Parents might not always know the signs that their teenagers could be involved with drugs.

 

So last week, as part of the Sherburne County Sheriff’s Open House at the Government Center, the Substance Use Prevention Coalition had an exhibit showing ways teenagers can hide drugs at home.

 

The Hidden in Plain Sight exhibit re-created a teenager’s bedroom in a corner of the maintenance building. The room was furnished with a bed, two nightstands, a desk and TV stand. The room also had miscellaneous items that might normally be found in a teenager’s room - things that could also be used to hide drugs.

 

“We had paraphernalia and other drug-related items sitting out, some of which can be considered hidden in plain sight,” says Alicia Klepsa, Project Coordinator with the Coalition. 

 

Some of the everyday items included a water bottle that could be used to store alcohol, a sunscreen bottle that was empty for storing alcohol and a hollowed out book that could be used to store drug paraphernalia.

 

“With the help of Sherburne County Drug Task Force we were able to have marijuana and meth pipes and probation gave us some apparel that says Molly, which refers to the drug ecstacy,” said Klepsa.

 

“And with the Drug-Free Communities Grant money, we purchased a flask sunscreen bottle, flask tampons, posters and other apparel related to drug use.”

 

All the items that were drug-related were labeled so people could see exactly how teenagers used things to hide evidence of drugs and alcohol.

 

“We had this set up in our room and allowed attendees 18 and older to walk in. They were able to walk around in the room and see what we have found commonly used and abused in teenagers’ rooms,” says Klepsa. “It’s education for parents and other community members to show that it’s very easy to hide things and they have multiple ways to do so.”

 

Members of law enforcement and probation were also present in the room to answer questions and provide other information.

 

Parents found out that a pen could be used as a tube to snort cocaine. A paper clip can be used to clean out a meth pipe. A faucet screen can be used as a filter for herbs in a pipe. And an empty pop bottle could have a hidden compartment for storing alcohol or drugs.

 

“All of these can be drug -use related and it’s all easily available on the Internet and in stores,” says Klepsa. “We purchased the sunscreen flask bottle and flask tampons in the St. Cloud Mall. And there was no age requirement.”

Klepsa said some of the parents were shocked to discover the ways drugs and alcohol could be hidden right in front of them. 

 

“Another surprise were everyday medications that can be used to either get a hallucinating effect or mask a urinalysis,” says Klepsa.

 

The vitamin, niacin, can be taken to mask the presence of drugs in a urine test. And mixing children’s Delsym cough syrup with Mucinex tablets can create a hallucinogenic effect.

 

“Some of this was even shocking to me - especially the niacin and the mixing of medications,” says Klepsa.

 

Many parents learned something new at the exhibit. But others already knew about most of the hiding places. Some even listed more things they had found in their teenager’s rooms.

“I received a lot of ideas from parents about what we could put in the next room,” says Klepsa.

 

About 40 people toured the exhibit. Klepsa said there was a lot of positive feedback.

 

“And we’ve had interest from Becker, Big Lake and Elk River Schools to do it during the school year, which I think would be great for parents,” says Klepsa.

 

For more information about the exhibit, contact Klepsa at 763-765-3546 or Alicia.Klepsa@co.sherburne.mn.us. Or check Sherburne County SUP Coalition on Facebook.