I found some strange white balls in my 15-year-old son’s backpack. He says they’re just candy, but I don’t believe him.

 There are many harmless possibilities, such as:

• Candy (for example, mints or gum balls)
• Desiccant beads or moisture absorbers that came from packaging
• Small craft beads or foam balls
• Airsoft BBs
• Fertilizer pellets or other household items

There are also possibilities that would warrant more attention, but you can’t tell from the description alone. Many drugs are not sold as plain white balls wrapped in paper, and appearance by itself isn’t enough to identify a substance.

If this is a real situation, the most useful next steps are:

• Ask your son calmly where they came from and what they’re for.
• Look at the packaging (if any) for labels or branding.
• Avoid tasting or handling an unknown substance unnecessarily.
• If someone may have swallowed an unknown substance or is showing symptoms such as difficulty breathing, severe drowsiness, seizures, or loss of consciousness, contact your local poison center or emergency services immediately.

If you have a photo of the white balls and the paper they were wrapped in, upload it. I can help describe what they resemble, although I still can’t identify an unknown substance with certainty from an image.