If you’re worried that someone you know is using drugs, it’s important to be able to identify the signs and symptoms of drug use. Drug abuse can have a major impact on a person’s life, so it’s important to catch it early and get the person help.
There are many different signs and symptoms that can indicate drug use, but some of the most common ones include:
How to tell if someone is high: Changes in mood or behavior
If someone you know is suddenly acting out of character or seems more agitated or irritable than usual, it could be a sign that they’re using drugs.
1. The person seems happy for no reason.
Euphoria, an intense, persistent feeling of pleasure, excitement, or happiness, is a major effect of many commonly abused drugs.
2. The person is giggling or laughing for no reason.
Irrational giggling or laughter is a common sign of intoxication by marijuana and hallucinogenic drugs.
3. The person is acting paranoid
Some people who use marijuana may also experience paranoia or anxiety. THC activates the part of the brain that controls fear and anxiety, which can lead to feelings of paranoia or anxiety
4. The person is very talkative.
Excessive talkativeness, or logorrhea is a sign of drug intoxication because drugs can affect the way the brain functions, which can lead to an individual speaking more than usual. Drugs can also affect a person’s ability to control their impulses, which can lead to them saying things that they may not normally say.
5. The person is making poor decisions or acting impulsively.
Impulsiveness can be a sign of drug intoxication because drugs can affect the part of the brain that controls impulses. When someone is intoxicated by drugs, they may act impulsively and make decisions they wouldn’t normally make. This can lead to dangerous or risky behavior, such as driving under the influence or taking unnecessary risks. Impulsiveness is a very common side effect of alcohol intoxication.
6. The person is having trouble concentrating or focusing on tasks.
Drug intoxication can often lead to difficulty concentrating. This is because the drugs interfere with the brain’s ability to function normally. The person may be unable to focus on tasks, may become easily distracted, or may struggle to remember things.
7. The person is moving more slowly than usual.
Slow movement can be a sign of drug intoxication because it is one of the ways that drugs can affect the body. When someone is intoxicated with drugs, their movements may be slower than normal as the drugs work to slow down the central nervous system. This can cause problems with coordination and movement, which may be seen in someone who is slow to respond or move around. This is mainly a side effect of drugs that function as central nervous system depressants, such as alcohol, benzodiazepines and opiates.
8. The person’s sense of time is skewed, and they’re losing track of what’s happening around them.
Some drugs, such as cocaine and marijuana, can cause a person to feel like they have lost all sense of time. This can be a sign that the person is experiencing drug intoxication.
9. The person smells like marijuana
The characteristic smell of marijuana smoke is hard to mistake if you’re familiar with it. Keep in mind that different strains may smell somewhat different. Some are more herbal or citrusy, while others are more skunk-like.
10. Increased appetite
Marijuana use can also lead to increased appetite, or what is commonly known as “the munchies.” THC activates the brain’s reward system, which can increase feelings of pleasure and cause people to eat more than they normally would.
How to tell if someone is high: Changes in appearance
People who are using drugs often look disheveled and their eyes may be red or bloodshot. They may also lose weight or have trouble sleeping.
1. Bloodshot eyes
One of the most common signs that someone is high is bloodshot eyes. When someone smokes marijuana, the active ingredient THC enters the bloodstream and binds to receptors in the brain, which can cause the blood vessels to dilate. This can lead to red, bloodshot eyes.
2. Dilated pupils
Another common sign of marijuana use is dilated pupils. THC binds to receptors in the brain that control the autonomic nervous system, which regulates things like pupil dilation. When someone is high, their pupils may become significantly dilated.
3. Dry mouth
Dry mouth, or cottonmouth, is another common sign of marijuana use. When THC binds to receptors in the brain, it can inhibit the production of saliva, leading to a dry mouth.
4. Slurred speech
Slurred speech is another common sign of marijuana use. THC affects the part of the brain that controls muscle movement, which can lead to difficulty speaking clearly.
5. Weight loss
Use of methamphetamine and other stimulant drugs can cause weight loss because they decrease appetite while increasing the body’s metabolism.
6. Tooth decay
Methamphetamine use can cause tooth decay for a few reasons. “Meth mouth” is characterized by dry mouth, teeth grinding, and tooth decay. Methamphetamine dries out the mouth, which leads to tooth decay because saliva is essential for keeping teeth healthy. Additionally, methamphetamine users often grind their teeth, which can lead to chips and cracks in the enamel. Finally, meth causes a chemical reaction in the mouth that leads to the development of plaque and bacteria, which can also lead to tooth decay.
How to tell if someone is high: Secretive behavior
If someone is being secretive about their whereabouts or what they’re doing, it could be a sign that they’re using drugs. Here are some related signs:
1) Hiding drugs and drug paraphernalia
Finding drug paraphernalia stashed away among your loved one’s things is a very strong indication that person is using drugs.
2) Withdrawing from friends and activities
Drug use affects the brain in many ways, which may cause users to withdraw from activities they used to enjoy – the drugs have become their new source of enjoyment.
Social circles may also change as your loved one starts spending more and more time with the people they use drugs with.
3) Increased secrecy about activities and whereabouts
While teenagers may act secretive for a number of other reasons, it can indicate they are using drugs.
4) Changing appearance or clothing style
Long-term IV drug users often develop telltale marks at injection sites such as the inner elbow. Wearing long sleeves all the time, even during hot weather, can indicate that the person is trying to hide these “track marks.”
5) Sudden lack of interest in school or work
Drug use may lead to a sudden lack of interest in school or work due to the individual feeling under the influence and not being able to focus on anything else. Additionally, drug use can also lead to addiction which will further cause the individual to lose interest in activities that do not involve using drugs.
How to tell if someone is high: Other explanations
When people use drugs responsibly, it can give the false impression that they are using illegal drugs. This is because many people view drug use as inherently risky and dangerous. When a person uses a drug in a responsible way, it can challenge that perception. It can make it seem as though the person is taking unnecessary risks by using illegal drugs. Additionally, many people see drug use as a moral issue. When a person uses drugs responsibly, it can show that they are taking care of their health. It can also show that they are not abusing drugs and are using them in a safe way.
Many prescription drugs can create the false impression that a person is high, even when they are using the drugs responsibly and as prescribed. This is true for some drugs that are commonly abused (especially ADHD medications like Adderall and anxiety meds like Xanax), but also for many drugs that have no recreational use or abuse potential (especially psychoactive meds such as SSRIs like Prozac and antipsychotics like Risperdal).
If you suspect that someone you know is using drugs, the best thing to do is talk to them about it. They may be reluctant to admit it, but getting them to open up about their drug use is the first step in getting them help.
How to tell if someone is high: Impaired Driving
Driving a vehicle while high on drugs is one of, if not the most dangerous consequences of chronic drug use and addiction. If someone you know – even a loved one – is driving while high, the best thing you can do is call the police. This can be hard to do. After all, you don’t want to get them in trouble, and an arrest for DWI/DUI often leads to suspension or loss of driver’s license, which is a huge practical problem for many people. But your responsibility here isn’t just to your loved one – it’s to the other people on the road, whose lives are also being put at risk.
When it comes to driving while under the influence of drugs, there are a few things to take into consideration. The first is that different drugs have different effects on the body. For example, marijuana can slow a person’s reflexes and impair their judgment, while cocaine can increase a person’s heart rate and make them more aggressive.
Secondly, it is difficult for most people to know how impaired they are when under the influence of drugs. This is especially true for teenagers, who haven’t been driving very long and are less likely to be aware of their own intoxication level. They may feel like they’re capable of driving, when in reality they are not. Finally, even if they are not visibly impaired, drug use can still cause problems on the road.
All of these factors together make driving while on drugs extremely dangerous. Intoxicated drivers not only risk their own lives but also put other drivers on the road at risk.
