70% of all high school students have used alcohol by the time they are seniors. 50% have used an illegal drug. 20% have used a prescription drug for no medical reason. Drug use in teenagers is hard to detect. Can you smell drugs? If so, what do they smell like? What should I be looking for? Addiction can be mistaken for the uncommunicative and surly stage of being a teenager. If you suspect drug use, look for:
• Poor grades
• Loss of interest in activities
• Changes in friends
• Mood swings
Remember all of the above can be caused by hormones or something unrelated to drugs. One of the best ways to know if your teenager is using drugs is your sense of smell. The smell of drugs is very distinct.
Learning how to recognize these smells can help you catch your teenager and get them help. The smells are not just behind closed doors but often linger on clothing, blankets, backpacks, rugs and curtains.
How Do Methamphetamines Smell?
Smoking meth smells like cleaning products or chemicals. Some people say it smells like burnt plastic. If your teenager is using a lot of meth, their sweat will start to smell like ammonia. Meth or methamphetamine is a highly addictive and dangerous drug. Smoking meth once can kill you. Even small amounts can cause:
• Rapid breathing
• Loss of appetite
• High blood pressure
• Nausea
• Irregular or racing heartbeat
• Increased body temperature
• Disturbed sleep patterns
• Violent, erratic, irritable, bizarre or aggressive behavior
Meth Health Effects
Using meth chronically can cause long term and permanent damage to health even if you stop using methamphetamines. This includes:
• Brain and heart damage
• High blood pressure leading to strokes, heart attacks and death
• Meth mouth
• Lung, kidney and liver damage
• Intense itching causing sores on the skin from scratching
• Insomnia, confusion and anxiety
• Psychotic symptoms including violent behavior, delusions, mood disturbances, hallucinations and paranoia for months or even years
How Does Heroin Smell?
If your teenager’s room smells like it’s been doused in vinegar, they may be smoking heroin. The smell depends on the type of heroin and can be easy or hard to detect. The smell won’t last long. Chronic use of heroin can cause:
• Collapsed veins
• Heart infections
• HIV
• Kidney disease
• Hepatitis
• White matter decay in the brain
• Infertility in women
• Liver disease
• Depression
• Skin infections
• Chronic constipation
• Loss of stress management skills
• Miscarriage
• Pulmonary infections
• Low sex drive
Heroin Side Effects
The most common side effects of heroin are temporary. This doesn’t mean there’s no long term health risk. The most common short term effects of heroin use include:
• Unnatural relaxation
• Slow heart rate and slow breathing
• Trance-like state for 4-6 hours
• Euphoric rush for 3-5 hours
• Small pupils
• Loss of appetite, vomiting and nausea
• Heavy limbs
• Drowsiness • Flushed and warm skin
• Watery eyes and runny nose
• Severe itching
• Confused thinking
If your teenager keeps using heroin, they will eventually become physically dependent on the drug. It doesn’t matter if it’s illegal or legal, the body’s natural response to any drug is physical dependence. The two main effects of physical dependence are withdrawal and tolerance.
The body will adapt to heroin to survive. Tolerance can undermine this. As time goes on, your teenager will need more of the drug to get the same effect.
Tolerance to Heroin
As your teenager increases their heroin dose, the risk to their health increases. Once their body is used to the drug, decreasing the dose or not using heroin will cause withdrawal symptoms. If enough time passes, your child will become physically dependent on heroin. The most common withdrawal symptoms are:
• Restlessness
• Vomiting
• Severe heroin cravings
• Muscle pain
What Does Marijuana Smell Like?
It’s hard to describe the smell of marijuana. But you’ll know it when you smell it. The smell depends on the strain of marijuana. Before it’s smoked, the most common smells are herbal, citrus and pine. After it’s smoked, the smell is like skunk and herbs. According to research, marijuana can affect several systems in the body. The effects of marijuana include:
Neurological Effects of Marijuana
The brain has THC receptors that are overstimulated by smoking marijuana. The result is impaired motor movement, slow or impaired thinking, distorted time perception and altered sense of environment. In some cases, marijuana use can cause psychiatric issues or psychosis including losing touch with reality and having delusions including strong but false beliefs.
Cardiac Effects of Marijuana
Blood clotting is increased by marijuana. This can cause arrhythmias and heart attacks.
Marijuana Pregnancy Risks
Marijuana can harm pregnancy. Using marijuana while pregnant can harm the newborn including physical issues like low birth weight. Cognitive issues can develop as the child grows including attention and learning deficits.
Respiratory Effects of Marijuana
Smoking marijuana no matter the form can harm respiratory health including marijuana smoke. Research shows that many of the toxins in tobacco smoke are also in marijuana smoke. Some of these toxins can cause cancer. Research has linked smoking marijuana to a higher risk of respiratory infections including phlegm production, coughing and bronchitis.
Marijuana Addiction
Smoking marijuana can be addictive. The estimate is 10% of all marijuana users will become addicted. This increases to 16.5% if your teenager started smoking marijuana as an adolescent.
What do Opiate Pills Smell Like?
If your teenager is smoking opiate pills like OxyContin or Percocet, you will smell a sweet smell like burnt marshmallows and sugar. Opiate pain meds are closely monitored by doctors because they often cause side effects including:
• Muscle pain
• Moods change quickly
• Being hyper
• Loss of interest in activities
• Anxiety
• Being cranky or nervous
• Eating less or more than usual
• Vomiting, nausea and diarrhea
• Financial problems
• Feeling extremely sad and tired
• Missing important events or appointments
• Poor hygiene
• Irritability
• Trouble with the law
Many users become majorly addicted to opiate pills. If your teenager is addicted, they will go to great lengths to get opiates. The behavior can harm relationships with family and friends. Your teenager might steal someone’s pills or buy them from a drug dealer on the street. This is dangerous because fentanyl is often laced into opiates.
What does PCP smell like?
If your teenager is smoking PCP, it smells like a permanent marker. Crack cocaine smells like meth. The smell is a combination of chemicals and burning plastic. If your teenager is injecting or smoking PCP, they will feel the effects sooner. PCP has psychological effects including:
• Hallucinations
• Body awareness changes
• Loss of focus • Aggression
• Lethargy
• Sense of detachment
• Coordination loss
• Euphoria
• Memory loss
• Distorted sensory perceptions
• Agitation
• Calmness
• Bizarre behavior
• Disorientation
• Stupor
Orange County, CA Addiction Treatment
Counting on the smell of the drug is not a foolproof solution. Your teenager is smart and will probably try to cover the smell with air fresheners or scented dryer sheets. After smell, your next best bet is to look for the signs of the drug. If you or a loved one is struggling with drug or alcohol addiction, contact us today.
FAQs About Distinct Drug Smells:
What does fentanyl smell like?
Fentanyl is completely odorless. Unlike some substances that have distinct scents, fentanyl has no smell, making it difficult to detect. This lack of scent highlights the importance of recognizing other signs of opioid use, such as behavioral changes, extreme lethargy, or physical symptoms like constricted pupils.
What should you avoid doing if you suspect your child is using drugs?
If you suspect your child is using drugs, avoid acting impulsively. Do not:
- Confront them aggressively or with anger, as this can create resistance.
- Confiscate their belongings without understanding the situation.
- Impose absolute bans without addressing underlying causes.
- Assume full control of their decisions.
- Jump to conclusions without knowing the full story.
Instead, approach the situation with patience, compassion, and a plan to open honest communication.
How can understanding what drugs smell like help detect substance use?
Recognizing the specific smells of certain drugs can serve as an early warning sign of substance use. These odors often linger on clothing, furniture, and personal belongings. By identifying these smells, parents or loved ones can intervene earlier, helping address potential addiction before it escalates.
What are the risks of assuming control if your child is using drugs?
Attempting to control your child’s decisions can often backfire. It may foster secrecy, rebellion, or defiance and damage trust. Addiction is a complex issue that requires support, not control. Instead, focus on creating a compassionate and supportive environment.
What does crack cocaine smell like?
When smoked, crack cocaine produces a strong and unpleasant odor often described as burnt plastic, chemicals, or rubber. This pungent scent is very distinct and sets it apart from other substances, like powdered cocaine, which has a faint or nearly undetectable smell.
What are signs to look for if you suspect drug use?
While smells can indicate drug use, there are other signs to watch for, including:
- Behavioral changes, such as withdrawal, secrecy, or irritability.
- Physical symptoms, like constricted pupils, lethargy, or shakiness.
- The presence of unusual odors on clothing, rooms, or belongings.
- Changes in social circles or academic performance.
What should you do if you suspect your child may be using drugs?
If you suspect drug use, stay calm and:
- Educate yourself about substances and their effects.
- Choose the right moment to discuss your concerns.
- Approach with empathy, avoiding accusations.
- Offer support, ensuring your child feels safe opening up.
- Seek professional help if necessary, such as counselors or rehab services.
How does crack cocaine’s smell compare to other drugs?
Crack cocaine’s odor—described as burning plastic or chemicals—is much stronger than many other drugs. For example, powdered cocaine has little to no smell, while substances like marijuana or methamphetamine have distinctive and often recognizable odors.
Why is it important not to jump to conclusions when suspecting drug use?
Jumping to conclusions without evidence can harm trust and communication. Changes in behavior might be linked to stress, hormones, or unrelated issues. It’s essential to gather facts calmly and focus on supporting your child rather than accusing them prematurely.
What role does smell play in identifying drug use?
Smell can be an essential indicator of drug use, especially with substances that produce strong odors when smoked or consumed. These scents often cling to clothes, rooms, and personal items, helping parents or loved ones identify potential issues early.
Why is fentanyl so dangerous if it has no smell?
Fentanyl’s odorless nature makes it particularly dangerous because it can go undetected, even when mixed with other substances. This lack of smell increases the risk of unintentional ingestion or overdose, as users may not know fentanyl is present.
What’s the difference between powdered cocaine and crack cocaine in terms of smell?
Powdered cocaine has little to no smell, especially when sniffed or ingested. However, crack cocaine, when smoked, produces a strong, pungent odor resembling burning plastic, chemicals, or rubber. This distinct smell is often a key indicator of its use.
