Grouped together, do those emojis mean anything to you? They might for people who frequently buy and sell illegal narcotics, according to the DEA, which published a list of emojis (PDF from 2022) it says are frequently incorporated during drug deals.
The DEA issued its “Emoji Drug Code, Decoded,” last year as a reference guide to give parents, caregivers, educators, and others a better sense of how emojis are being used to purchase illegal drugs. With the recent spike in fentanyl-related deaths, officials are warning parents that smartphones and social media platforms could be contributing to the problem.