How do Alcohol and Marijuana Affect Sexual Performance? – By Justin Lehmiller A lot of people attempt to enhance their sex lives by turning to perception-altering substances, with two of the most common being alcohol and marijuana. But how exactly do these drugs affect us in the bedroom? A recent study published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior offers some insight.
A lot of participants reported that both substances make them feel sexier or more attractive; however, this was more common for drinking than it was for smoking. Both substances were described as affecting one’s choice of sexual partner; however, people said that alcohol tended to have a more negative effect on partner selection. Why? When people were drunk, they were more likely to have sex with strangers they probably wouldn’t otherwise hook-up with (the old ” beer goggles ” effect). By contrast, when people were high, they tended to have sex with people they already knew. This difference in partner selection is probably a function of the fact that people tend to use alcohol and marijuana in very different settings: alcohol is consumed more often in bars and clubs, whereas marijuana is consumed more often in homes and private parties. Given these differences in partner selection, is should not be surprising that alcohol use was linked to having more sexual regrets the next day compared to marijuana. Most commonly, these regrets were linked to choice of partner; however, they sometimes involved specific sexual acts, such as forgoing condom use. Alcohol was linked to more impairments in sexual performance, including erectile difficulties, vaginal dryness, and (sometimes) falling asleep during sex. Some marijuana users reported negative sexual effects, too, but they were more psychological than physical in nature (you know, like paranoia and anxiety). Both substances were described as having dosage effects, with each linked to more problems when consumed in larger (compared to smaller) quantities. Participants were more likely to say that the physical sensations of sex were enhanced or heightened while high, but “numbed” while drunk. A lot of people said sex lasts longer when they’re drunk; however, this is likely due to alcohol’s desensitizing effects on the body. Interestingly, some people thought this was a good thing, whereas others thought it wasn’t. Marijuana use was linked to feeling that sex lasts longer, even though if it didn’t actually last longer—it just changed people’s perception of time. Both drugs were seen as having inconsistent effects on orgasm. While some felt that being high led to more intense orgasms, others had difficulty reaching orgasm because they felt too distracted. Likewise, while some felt that alcohol delayed or inhibited orgasm, others said that being drunk allowed them to orgasm faster or more often. Marijuana was more often described as resulting in tender and slow sexual experiences, whereas alcohol was linked to more intense sex. Both drugs were linked to trying new things in bed.
Keep in mind that all of these findings come from a small study and shouldn’t be generalized broadly. Also, remember that these findings are based on self-report data, which means that people may not recall precisely how much of each substance they consumed or exactly how it affected them.
More research is certainly needed, but these results suggest that alcohol and marijuana seem to have quite different sexual effects. However, understanding the effects of these drugs is a very complex matter, given that they depend not only on dosage, but also on a given person’s body chemistry. To learn more about this research, see: Palamar, J.J., Acosta, P., Ompad, D.C., & Friedman, S.R.
(2016). A qualitative investigation comparing psychosocial and physical sexual experiences related to alcohol and marijuana use among adults. Archives of Sexual Behavior, doi:10.1007/s10508-016-0782-7 Note: The definitive version of this article was originally published on Sex & Psychology,
– Dr. Justin Lehmiller is an award winning educator and a prolific researcher and scholar. He has published articles in some of the leading journals on sex and relationships, written two textbooks, and produces the popular blog, Sex & Psychology, Dr. Lehmiller’s research topics include casual sex, sexual fantasy, sexual health, and friends with benefits.
He is currently the Director of the Social Psychology Graduate Program and an Assistant Professor of Social Psychology at Ball State University. Image via Pixabay.
Contents
Do you get hornier when you’re high?
Sex on Cannabis – Cannabis can make you feel horny, increase your sense of touch and lower your inhibitions. If you take too much its tranquillising effects get in the way. Orgasms may seem weaker but more sensual and not just felt in the dick. There can be a stronger sense of connection to who you’re with, with sex being more ‘touchy feely’.
Is it good to go to bed while high?
Daily marijuana use and sleep – While most experts agree that THC can promote sleep, how well it works depends on the specifics of the sleep problem and how much experience the user has had with the drug. In fact, daily users of cannabis typically report more sleep disturbances than less regular users.
- The issue may be that regular users have developed a tolerance for the drug — meaning they may need a higher dose to achieve the same effect as someone who rarely uses it.
- Sleep problems can also result from cannabis withdrawal.
- Like alcohol, cannabis may improve sleep, particularly when used over short periods of time,” said Anastasia Suraev, a research fellow at the Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics at the University of Sydney.
Suraev disclosed that she has received consulting fees from Australia’s medicinal cannabis industry. “When used regularly, can lead to tolerance and dependence, as well as disruptions to sleep architecture, resulting in worse sleep in the long term,” said Suraev.
These are the concerns that some specialists have that we are still trying to pinpoint and clarify.” Ryan Vandrey, a professor in the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins Medicine, said people who use cannabis products for sleep should view them as they would any other sleep medication.
Typically in sleep medicine, patients are rarely prescribed a medicine for longer than a few weeks at a time, he said. “What happens is you take that medication every night and you become dependent on it to help you get to sleep,” said Vandrey. “It’s not as effective over time, you need to increase your dose, and ultimately trying to sleep without that medication, you end up being worse off than you started.” Suraev also emphasized the importance of making sure people know how to safely withdraw from cannabis or THC-containing products — by gradually reducing their dose over time.
Stopping suddenly can make their sleep worse,” she said. How a drug is taken may also affect how people with sleep issues respond to cannabis. In controlled clinical trials in a laboratory setting, when adults who infrequently use cannabis are given vaporized THC, it has a stronger and faster effect.
The study didn’t focus on sleep, but Vandrey says it’s reasonable to extrapolate the findings to sleep. “If you’re trying to induce sleep, if you inhale the drug you’re going to get peak drug effects pretty quickly,” Vandrey said. “But with oral dose formulation it might takes an hour or three hours before the peak drug effects kick in.
Topical dosing is going to take even longer.” It’s a common belief among cannabis users that different strains have different effects, and dispensaries may claim that a strain known as sativa is more energizing, while one called indica is more calming. Sativa is a tall slim plant with light green leaves, while indica is a short, bushy plant with dark green leaves.
The anecdotal evidence about differences in indica and sativa have not been supported by science and are “essentially meaningless,” said Vandrey. But when you interview people who use these products routinely and ask them about what kinds of effects they expect from an indica vs sativa, they will reliably say that they use indica to relax and sleep and sativa for focus or energy, he said.
Do you last longer in bed when high?
How do Alcohol and Marijuana Affect Sexual Performance? – By Justin Lehmiller A lot of people attempt to enhance their sex lives by turning to perception-altering substances, with two of the most common being alcohol and marijuana. But how exactly do these drugs affect us in the bedroom? A recent study published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior offers some insight.
A lot of participants reported that both substances make them feel sexier or more attractive; however, this was more common for drinking than it was for smoking. Both substances were described as affecting one’s choice of sexual partner; however, people said that alcohol tended to have a more negative effect on partner selection. Why? When people were drunk, they were more likely to have sex with strangers they probably wouldn’t otherwise hook-up with (the old ” beer goggles ” effect). By contrast, when people were high, they tended to have sex with people they already knew. This difference in partner selection is probably a function of the fact that people tend to use alcohol and marijuana in very different settings: alcohol is consumed more often in bars and clubs, whereas marijuana is consumed more often in homes and private parties. Given these differences in partner selection, is should not be surprising that alcohol use was linked to having more sexual regrets the next day compared to marijuana. Most commonly, these regrets were linked to choice of partner; however, they sometimes involved specific sexual acts, such as forgoing condom use. Alcohol was linked to more impairments in sexual performance, including erectile difficulties, vaginal dryness, and (sometimes) falling asleep during sex. Some marijuana users reported negative sexual effects, too, but they were more psychological than physical in nature (you know, like paranoia and anxiety). Both substances were described as having dosage effects, with each linked to more problems when consumed in larger (compared to smaller) quantities. Participants were more likely to say that the physical sensations of sex were enhanced or heightened while high, but “numbed” while drunk. A lot of people said sex lasts longer when they’re drunk; however, this is likely due to alcohol’s desensitizing effects on the body. Interestingly, some people thought this was a good thing, whereas others thought it wasn’t. Marijuana use was linked to feeling that sex lasts longer, even though if it didn’t actually last longer—it just changed people’s perception of time. Both drugs were seen as having inconsistent effects on orgasm. While some felt that being high led to more intense orgasms, others had difficulty reaching orgasm because they felt too distracted. Likewise, while some felt that alcohol delayed or inhibited orgasm, others said that being drunk allowed them to orgasm faster or more often. Marijuana was more often described as resulting in tender and slow sexual experiences, whereas alcohol was linked to more intense sex. Both drugs were linked to trying new things in bed.
Keep in mind that all of these findings come from a small study and shouldn’t be generalized broadly. Also, remember that these findings are based on self-report data, which means that people may not recall precisely how much of each substance they consumed or exactly how it affected them.
More research is certainly needed, but these results suggest that alcohol and marijuana seem to have quite different sexual effects. However, understanding the effects of these drugs is a very complex matter, given that they depend not only on dosage, but also on a given person’s body chemistry. To learn more about this research, see: Palamar, J.J., Acosta, P., Ompad, D.C., & Friedman, S.R.
(2016). A qualitative investigation comparing psychosocial and physical sexual experiences related to alcohol and marijuana use among adults. Archives of Sexual Behavior, doi:10.1007/s10508-016-0782-7 Note: The definitive version of this article was originally published on Sex & Psychology,
Dr. Justin Lehmiller is an award winning educator and a prolific researcher and scholar. He has published articles in some of the leading journals on sex and relationships, written two textbooks, and produces the popular blog, Sex & Psychology, Dr. Lehmiller’s research topics include casual sex, sexual fantasy, sexual health, and friends with benefits.
He is currently the Director of the Social Psychology Graduate Program and an Assistant Professor of Social Psychology at Ball State University. Image via Pixabay.
How long does a high last gummy?
It Takes Time to Feel the Full Effects With edible cannabis, the intoxicating effects or ‘high’ do not kick in for about 30 minutes to two hours and peak at about four hours. The effects can last up to 12 hours after use and residual effects can last up to 24 hours, so you could be affected into the next day.
Does sativa make you laugh?
What Strain Makes You Laugh The Most? – While there is no single strain that is known for making people laugh ‘the most’, it does seem that sativa strains are a better choice than indicas when it comes to making people laugh. This might be explained by the fact that sativas are known for producing an uplifting cerebral high that tends to produce more mental effects rather than physical ones.
- As THC is metabolized, serotonin and dopamine–two mood-enhancing neurotransmitters–are released.
- Combining the cerebral effects of sativa strains with the mood boosting effect of these neurotransmitters may produce a powerful 1-2 punch that can have you laughing till your sides hurt.
- So what strain makes you laugh the most? Here’s our list of the top 5 strains that make you laugh.
Try them out yourself and let us know! 
Does smoking stop you from ejaculating?
Does Smoking Stop You From Ejaculating? – Whilst smoking can’t directly stop you from ejaculating, it can certainly make it significantly more difficult. In the short term, the habit can cause erectile dysfunction and a lowered sex drive, and in the long-term, a reduced stamina due to shortness of breath. The chemicals in cigarettes can also lead to ejaculating faster and a reduced libido.
Do edibles make eyes red?
Do Edibles Make Your Eyes Red? – Yes, edibles can make your eyes red, if they contain THC. It doesn’t matter how THC gets into your body. Whether through a vape, joint, drink, edible, or other smoking apparatus, cannabis will make your eyes red if it has THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol).
Redness happens because of the effect THC has on your eyes. THC is a cannabinoid that gives you the “high” you feel when you consume cannabis. It also affects your blood vessels, making your eyes red. Ingesting THC lowers your blood pressure, which dilates your blood vessels. This dilation increases blood flow throughout your body, including your eyes.
The blood vessels in the eye enlarge, becoming red for a short period. Eye redness is temporary, going away with time.
Is a 10mg edible too much for a beginner?
Start low, go slow – That’s the motto for edibles newbies. The accepted recommendation is to start with an edible that has no more than 10 mg of THC, with most experts advising a dose of 2.5 to 5 mg the first time out of the gate. Almost every bad edibles experience follows a similar pattern.
Beginners may start slow, with just a tiny nibble on that lemon square. They wait half an hour and don’t feel much of anything, so they eat some more of that tasty treat. But since it can take up to two hours for the high from edibles to fully kick in, they soon discover they’ve had way too much. “That’s probably the biggest issue with edibles,” Heller said.
“I know a lot of people that have overmedicated that way. And that can be a really terrifying experience.” To avoid that cliché, experts suggest waiting at least two hours before ingesting more cannabis. Better yet? Wait a day and start next time with a slightly higher dose, increasing by 5 mg or so at a time until they find a level that gives them the desired effect.
It really pays off to be patient,” Heller said. “It may take two tries or three tries to get it right. But that’s a lot better than taking five times what you need in one sitting and having a panic attack.” Another rookie mistake is to start off trying to make edibles at home. That may seem like an attractive option, since it gives consumers the feeling of control over what they’re eating.
But it’s actually quite challenging to precisely infuse edibles with a particular amount of THC. “If people are baking it at home, I don’t think most of them have any idea what’s in each piece,” Frankel said. “It’s hard enough for people who are professionals to figure it out.” That’s why many experts recommend beginners buy their first edibles from the pros.
Is sativa for depression?
2. Blue Dream 
– The only sativa hybrid to make this list, Blue Dream is a cerebral delight keeping you cheerful and mellow. The two major effects to expect with this strain are a sense of happiness and calm, some even report the onset of giggles when first smoked. A cross of Blueberry and Haze, a sweet berry flavor accompanies each inhale as it relaxes your body and stimulates your mind.
- Ideal for those looking to get motivated, Blue Dream gives enough energy to keep you moving without any jittery accompaniment.
- If sadness is making it difficult to get out of the house, try smoking Blue Dream and taking a walk.
- Many patients find the sativa effects of this strain well suited for working through periods of stress and depression.
Because Blue Dream is so uplifting, it pulls you into a new headspace better suited for new patterns of thought.
Does sativa turn you on?
INDICA AND SATIVA FOR SEX Indica strains especially appeal to body senses, including the all-important (for sex) touch. Sativa strains are known for amplifying energy and precipitating more psychedelic and cerebral experiences than Indica. Energy is great for sex, naturally.
Why does sativa feel so good?
There’s an endless variety of cannabis strains, each with their own clever name, and a list of potential physical and mental effects, health benefits, and remedies for common illnesses. With so many options out there (Tangerine Dream, Great White Shark, DJ Short Blueberry?) it can be a little overwhelming figuring out where to start. 
What’s the Difference Between Sativa vs Indica? There are some commonalities and differences between Indica and Sativa, as both contain different levels of the two major psychoactive ingredients in cannabis: THC and CBD. Indica tends to have higher CBD levels and lower THC levels, so it has more physical effects with less of the mental high associated with cannabis use.
- A funny way to remember the kind of effects Indica strains have is, “Indica equals In Da Couch.” Indica strains are very relaxing for both the mind and body and are ideal for night time use.
- They help increase our levels of dopamine, a neurotransmitter involved in our motor function that helps regulate the pleasure and reward centres in the brain.
Sativa strains are more suitable for daytime use, as they don’t have the instant sleepy-time effects that Indica strains do. Sativa strains cause a boost of serotonin, a neurotransmitter which is involved in our brain’s regulation of sleep, appetite, anxiety, movement, learning, and overall mood.
It’s higher in THC but lower in CBD, so while the physical effects are not as pronounced, it will have some more potent mental effects that are thoroughly enjoyable. Sativa vs. Indica Effects Depending on your health conditions or needs, there are unique benefits to either strain that can be used to your advantage.
Some effects, like increased hunger, can be expected with both strains, but there are a few effects that are more strongly associated with one of the two types. Here’s an easy reference guide for what you’ll typically experience with either an Indica or Sativa cannabis strain: 
Effects of Indica Strains: – Decreased nausea: Whether it’s motion sickness, a flu bug, or some bad seafood, Cannabis Indica is a fantastic natural remedy to soothe the stomach and ease the symptoms of nausea. This combined with an increase in hunger can help many people regain their appetite after illness or stress.
A lot of chemotherapy patients rely on Indica strains to help with the nausea they experience after treatments. – Mild-to-moderate pain relief: Many different aches and pains can be relieved with an Indica strain, including pinched nerves, toothaches, or menstrual cramping. – Insomnia Relief: Drifting off to peaceful sleep is a total breeze with the help of an Indica strain.
Meditative relaxation, minor pain relief, and a boost of dopamine all combine to create an effective sleep aid that works better than melatonin strips and has way fewer side effects than prescription sleeping pills. 
– Eased muscle tension and tremors: Physical strain, mental strain, or a combination of both can lead to some pretty tight muscles, and Indica will help get you feeling way more comfortable, and decidedly loosey-goosey. Physical tremors and tics associated with illnesses like Parkinson’s are associated with the body’s dopaminergic system, and the dopamine boost that comes along with Indica has had tremendous success in temporarily easing these symptoms.
Effects of Sativa Strains: – Depression relief: Levels of serotonin play a pivotal role in a person’s mood and mental outlook. In fact, many prescription anti-depressants are formulated to increase serotonin, or inhibit its reuptake in the brain. Cannabis Sativa is a natural instant happy-booster, so many folks who suffer from depression are able to regain motivation and get back to their regular selves with the help of this powerful strain.
– Anxiety and Stress relief: Busy lives and hectic schedules can make a person’s mind spin, and while experiencing a little bit of stress day-to-day is normal, when it becomes overwhelming it can have more serious impacts on your physical and mental health. 
– Sharpened focus and heightened creativity: Many consumers of Sativa strains say they help enhance imagination and innovation without decreasing energy or motivation, so it’s a better choice if you’ve got a creative project ahead of you. Knowing the difference between the two main types of cannabis will help you determine what kind is best for you.
What is greening slang?
A whitey or white-out (sometimes ‘green-out’ or ‘greening’) is a drug slang term for when a recreational drug user, as a direct or indirect result of drug use (usually cannabis), begins to feel faint and vomits.
Do guys get hard when they’re high?
Clinicians in a recently published case study have concluded that cannabis was the likely culprit behind a 32-year-old man’s persistent, painful erections. It’s a rare and curious example of marijuana being associated with what’s known in medical jargon as priapism—an erection lasting more than four hours that’s not related to sexual activity.
Priapism can have serious consequences, the report notes, including “damage to the penile tissue, with notable destruction obvious at twelve hours” and “over 90% of those remaining erect for 24 h losing sexual function.” The effects can be permanent. The patient in the case study, published this month in the Journal of Cannabis Research, had been previously treated at the hospital for an erection lasting 12 hours.
In a second incident described in the report, he arrived at the emergency department with an erection that had persisted for six hours. He told doctors that he had been smoking marijuana several nights a week for the past six months and during that period experienced “four or more episodes of a persistent erection lasting close to four hours.” In each case, he had smoked within a two-hour period before the erection began.
The case study’s authors, a team at Coliseum Medical Centers in Georgia, call it “the first known case of cannabis-associated priapism in a patient where all other known causes of priapism have been excluded.” “The abstinence and subsequent use of cannabis were the only appreciable factors in this patient’s battle with recurrent unwanted erections.” Cannabis doesn’t appear often in published case studies involving unwanted erections.
When it does, it’s often in cases where the erections have other, more likely causes. The team conducted a literature review and “was only able to identify four distinct cases of cannabis use coinciding with priapism,” the report says, “none of which were convincingly able to prove cannabis was the sole cause.” Two of the past cases involved patients with sickle-cell disease, a leading cause of priapism.
- Another showed concurrent use of MDMA, or ecstasy, which the report says is another proven cause.
- The fourth involved a patient with diabetes—another known cause—who had also used a number of other substances, including cocaine—yet another cause—and anabolic steroids.
- The new patient’s case is unique.
“He had no medical history other than mild hypertension, he took no medications, and used only cannabis, supported by his urinary drug screen,” the report says. “Further, his history exhibited a convincing correlation between his cannabis use and his episodes of recurrent priapism.” “On physical exam, the patient was mildly hypertensive with an erect, swollen, and tender penis.” The man had smoked marijuana off and on over his life, he told doctors.
The periods during which he consumed cannabis seem to align with past episodes of uncomfortable erections. “He admitted a history of cannabis use at age sixteen and seventeen, during which time he had recurrent priapism lasting less than four hours and never requiring medical treatment,” the report says.
“He quit cannabis use in his twenties, and during this period did not have any episodes of priapism.” The report’s authors were left to speculate about how cannabis could have actually caused the patient’s sustained erections. Among the possibilities they identified was that cannabinoids were affecting regulatory mechanisms that would otherwise signal an erection to end.
- Another explanation has to do with increased blood-platelet activation, which is associated with cannabis and increased chance of heart attack for 60 minutes after consumption.
- Cannabis also has direct effects of its own on the vascular system, causing blood vessels to dilate.
- Researchers said that effect, too, “could potentiate the unrelenting erection notable in priapism.” As with many areas of marijuana research, the drug’s classification as a federally controlled substance has historically stymied research.
“There is a paucity of studies investigating human erections and marijuana,” researchers wrote in a separate 2008 study, “and as a result there is insufficient evidence to suggest that marijuana will cause priapism in humans.” Little progress has been made since then.
A case study published in 2018 examined a patient with priapism who had consumed not marijuana but lab-created synthetic cannabinoids. Authors of the new report call that case study “supporting evidence” for the theory that cannabis caused their patient’s lasting erection, although they note that synthetic cannabinoids are “100 times more potent activators” of the body’s cannabis receptors.
“If synthetic cannabinoids can cause priapism, plant cannabis, affecting the same, would also be capable to potentiate this reaction,” the report says. Of what little research does exist on cannabis and sex, most has focused on more desirable results: making sex better.
- According to self-reported anonymous surveys—some more scientific than others—many people, especially women, report having more frequent and satisfying sex after consuming marijuana,
- A study led by Becky Lynn, an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Saint Louis University in Missouri, last year found that more than two-thirds of women (68.5 percent) who said they’ve consumed marijuana before sex “stated that the overall sexual experience was more pleasurable.” Respondents also said they had an increased sex drive (60.6 percent) and more satisfying orgasms (52.8 percent).
Another study last year, by an Eastern Carolina University graduate student, also found that “participants perceived that cannabis use increased their sexual functioning and satisfaction,” associating cannabis consumption with “increased desire, orgasm intensity, and masturbation pleasure.” A literature review published this past September in the journal Sexual Medicines Review evaluated decades of evidence and concluded a link between cannabis and libido seems to exist, but effects depend heavily on dose.
- Several studies have evaluated the effects of marijuana on libido, and it seems that changes in desire may be dose dependent,” the review found.
- Studies support that lower doses improve desire but higher doses either lower desire or do not affect desire at all.” Even less research has been published on marijuana and erections.
Anecdotal evidence suggests that some men find that consuming cannabis is helpful in achieving and maintaining erections, but consuming too much can impede arousal. It’s not clear the degree to which those effects are physiological and to what degree they are related to psychological factors like stress and anxiety.
- As for the man with the 12-hour erection, it’s not clear how he’s fared.
- According to the case study, he was referred to urology and internal medicine specialists for further diagnosis, “however he was lost to follow-up in this period.” Legalizing Medical Marijuana Makes People Have More Sex, Study Shows Photo by Sharon McCutcheon on Unsplash Marijuana Moment is made possible with support from readers.
If you rely on our cannabis advocacy journalism to stay informed, please consider a monthly Patreon pledge.
How do guys act when they are high?
How to Tell if Someone Is High: 12 Steps (with Pictures)
- 1 Look into the person’s eyes. Smoking a drug can cause red or watery eyes. Pupils that are constricted or dilated can be a sign of narcotics, stimulants, or club drugs. Check for rapid or unnecessary eye movements. Involuntary eye movements, or nystagmus, are symptomatic of many kinds of drug use.
- If someone is wearing sunglasses inside or in the shade, they might be trying to hide red or otherwise affected eyes.
- Someone who is high on painkillers may have trouble keeping their eyes open.
- 2 Smell the person. Someone who has smoked marijuana might smell sweet, smoky, or skunky. A chemical or metallic smell might mean they inhaled a toxic household product, such as glue or paint thinner.
- A smell of incense, air freshener, or powerful perfume or cologne might be intended to cover up the smell of a drug that has been smoked.
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- 3 Observe the person’s mouth. Listen to his swallowing and observe the way it moves. Salivation and lip smacking can be signs of dry mouth, a sign of drug use. Licking of the lips, frequent clenching of the teeth or twisting of the jaw might mean that someone is high on club drugs.
- 4 Observe the person’s nose. A bloody nose with no other apparent cause can mean that someone has snorted a drug, such as cocaine, meth, or a narcotic. A runny or congested nose can have many causes but combined with other symptoms it could signify that someone is high. Frequent rubbing of the nose can also be a sign.
- Someone who has snorted a drug might have powder on her nostrils or upper lip.
- 5 Observe the person’s hands. Shaking hands can be a sign of club drugs, inhalants, or hallucinogens. Palm sweat can be a sign of intoxication. Burned fingertips can be a sign that crack cocaine was smoked.
- 6 Check the person’s vital signs, Pulse, rate of respiration, temperature, and blood pressure can all be affected by drug use. If you feel safe touching the person in question, take his pulse and check his temperature. Cold, sweaty skin is one sign of drug use. An increase or decrease in blood pressure, an increased heart rate, or slowed breathing can all be signs of drug use.
- Some drugs can cause chest pain, and even heart attacks. Seek medical help for someone who seems to be experiencing pain in his chest.
- 7 Check for signs of habitual drug use. People who use drugs such as methamphetamine, bath salts, or heroin often inject their drugs, which leaves track marks. Check for darkened veins, lesions, and bruising around the veins. Lesions that are open and in the process of healing can be signs of recent drug use.
- Sores or a rash on the mouth or nose can also be a sign of habitual drug use.
- 8 Check for drug paraphernalia. While pipes, rolling papers, syringes and rubber tubing might be easily recognised as drug paraphernalia, the unwarranted presence of household objects can also indicate recent drug use. Bent spoons, eye droppers, and cotton balls may be indicative of narcotic use. Razors, handheld mirrors, and tiny spoons might indicate the use of stimulants. Pacifiers, candy necklaces, and lollipops may be used by people on club drugs, such as Ecstasy, that cause the jaw to clench.
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- 1 Listen to the person’s speech. Someone who is high may speak too much or too quickly, or may have problems speaking. Someone who slurs words but does not smell like alcohol might be high.
- If the person you are speaking with appears to have difficulty concentrating or following the conversation, or if her thinking is unusually paranoid, deluded, or panicked, she might be high.
- 2 Observe the person’s movements. A high person might react slowly, or might be nonreactive to surrounding people and things. If someone appears not to experience pain, he might be high. Physical coordination that seems to be rapidly deteriorating is a sign of drug use.
- Someone moving as if he is drunk, but without the smell of alcohol, is possibly high.
- A drunk person who seems to be unusually impaired might also have taken drugs or have been drugged.
- 3 Note unusual or shifting energy. Depending on the drug, a high person might be euphoric, relaxed, anxious and agitated, exhilarated, overconfident, or aggressive. Look for an unusual intensity of mood, or a quickly changing mood. If you know someone well, and she is behaving in an uncharacteristic way, that could be a sign of drug use.
- Sleeplessness and restlessness can be signs that someone is high, as can drowsiness. If you cannot rouse a “sleepy” person, she might have passed out and need medical attention.
- 4 Keep an eye out for unusual actions. If you know someone well, you can tell if he is exhibiting unusually high sociability, lack of inhibition, poor judgment, or an increased or decreased appetite or sex drive. Inappropriate laughter and intense snacking are common signs of marijuana use.
- Someone high on a harder drug might hallucinate, seeing or sensing things that are not there. Delirious, psychotic, or violent behavior all might be caused by drug use.
- Some drugged people appear to have undergone a total personality change.
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- Question How can you recognize if someone is high on painkillers? Founder, Wellness Retreat Recovery Center Tiffany Douglass is the Founder of Wellness Retreat Recovery Center, a JCAHO (Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations) accredited drug and alcohol treatment program based in San Jose, California. She is also the Executive Director for Midland Tennessee at JourneyPure. She has over ten years of experience in substance abuse treatment and was appointed a Global Goodwill Ambassador in 2019 for her efforts in residential addiction treatment. Tiffany earned a BA in Psychology from Emory University in 2004 and an MA in Psychology with an emphasis on Organization Behavior and Program Evaluation from Claremont Graduate University in 2006. Someone who is high on painkillers may slur their speech, have trouble keeping their eyes open, and fall asleep during regular activities. You may also notice that they’re not leaving the house as often or that their work is suffering.
- Question How do you help someone who has an addiction? Founder, Wellness Retreat Recovery Center Tiffany Douglass is the Founder of Wellness Retreat Recovery Center, a JCAHO (Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations) accredited drug and alcohol treatment program based in San Jose, California. She is also the Executive Director for Midland Tennessee at JourneyPure. She has over ten years of experience in substance abuse treatment and was appointed a Global Goodwill Ambassador in 2019 for her efforts in residential addiction treatment. Tiffany earned a BA in Psychology from Emory University in 2004 and an MA in Psychology with an emphasis on Organization Behavior and Program Evaluation from Claremont Graduate University in 2006. Don’t confront them about their addiction. Instead, sit down with them and tell them how you feel. Explain your concerns and try to engage them in a conversation. They’ll be more likely to listen to you and let you help them.
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Advertisement This article was co-authored by, Tiffany Douglass is the Founder of Wellness Retreat Recovery Center, a JCAHO (Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations) accredited drug and alcohol treatment program based in San Jose, California.
She is also the Executive Director for Midland Tennessee at JourneyPure. She has over ten years of experience in substance abuse treatment and was appointed a Global Goodwill Ambassador in 2019 for her efforts in residential addiction treatment. Tiffany earned a BA in Psychology from Emory University in 2004 and an MA in Psychology with an emphasis on Organization Behavior and Program Evaluation from Claremont Graduate University in 2006.
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- Co-authors: 29
- Updated: May 4, 2023
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Categories: | To tell if someone is high, look into their eyes to see if they’re red or watery, or if they move involuntarily, which are all signs of drug use. You should also smell the person to see if you pick up smoke or a sweet scent, which could be a sign they’ve been smoking drugs.
When the person swallows or talks, check if they smack their lips, salivate a lot, or clench their teeth, as these are potential symptoms of being high. Additionally, listen to how they talk, since someone who is high may speak too quickly or have difficulty talking. If you see the person moving around, note if they appear slow or non-responsive to people around them, which suggests that they’ve taken drugs.
Make sure to pay attention to intense emotions, since someone who is high may be euphoric, aggressive, or relaxed. For tips on how to spot the signs of habitual drug use, keep reading!
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 1,213,460 times.
“This was a excellent resource, which is being used by the nurses in this shelter.”
: How to Tell if Someone Is High: 12 Steps (with Pictures)
How do I know if I’m really high?
Signs Someone Is High – Physical signs of marijuana use include red eyes, poor muscle coordination, delayed reaction times, and increased appetite. A sudden shift in mood from tense to relaxed could indicate marijuana use, as could abrupt symptoms of anxiety, panic, and/or hallucinations.
- Marijuana also has a distinctive smell, sometimes described as skunk-like.
- Catching a whiff of this scent on a person’s clothing or hair could also be a sign that the person has used the drug recently.
- At home, at work, or in other places where sobriety is the norm, individuals who are high on marijuana may sometimes go unnoticed.
Oftentimes, people who notice a change in someone may second-guess their initial perception. As part of this process of doubting, people may attribute the concerning behavior to fatigue, illness, or even just an off mood.
Why do I feel high when turned on?
The Second Stage Of Love – Attraction – Feelings of attraction are located in the reward centre of the brain. It’s thought that this explains why the beginnings of relationships make us feel drunk with love and infatuation – because we’re constantly being rewarded.
The attraction stage of love is governed by dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin. Dopamine is released in the brain when we do things that feel good to us. One of these things – is having sex. Both dopamine and norepinephrine can make us feel sort of high. When they’re released we feel euphoric and energetic.
Simple things like eating and sleeping can suddenly become difficult. It is at this stage we also experience a reduction in serotonin, which is a hormone that regulates things like mood and appetite. Interestingly, those who suffer from obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) have lower levels of serotonin.
This has led scientists to discuss whether the obsession in the attraction phase of relationships, is caused by lower levels of serotonin. For a lucky few, these two beginning stages, lust and attraction, never end – even if we reach the third stage. And this is why sexual passion and sexual desire is strong throughout their relationship.
However more commonly, lust and attraction last anywhere from six months to two and a half years, leading us into the third and final stage of love: attachment.