A mother is bringing attention to how emojis can be used as a secret code to purchase and sell drugs after she lost her son to a drug overdose.

Local 4′s Karen Drew explains why most parents are completely unaware, until it’s too late.

The other homes on the block in Manhattan Beach are painted in muted colors, so the home stands out. But the neighbors say she did it to tick them off. Soon after that, she hired an artist to paint the emojis, prompting many to wonder whether she was seeking revenge. Kidd says she did not paint the house to get back at them. The neighbors went to the city council to try to force the owner to paint over the emojis, but as it turns out, the paint job is totally legal.