Getting High Without Drugs
In This Article
Most parents know to be on the lookout for signs their child is using drugs. Many understand the dangers of using recreational drugs such as cannabis, alcohol, heroin, or prescription medications.
However, few know the dangers their kids face when getting high without drugs or alcohol. Many things inside your home that can produce a dangerous high but are thought of as safe, everyday items. Parents are usually unaware of the risks these items pose.
13 Ways to Get High Without Drugs or Alcohol
Did you know that there are at least 13 ways to get high without alcohol or drugs? Many products that produce a high can be found in your home and are often easily accessible to your children. These include
Did you know there are at least 13 ways to get high without alcohol or drugs? Many products that produce a high can be found in your home and are often easily accessible to your children. These include
1. Keyboard Cleaners/Aerosol Sprays
Using inhalants or huffing produces an immediate rush of euphoria, which leads to delusions or hallucinations. These products have chemicals such as butane, propane, methylal, dioxolane, and other solvents.
2. Gas
Inhaling fumes from gas is another way to get high. You may feel dizzy or light-headed after inhaling these fumes because they directly impact the central nervous system.
3. Paint Thinners
Similar to gas, fumes of paint thinners are inhaled to achieve intoxication. The two chemicals in paint thinners, toluene and xylene, offer similar effects to those of alcohol. You may feel a euphoric high due to the dopamine rush in your system.
4. Nutmeg
When consumed in larger-than-normal amounts, nutmeg produces feelings of sedation, floating, delirium, and hallucinations. Side effects include vomiting and diarrhea.
5. Frogs
Licking the Bugo Alvarius toad or “DMT Frog” produces feelings of intoxication similar to using the drug DMT. In addition to the high, the other chemicals in the toad’s secretions can interfere with cardiovascular function.
6. Garden Seeds
Some garden seeds (morning glory flowers) can be soaked in water to create a psychoactive beverage and produce effects similar to what one would experience when using LSD.
7. Mushrooms
Psychedelic mushrooms not only produce a high but can also be dangerous to consume, especially when inexperienced teens are sampling wild mushrooms in hopes of finding one that will get them high.
8. Whipped Cream
Teens use canisters containing nitrous oxide to produce a high through inhaling. In addition to the high, teens misusing canisters experience nausea, vomiting, dizziness, shivering, fatigue, and sweating.
9. Choking
Teens will play the Choking Game or alter their breathing techniques to the point of passing out to produce a high. Choking can cause you to feel light-headed because of the lack of oxygen reaching your brain.
10. I-Dosing
Some videos or audio recordings on the internet claim to produce a “digital high.” These recordings include binaural beats created by playing different frequencies in each ear.
11. Caffeine Supplements
Misusing caffeine pills by taking too many or combining them with other substances can result in a high that also puts teens at risk for other health problems, including panic attacks.
12. Diet Pills
Diet pills are mixed with other substances to enhance or intensify a high. Some diet pills also contain Amphetamines, which are stimulants that can be highly addictive. Many teens who have eating disorders also abuse this substance.
13. Cough Syrup
Cough syrups containing dextromethorphan or DXM can produce a high that includes sedation and hallucinations. In addition to the high, this can lead to cardiovascular issues.
Summary
Kids can get high without using drugs or alcohol. There are seemingly harmless items found in your home that can produce a dangerous high. These include cleaners/sprays, gas, paint thinners, nutmeg, frogs, garden seeds, mushrooms, whipped cream, cough syrup, and many more.
Using Alcohol to Get High
Another common way kids get high is by using/abusing alcohol.
If you have alcohol in your home, consider whether your child is drinking from the bottle and refilling it with another liquid, so the amount of liquor in the bottle appears the same. Kids might also vaporize alcohol and smoke it. They won’t smell as if they’ve been drinking, but they’ll get intensely drunk quickly.
Additionally, kids don’t even need access to liquor to get high from alcohol. Items in your home that can produce a high or drunkenness include:
- Hand sanitizers
- Mouthwash
- Flavored extracts used for baking or cooking
In addition to producing a high, these substances are dangerous to consume in large quantities due to their ingredients other than alcohol.
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Dangers of Getting High Without Drugs
Although the products used to produce these at-home highs might be safe when used appropriately, many are dangerous when used to get high without drugs.
Some of the risks associated with getting high without drugs include:
- Cognitive damage
- Poor academic performance
- Developmental delays
- Problems with mental health
- Relationship damage
- Long-term addiction struggles
Although it might seem as if using household items to get high is not as dangerous as using drugs, even first time experiences can result in brain damage.
Summary
Alcohol is not the only thing that can cause drunkenness. Mouthwash, hand sanitizers, and food flavoring can also cause a high. Getting high, even without the use of drugs or alcohol, can lead to cognitive damage, poor school performance, developmental delays, and many more.
Teen Drug Use Statistics
35
Percent
Of high schoolers have tried marijuana.3
1 in 3
12th Graders
Have reported vaping in the last month.3
2.8
Percent
Of high schoolers use over-the-counter cough and cold medications to get high.3
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All-Natural Ways to Get High
Thankfully, there are a few things you can do to produce euphoric effects without drugs. Many people find that they no longer have a need for a chemical high when they learn how to achieve a healthy rush of dopamine or adrenaline, similar to a high.
Here's how to "get high" without drugs:
- Exercise, especially running or dancing
- Volunteering and practicing selfless acts of kindness
- Sleeping well
- Laughing
These activities can also improve your self-esteem and help you avoid using products that are bad for your health and wellness. They are safe ways to experience a "natural high."
Summary
If you're a parent, you should be aware of the different ways your child can get high without drugs. Most of these items are easily accessible to kids, and several risks are associated with using these items inappropriately. If your kid is suffering from substance abuse, it's best to seek professional help immediately.
What's Next?
Resources
- “Is This Where Your Teen Goes to Get High?” FDA, 2018.
- “Synthetic Cathinones (‘Bath Salts’).” National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2018.
- “The National Institutes of Health Key Findings on Adolescent Drug Use 2019 Overview.” Monitoring the Future, National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2019.
- McLellan, AT. "Substance Misuse and Substance use Disorders: Why do they Matter in Healthcare?" Trans Am Clin Climatol Assoc, 2017.
- Nawi, AM, Ismail, R, Ibrahim, F, et al. "Risk and protective factors of drug abuse among adolescents: a systematic review." BMC Public Health, 2021.
- "Rise in Prescription Drug Misuse and Abuse Impacting Teens." Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2022.
