Benadryl is a brand name of diphenhydramine, an antihistamine with a powerful side effect of drowsiness. Benadryl is labeled as an allergy relief medication but the same drug is sold under other brands such as Sominex as a sleep aid. Effects of overdosing on diphenhydramine include seizures, extreme drowsiness, excessive sleepiness, delirium, and hallucinations.

The translucent object packed with several of the pills is a shotgun shell. The text refers to the practice of reloading shotgun shells with other objects in an attempt to alter their lethality and/or pain potential. A shell loaded with rock salt for example, salt is much lighter than lead so it should have less stopping/penetrating power, but any wounds caused are automatically salted.