A loved one or friend in your life might be hooked on illegal drugs yet it is not guaranteed you will be aware of the addiction. Learn about the common signs of drug use and you will have a much better idea as to whether someone you hold dear to your heart is struggling with addiction. In particular, it will help to identify the odor of illegal drugs. Every parent should be aware that a drug-addicted tween, teen, or young adult might not have fully functional olfactory senses after extensive use. In plain terms, this means you might be able to smell the drugs your child is using yet he or she might not have suffered a dissipated sense of smell due to excessive use.
If someone you care for is acting differently or if you are suspicious, they might be hooked on an illegal drug: and you are likely wondering, “What do drugs smell like?” It is in your interest to identify the odors of illegal drugs and be particularly cognizant of those odors when interacting with the individual in question. Instead of searching the web for “What do drugs smell like?” or similar terms and sorting through page after page of search results, continue reading below. Let’s take a look at how to best identify the odor of illegal drugs.
The Odor of Marijuana and Cannabis
Marijuana smells similar to a skunk’s spray. However, some strains of marijuana are not as pungent as others. The fresher the marijuana is and the more potent the strain, the stronger it will smell. If you notice your loved one or friend smells similar to a skunk, a pine tree, wood or lemongrass, it is a sign he or she has recently smoked marijuana or is carrying marijuana. The bottom line is different strains of marijuana will have unique smells. Research the different strains of this plant for yourself and you will find each has a fairly idiosyncratic odor that you could easily confuse with cleaning products and even different foods.
Some marijuana also has a floral scent. There is also the potential for the strong floral scent you detect to be the result of the air freshener used in an attempt to mask the smell of marijuana or another illegal substance. If you notice a floral scent in your teenager’s car or an abundance of cleaning products in your teenager’s car, it is a sign he or she might be smoking marijuana or battling substance abuse related to another drug and attempting to hide the odor.
It is also worth noting some individuals find the odor of smoked marijuana similar to that of burnt rope or hot dogs on a grill. Marijuana strains that smell like hot dogs have more of a pleasant odor that can be confused with cooked food. However, a burnt rope smell is much more distinctive and unpleasant. The bottom line is there is an ever-growing number of marijuana strains, meaning it has the potential to smell like several other odorous items.
Add in the fact that synthetic marijuana is chock-full of chemicals and marijuana can smell even differently than many would expect. Most drugs smell fairly distinct yet chemical-laced synthetic marijuana will smell differently than most other substances. If you have any doubt as to whether the odor in question is that of an illegal substance, be safe rather than sorry by researching medical facilities, rehab centers, and treatment facilities near you for substance abuse. Consult with an expert and you will have done your part to help your loved one beat his or her drug addiction, hopefully for good.
Marijuana’s odor is so pungent that those who use it are likely to use excessive spray-on deodorant, air freshener, or incense to conceal the odor. Be mindful of this attempt to cover up the smell and you’ll have that much better of an idea as to whether the individual in your life is using marijuana.
The Smell of Smoking Heroin
An individual smoking heroin might not carry an odor as this substance is typically odorless. It is worth mentioning that heroin can be consumed in forms aside from inhalation. Heroin can be snorted, injected or sniffed. Heroin will be difficult to identify by odor alone. However, if you notice your friend or loved one smells similar to vinegar or acid, it is an indication he or she might be using heroin.
Especially pure heroin smells somewhat sour due to the production process used to make the substance consumable for people. The act of smoking heroin generates a vinegar-like odor, somewhat similar to that created when one uses methamphetamine. The heroin of the brown or black variety is that much more likely to generate an odor yet there is also the potential for additives to be mixed in that alter the odor all the more, rendering it dissimilar to vinegar.
What Does Crack Burning Smell Like?
An individual who uses crack to get high will display some telltale signs including an odor that emanates when burning the substance. Crack smells bad when it is smoked. Most who have whiffed this substance when it burns to testify it smells similar to burning plastic combined with a combination of chemicals. Head on over to a nail salon, inhale deeply and the fumes that enter your nostrils will have a scent similar to that of burning crack.
Crack cocaine is derived from coca plant leaves yet it is often mixed with additional drugs such as synthetic opioids or amphetamine. Some drug dealers even cut the drug with additives such as flour, baking soda, or corn starch to dilute it all the more. Making it even more challenging to identify the odor of this drug is the fact that it is sometimes sprinkled atop tobacco or marijuana, each of which has its own distinct smell.
If you smell anything similar to burning plastic or burning rubber when in the presence of someone you care for, assume the worst and hope for the best. Get your loved one the help he or she needs and it will prove mutually beneficial to both of you in the long run. Furthermore, it is worth mentioning that even if you can’t smell crack when your loved one uses it, you might be able to identify his or her use of the substance by closely observing behavioral changes. Irritability, paranoia, violent behavior, and sensitivity to stimuli are indications of crack substance use.
Does Smoking PCP Have an Odor?
Indeed, PCP has a distinct odor. PCP is a hallucinogen that users typically smoke, generating an odor similar to a permanent marker, ultimately making it that much easier to identify as compared to less odorous illegal substances.
However, PCP can be injected, swallowed, or snorted so there is no guarantee the individual you love will burn it and generate the telltale odor. It is also possible for addicts to sprinkle PCP on tobacco or marijuana prior to smoking it, meaning it will smell similar to those substances.
Detecting Meth Smoke by Smell
As a parent, significant other, or friend of someone you suspect is using drugs, you have every reason to wonder what meth smells like. If you notice someone in your family or social circle smells similar to burnt plastic or cleaning supplies such as vinegar, ammonia, or bleach, it is a sign he or she might be a meth user. Meth has a particularly potent smell that is often carried on clothing yet this odor will not be nearly as strong as that of skunky marijuana. You can detect meth by trailing your youngster in and out of the house and checking for the odors noted above.
Furthermore, if you notice the adolescent you love has a strong body odor due to excessive sweating, it is a sign he or she might be a meth user. Meth users’ sweat might even smell similar to chemicals following heavy illegal substance use. Additional telltale signs of meth use include paranoia, twitching, and hyperactivity.
The Scent of Pills That Can be Smoked
Though some individuals in the Baby Boomer and Greatest Generation age cohorts are unaware of it, the truth is pills that can be smoked emanate a scent. Substance addiction in the United States and beyond really has worsened to the point that youngsters are turning to smoke pills to get high. IN particular, pain killers are being smoked now more than ever before. Percocet, OxyContin, and other pharmaceutical pills create a sugary sweet scent when smoked. Some have compared the odor of these pills to that of sugar when it is burning.
Can You Smell Drugs When Users Sweat?
Yes, it is sometimes possible to detect the odor of drugs when a user sweats. In particular, meth smokers tend to sweat to the point that their body odor smells similar to ammonia or other chemicals.
Usage of Scent-Reducing Tools as Warning Sign
Pay close attention to the individual you care for to determine if they are attempting to conceal the odor of illegal drugs. If your friend or loved one uses deodorant body spray, perfume, cologne, or air freshener at a high frequency, it is a sign he or she is battling substance addiction. The use of scent-reducing tools is an attempt to mask the odor of recent drug use. The frequent use of such scent-reducing sprays is an indication he or she is in desperate need of help in the form of professional drug counseling.
Discovering Drug Use and Offering Help
Identifying the odor of illegal drugs is certainly concerning yet it should also be construed as a latent positive as opposed to a negative. The silver lining is your identification of the odor of an illegal drug sets the stage for your loved one or friend to receive assistance from a drug abuse counselor. It is better to identify the odor of illegal drugs rather than gloss over a loved one’s use due to ignorance of the odors that indicate drug use.
What matters most is that you act in the aftermath of this discovery. Acknowledging your awareness of drug use will certainly be uncomfortable yet it also has the potential to save the life of the person you care about.
If you discover someone you love is using drugs, do not broach the subject with an accusatory tone. Instead, show compassion and understanding. Your loved one or friend desperately needs someone on their side willing to help during this difficult chapter of their life. Do not contact the police to report your loved one’s drug use. Instead, offer a helping hand. Encourage your friend or family member to enroll in a counseling program to beat drug addiction. This initial first step is often the most difficult yet it is essential to getting the person you care about back on the path to productivity, health, and happiness.
Forms of Drug Treatment Available
Drug treatment is available through one-on-one counseling sessions at treatment centers. Some drug addicts prefer group counseling in which others battling addiction meet as a group to discuss their challenges in the context of drug use and the ongoing quest to remain sober. If necessary, prescription medication and other treatment modalities will be considered to help mitigate or even eliminate cravings for the drug in question.
Treating drug addiction starts with a willingness to seek help. If the person you care for is unwilling to ask for help, don’t let them give up. Encourage your family member or friend to obtain treatment including counseling. A slight nudge in the right direction just might be enough to motivate the individual you care for to seek professional assistance that has the potential to turn his or her life around.
However, if necessary, an intervention might be required in which you and fellow family members and/or friends meet together with the drug addict in a group setting to persuade him or her to obtain drug treatment in a professional setting. Such an intervention should include guidance from an experienced drug counselor who understands the best strategies for communicating the importance of treatment to an addict.
Long Term Treatment for Long Term Recovery
The road to sobriety starts with proactively seeking treatment. If you are an addict or if you know someone who is hooked on drugs, you should understand it might take months or even years to beat the addiction. Long-term treatment is available for such individuals. The aim of long-term treatment is to facilitate recovery in the years ahead, even if it takes more than a couple of years to reach the endpoint of sobriety and clean living.
Our drug addiction specialists are here to help individuals battling drug and/or alcohol addiction. Even if the person you care for is hooked on a “soft” drug that is recreationally and medically legal in some states, such as marijuana, you should know it has the potential to ruin his or her life. Instead of assuming the addiction is not a big deal, proactively seek help with the assistance of our drug addiction treatment network. We provide drug addicts with access to an expansive network of drug rehabilitation and detox facilities throughout the United States.
The goal of our long-term treatment program through our network of specialists is to set the stage for long-term recovery that proves permanent. We take pride in helping drug abusers make a clean break from their addiction and never return. Plenty of those who tap into the power of our network live fulfilling and productive lives after getting the needed treatment.
Our network includes drug rehabilitation and treatment centers, alcohol rehabilitation and treatment centers, PHP rehabs, residential treatment facilities, and more. Our network even includes intensive outpatient programs.
Find an Addiction Rehab Center Now
Now that we have answered the commonly asked question of “What do drugs smell like?”, it is time to take action to get your loved one’s life back on course. If you notice the smell of rotten eggs, permanent marker, a sour smell, an acidic smell, crack smells, or any of the other odors noted above, don’t expect an honest answer from your loved one. Those who use substances almost always need a push in the right direction. You can provide exactly that by suggesting local treatment centers.
The road to recovery and genuine happiness starts by asking for professional assistance. Reach out to us today to kick-start your loved one’s recovery or your own recovery and a path will be paved toward rewarding sobriety.
Our team is here to help you find the right addiction rehab center for your loved one’s needs or your own needs. Contact us today at 877-537-1481 or fill out our online contact form for more information about long-term treatment and long-term recovery through our vast network of drug and alcohol treatment centers.
