# What sort of drug paraphenalia did I see? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 12, 2014, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sort-of-drug-paraphenalia-did-i-see/690636 "2014-06-12T16:40:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2014, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sort-of-drug-paraphenalia-did-i-see/690636/1 "2014-06-12T16:40:02Z")
My father-in-law has a side job doing maintenance at an apartment building. Sometimes I help him, usually installing air conditioners in the summer & removing them in the fall. The place is a house that was converted into 3 apartments, and frankly it’s kind of a shithole, but it’s just down the street from the local community college, so it probably commands a decent rent. Anyway, while helping him install an air conditioner in one of the apartments recently, I spotting something odd lying on the floor: A chemistry spatula [I can’t manage to link to an image. Google “chemistry spatula” to see pictures of what I’m talking about.] The apartment was a mess, full of beer & whiskey bottles, and desperately in need of cleaning. So, I’m pretty sure the owner of the item wasn’t using it to compound lifesaving medicines for third world countries. Any idea what they’d be using the spatula for? A cocaine spoon? Something with cooking meth? ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2014, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sort-of-drug-paraphenalia-did-i-see/690636/2 "2014-06-12T16:41:59Z")
Maybe they were just doing chemistry! ---
**Author:** ![Winston\_Smith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e95f7d/32.png) [@Winston\_Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winston_Smith)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2014, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sort-of-drug-paraphenalia-did-i-see/690636/3 "2014-06-12T16:50:22Z")
Measuring out powdered substances into salable units ---
**Author:** ![StayseaDee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@StayseaDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StayseaDee)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2014, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sort-of-drug-paraphenalia-did-i-see/690636/4 "2014-06-12T16:53:09Z")
Could be used for weed, to mix the marijuana around in a bowl. Besides that, I have no idea? ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2014, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sort-of-drug-paraphenalia-did-i-see/690636/5 "2014-06-12T17:09:49Z")
It’s hard to tell from Google how big a “chemistry spatula” is. But if it’s the size of the spatula that comes with mixable [facial bleach](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GHYC7QNofq8/T5GbJ4jumYI/AAAAAAAAW6c/v_MzHXEUJBE/s1600/Bleach%2BKit2.JPG) (don’t judge!), that spatula is about the size of “[coke nail](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2650/why-do-some-people-have-that-one-extra-long-fingernail-on-the-pinkie-finger)” and I would suspect that’s what it was used for. ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2014, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sort-of-drug-paraphenalia-did-i-see/690636/6 "2014-06-12T17:57:56Z")
[Stirring coffee](http://i.imgur.com/F6sEQ.jpg), what else? ---
**Author:** ![partypooper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/67e7ee/32.png) [@partypooper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/partypooper)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2014, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sort-of-drug-paraphenalia-did-i-see/690636/7 "2014-06-12T18:12:01Z")
I’ve seen them used to do “bumps” of cocaine and other powdered drugs, such as MDMA. It’s an easy way to get a little out of the bag and snort it without the hassle of mirrors, razor blades, and straws or rolled up bills. Knowledge is from past experiences, not recent ones. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2014, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sort-of-drug-paraphenalia-did-i-see/690636/8 "2014-06-12T18:16:35Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > It’s hard to tell from Google how big a “chemistry spatula” is. But if it’s the size of the spatula that comes with mixable [facial bleach](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GHYC7QNofq8/T5GbJ4jumYI/AAAAAAAAW6c/v_MzHXEUJBE/s1600/Bleach%2BKit2.JPG) (don’t judge!), that spatula is about the size of “[coke nail](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2650/why-do-some-people-have-that-one-extra-long-fingernail-on-the-pinkie-finger)” and I would suspect that’s what it was used for. It was roughly 8"-10" long, and it was exactly like the spatulas I used in my college chemistry classes. This one was stainless steel. You would order it from a scientific supply company like Sigma-Aldrich or Fisher Scientific. (I tried to link to catalog items at both of their websites, but the link wouldn’t work when I previewed the post.) ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2014, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sort-of-drug-paraphenalia-did-i-see/690636/9 "2014-06-12T19:18:33Z")
adding Stevia to your coffee. ---
**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2014, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sort-of-drug-paraphenalia-did-i-see/690636/10 "2014-06-12T19:32:10Z")
I have had friends who use odd things they “appropriate” from school and work to use at home.😉 ---
**Author:** ![yoyodyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a9a28c/32.png) [@yoyodyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yoyodyne)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2014, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sort-of-drug-paraphenalia-did-i-see/690636/11 "2014-06-12T20:17:17Z")
I have some for [working on phones](https://www.ifixit.com/Store/Mac/Metal-Spudger-Set/IF145-017-1?gclid=CjgKEAjwn-WcBRD61NHM-uqDrm4SJADrP4tPgjBTStmnRQ-HsigVd5gOcC5dVsrvTWzkSGjTMVlUXvD_BwE). ---
**Author:** ![Toucanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3bc359/32.png) [@Toucanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toucanna)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2014, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sort-of-drug-paraphenalia-did-i-see/690636/12 "2014-06-13T00:04:18Z")
[QUOTE=yoyodyne] I have some for working on phones. [/QUOTE] Thanks for the link! I learned something today! ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2014, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sort-of-drug-paraphenalia-did-i-see/690636/13 "2014-06-13T01:17:45Z")
OK. Three things, but you’d need to sit down for any of them, let alone All of them: 1. Your tenants are selling Pot-Laced English Muffin style pizzas. 2. The the spatula is so they can flip the pot-pizzas by the windows to drum up walk-by and drive-by business. 3. You aren’t getting any. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![DataX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@DataX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DataX)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2014, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sort-of-drug-paraphenalia-did-i-see/690636/14 "2014-06-13T02:04:10Z")
Yeah - I’m not sure if taken alone I would believe it was being used for drug dealing/ using. In addition to the bleach and phone repair uses given - I have one that came with a nutritional supplement (granted it was plastic - not metal). Depending on what their DOC was/is would vary what you’d likely see - and maybe they were real careful and took everything else or disposed of it, but I doubt it. You’d probably find other stuff - like very small baggies, pieces of plastic (especially if it had a knot in it), or aluminum foil Burnt foil or anything that isn’t normal burnt really - especially little balls of copper scouring pads Tiny corks or really crappy looking paper roses (gas stations and convenience stores sell cheap paper roses in glass pipes that are used for crack) Shoe laces or something else used for tourniquet Mirrors, cards (like hotel room keys or used up gift cards), razors, or items with powdered residue found near sinks or countertops [used for separating out drugs to be snorted/smoked or crushing pills] Any evidence of cigar use And of course any more obvious stuff (I assume you would have mentioned if their was water bongs, currency counting machines, bricks marked “cocaine”, gold plated machine guns, scarface posters) ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2014, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sort-of-drug-paraphenalia-did-i-see/690636/15 "2014-06-13T02:12:25Z")
> [@Diceman](#): > > The place is … just down the street from the local community college… They’re chemistry students? ---
**Author:** ![tesseract](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bb73d2/32.png) [@tesseract](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tesseract)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2014, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sort-of-drug-paraphenalia-did-i-see/690636/16 "2014-06-13T06:11:40Z")
> [@StayseaDee](#): > > Could be used for weed, to mix the marijuana around in a bowl. Besides that, I have no idea? ??:dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Wayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4bbf92/32.png) [@Charlie\_Wayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Wayne)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2014, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sort-of-drug-paraphenalia-did-i-see/690636/17 "2014-06-13T07:52:41Z")
I suggest the wise thing to do would be to just ignore what you saw and mind your own business. After all, if the renter is not doing anything illegal, you could bring down a whole world of trouble on them or on yourself or on both. If they are doing something illegal, best to let the police handle it. That is what they are paid for. People who go out of their way to stir up trouble for neighbors when they are not sure what the truth is deserve a big spanking IMHO. Why can’t you just mind your own business? Either that or do not enter into anyone else’s home unless you are mature enough to leave their property alone? If you want to snitch on people or get them into trouble, why not consider a job in law enforcement? Otherwise, someone may just … ---
**Author:** ![DataX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@DataX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DataX)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2014, 8:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sort-of-drug-paraphenalia-did-i-see/690636/18 "2014-06-13T08:28:05Z")
I didn’t get that the OP was trying to snitch on anyone. He observed something that seemed odd and posted asking what it might be used for. I think a little curiosity is good - he didn’t say he searched their place or did anything to violate their privacy - he was just curious about what he saw. At least that’s how I read it - maybe I am missing something. ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Wayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4bbf92/32.png) [@Charlie\_Wayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Wayne)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2014, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sort-of-drug-paraphenalia-did-i-see/690636/19 "2014-06-13T13:12:39Z")
> [@DataX](#): > > I didn’t get that the OP was trying to snitch on anyone. He observed something that seemed odd and posted asking what it might be used for. > > I think a little curiosity is good - he didn’t say he searched their place or did anything to violate their privacy - he was just curious about what he saw. > > At least that’s how I read it - maybe I am missing something. No. In reviewing his post, it was I who missed something. I thank you for pointing that out in a very polite way and I now wish to retract my entire post. I made that post in haste and without thinking it through and I apologize to Diceman (the OP). ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2014, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sort-of-drug-paraphenalia-did-i-see/690636/20 "2014-06-13T14:33:20Z")
> [@DataX](#): > > I didn’t get that the OP was trying to snitch on anyone. He observed something that seemed odd and posted asking what it might be used for. > > I think a little curiosity is good - he didn’t say he searched their place or did anything to violate their privacy - he was just curious about what he saw. > > At least that’s how I read it - maybe I am missing something. I was mainly concerned about the possibility that they were cooking meth, in which case I would probably call the police so the other tenants don’t get blown up by this idiot. If he’s just mixing weed, I really don’t care. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sort-of-drug-paraphenalia-did-i-see/690636.md?page=2)