’S NOTE: This is a River City News Network Special Report brought to our readers through a cooperative publication effort between the Meigs Independent Press and RCNN.)

MID OHIO VALLEY – For parents, guardians or anyone else who is concerned that loved ones may be involved in illegal drugs, there may be a simple and cost-free way to monitor for drug use. Whether it is the illegal use of medication such as Etizolam or you suspect your child is smoking marijuana, being able to conduct a drug test is possible to confirm your suspicions.

Experts say by smelling the fingers and hair of an individual, you may be able to detect not only whether they are using but also what. But for additional clarification, tests like these are often used which might reveal substance use where smelling can’t – https://www.health-street.net/drug-tests/alcohol/urine/. Alcohol tests might be utilized by parents who fear their children are drinking underage.

A typical scenario might play out something like this. A teenager goes out partying with friends and mom is suspicious. When he comes home, she smells his fingers and hair, and is able to gather information about exactly what he has been doing.

Perhaps the most common drug smell is marijuana, which smells green, earthy, spicy and possibly skunky. If pot is the concern, there is an inexpensive drug test available at the Dollar Store. Conducting a marijuana drug test will get to the bottom of whether or not someone has taken the drug or not.

The synthetic drug known as K2 or Spice (which is sold locally even though it is illegal) has a very bad, very strong aroma of burnt chemicals.

Heroin smells like vinegar. Some dealers cut their dope with powdered sugar, in which case you would also have the smell of burnt sugar.

Cocaine also has a very distinctive smell – like ether – because of the way it is processed.

Methamphetamine has a noxious odor like cat urine or fingernail polish remover. (This is also what a meth lab smells like – and can be an indication that one is in your neighborhood.)

Developing an awareness of these odors can provide valuable information for the concerned – and a non-confrontational manner of getting answers that can lead to action.

If further investigation is warranted, most drug stores have specific drug tests available over the counter. Professional establishments usually test strands of hair as this is the trickiest test to cheat, but there are even solutions you can get to cover up this kind of evidence, just visit Alhhs.org for example. But don’t worry, if you strike while the iron is hot there is a very slim chance that your child will have had time to prepare.