How to tell if someone is high on drugs, what you can do to help

health

by Mark Lalanilla

With the holidays in full swing, people are seeing friends, relatives, and co-workers that look a little…different than usual.

On a cold winter night, their faces may be glistening with sweat. Or you can't stop licking your lips. Perhaps they chatter incessantly, or perhaps they don't speak at all.

Experts say these and other traits could just be holiday stress, or they could be signs of drug use.

And combining alcohol and drugs at holiday gatherings can be especially dangerous.

“Alcohol, sedatives, opiates, barbiturates, and benzodiazepines are extremely dangerous.” Emily Skoglund, Clinical Pharmacist, Oregon Health & Science Universityhe told the Post.

Skoglund said when it comes to alcohol, “the risk of harm is much greater.” Although teenagers and young adults are often cited as drug users, older adults who may not be able to metabolize prescription drugs well are also at risk.

“The reality is that anyone can overdose at once,” Skogard said. And since many prescription drugs have legitimate uses, don't jump to conclusions about who is using what and why, and to some extent if someone is showing signs of abusing them. Please be cautious.

If you're dealing with someone who may have overdosed, instead of ignoring them or your concerns, give them a ride home or use a carpool service like Uber or Lyft. Please suggest something.

But if you're worried about a friend or family member who needs help with their drug use, remember that they may not be aware that their drug (or alcohol) habit is becoming a problem. Put it down please.

experts in Oregon Trail Restoration and other organizations point out that while it can be difficult to know what you can do and how to cope, most people overcome problems with drugs before they cause harm. .

If opioids such as fentanyl or prescription painkillers such as oxycodone or hydrocodone may be involved, Dr. Skoglund recommends taking advantage of the fact that Narcan (naloxone) can help prevent overdoses. .

Naloxone is now readily available as a nasal spray or injection at many drugstores in New York, New Jersey, and many other states without a prescription.

“If you have a mix of different substances and one of them happens to be an opiate, naloxone may be helpful,” Skoglund said.

Here are some of the most widely used drugs (prescription, recreational, and illegal) you're likely to encounter.

Benzodiazepines

Benzodiazepines are among the most commonly prescribed drugs and are nervous system depressants. It can be abused by people seeking relaxation, trying to sleep, or looking for ways to manage stress and anxiety. According to the Indiana State Department of Health.

Valium (diazepam), Xanax (alprazolam), Ativan (lorazepam), Klonopin (clonazepam), and Librium (chlordiazepoxide) are commonly prescribed “benzos.”

More than 30 million U.S. adults report benzodiazepine use, but abuse of these drugs (especially among people ages 18 to 25) accounts for 17% of all benzodiazepine use. According to the 2019 report.

“When someone becomes dependent on benzos, they suddenly stop, which can be a problem,” Skoglund noted.

People who use or abuse benzodiazepines or barbiturates may experience the following signs:

K2 and spices

K2 and Spice are synthetic cannabinoid drugs that can be sprayed onto dried herbs, smoked, prepared as herbal teas, or vaporized in electronic cigarettes.

Far from being a “natural” substitute for marijuana, these man-made drugs are illegal in most states, have unknown composition, and can be dangerous because they can contain any number of substances. According to the Mayo Clinic.

Signs of recent use include:

bath salts

Synthetic cathinones, commonly referred to as “bath salts,” are mind-altering substances that have effects similar to amphetamines (MDMA), such as ecstasy.

Eating, smoking, inhaling, or injecting highly addictive bath salts can cause severe poisoning, resulting in the following health effects or death: There is a possibility.

crystal scalpel

Crystal meth is methamphetamine in the form of rock-like crystals, usually opaque white or light blue. It can be sucked, snorted, or injected. According to the American Addiction Center.

Regardless of how they are used, stimulants cause a rapid high that can last for several hours. Strong stimulants can cause symptoms such as:

Ecstasy/MDMA

This synthetic drug is chemically similar to both stimulants and hallucinogens, producing feelings such as increased energy, joy, emotional warmth, and distorted perception of time.

Popular at raves, nightclubs, and other events, it is sometimes referred to as molly. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. People using ecstasy may exhibit symptoms such as:

opioid

Opioids (narcotic painkillers made from opium or synthetically manufactured) include heroin, morphine, codeine, methadone, fentanyl, and oxycodone.

Opioids can be highly addictive, and people using opioids may need a doctor-prescribed drug replacement to treat their addiction. Signs of opioid use and dependence include:

marijuana

Marijuana, or cannabis, is a widely used recreational drug that is currently legal in many states, but remains illegal at the federal level.

More than 48 million people, or about 18% of Americans, used it at least once in 2019, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Signs of use are: