Ohio Drug Training Highlights the Growing Influence of Social Media and Drug Slang Among Youth

By

Taiwo AKINLAMI

As the drug landscape continues to evolve, so do the ways in which drugs are marketed and sold, particularly to young people. During the “Drug Education Training” sessions held on October 9 and 11, 2024, at Ohio Christian University and North Olmsted High School, one of the most eye-opening presentations was delivered by Alex Van Dyke from the Ohio Narcotics Intelligence Center. His session, “Social Media & Drug Slang,” revealed how drug dealers and users are increasingly relying on social media platforms, encrypted messaging apps, and even emojis to conduct transactions and communicate about drugs, often evading detection by law enforcement.

The Hidden World of Social Media Drug Marketing

Van Dyke explained that drug dealers have become adept at using social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat to market their products. Through coded language, slang, and the use of emojis, they bypass algorithms designed to flag illegal content. “You might see a post that looks harmless at first glance,” Van Dyke said, “but it’s actually an advertisement for drugs.” For instance, emojis such as the cloud (⛅️), car exhaust (🚗💨), or rocket (🚀) can indicate high-quality marijuana, while other symbols like snowflakes (❄️) or snowmen (⛄️) are used to reference cocaine.

Van Dyke highlighted how users cleverly break up drug-related words with punctuation marks or emojis to evade automatic moderation tools. “Instead of writing ‘cocaine,’ they might use ‘c.o.k.e,’ or insert emojis to throw off the artificial intelligence (AI) systems that scan for drug-related language,” he explained.

Encrypted Communication and Payment Methods

The use of encrypted messaging apps like Telegram, Signal, and Wicker is another major challenge for law enforcement. These apps offer end-to-end encryption, meaning only the sender and the receiver can access the messages. This encryption, combined with features like message deletion after a set time, makes it difficult for investigators to gather evidence. “Many of these apps don’t even require a phone number or email to register, which makes it nearly impossible to track down who’s behind the accounts,” Van Dyke said.

In addition to secure communication, drug dealers have found ways to facilitate payments anonymously. Peer-to-peer payment platforms like Venmo and CashApp are frequently used, and some even accept cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. Van Dyke noted that the drug trade has taken full advantage of the anonymity these platforms offer, allowing transactions to take place with little to no trace.

Navigating the Dark Web

Beyond mainstream social media, Van Dyke also shed light on the dark web, where illegal drugs are openly bought and sold. “The dark web is a vast marketplace for anything you can imagine, including drugs,” he explained. Drug dealers post photos of their products, including methamphetamine, MDMA, heroin, and marijuana, alongside customer reviews and ratings to boost their credibility. “It’s very much like a regular e-commerce site—complete with marketing tactics, customer service, and reviews,” he added.

Once a customer selects a product on the dark web, communication typically shifts to an encrypted messaging app, where the specifics of the transaction are finalized. The drugs are then shipped through traditional postal services, including UPS and FedEx, making detection even more difficult. “We’ve seen a rise in drugs being mailed across state lines or even internationally,” Van Dyke stated.

Decoding Drug Slang and Emojis

One of the most valuable takeaways from Van Dyke’s presentation was the detailed explanation of drug-related slang and the various emojis that have become synonymous with different substances. Here are some common terms and their meanings:

• Plug: Refers to a drug dealer.
• Ticket: The price of the drugs.
• Blues, 30s, Percs: Slang for prescription pills like Percocet.
• Gas or Cloud: High-quality marijuana.
• Ice cream cone or snowman: Methamphetamine or cocaine.

Van Dyke emphasized that while the presence of these terms or emojis on a student’s phone does not automatically indicate drug use or dealing, they can serve as red flags for educators and parents to investigate further.

 

The Challenge for Educators and Law Enforcement

Van Dyke concluded his presentation with a call to action for educators and law enforcement to stay vigilant. “This world is constantly evolving,” he said, “and it’s our job to keep up.” He stressed the importance of training school staff to recognize the signs of drug use and understand the coded language used in social media. He also encouraged schools to reach out to organizations like the Ohio Narcotics Intelligence Center for further resources and assistance.

As drugs become more accessible through social media and the dark web, Van Dyke warned that the battle to keep students safe is only becoming more complicated. However, with continued education and awareness, he remains hopeful that Ohio’s communities can stay one step ahead of the ever-changing drug trade.

The session ended with a reminder to the audience that knowledge is the most powerful tool in preventing drug abuse among young people. Through programs like these, educators are empowered to better understand the challenges they face and protect the students in their care from the dangers lurking behind social media posts and encrypted messages.

 

Taiwo AKINLAMI is the Curator-in-Chief of the S.A.F.E for Children® Information Bank, Ohio, a project of Power Parenting Company LLC (http://www.powerparentingcompany.com/)