While getting high is associated with drugs that are illegal, the fact is that there are many legal ways kids nowadays can try to get high. But of course, just because something is legal doesn’t mean they are safe. In fact, many of these legal substances can also become incredibly dangerous, and as parents, your task is to ensure you know what these methods are to ensure your kids do not get themselves into unnecessary harm.
So, with that being said, let’s talk about the ways your teens can get high legally:
How Do You Spot Signs Of Your Teens Getting High?
How do you know if your children are getting high? It can be difficult to spot these signs. Keep your eyes open and ask your kids these questions so you can be on the lookout:
– Do you have a sudden change in mood?
– Are you feeling depressed, anxious, or paranoid?
– Have you experienced changes in appetite?
– Have you lost interest in your favorite activities?
– Are you slacking off at school?
These are all questions you can ask them if you believe they are getting high. Of course, they can be caused by many other things and not just getting high alone, so be aware of that.
What Methods Can Kids Use To Get High?
Kids can get high in a number of ways. Some can be dangerous, some can be expensive, and some can be very easy to attain. The following is a list of the different ways that kids can get high:
1. Smoking
Smoking is one of the most common ways that teens can get high. They use everything from cigarettes to pot to cigars. Nicotine is the real culprit here. The nicotine actually activates the “feel good” part of the brain. The amount of nicotine in cigarettes is so high that it causes a chemical reaction in the brain; this is what causes getting high by smoking.
2. Intravenous Injection
Injecting drugs like heroin and cocaine is not uncommon among teens. They get their hands on these needles and syringes and use them to inject themselves with these drugs. The problem with this method is that not only can they hurt themselves, but they can also get infected by the virus.
3. Drinking
Teens will do anything they can to get high. So, some will decide to drink alcohol to get a chemical reaction in their brain. This reaction is what causes the high. The problem is that it doesn’t just happen instantly. It takes many uses of alcohol to get to this point, and by that time, they have taken too much, leaving them passed out.
4. Sniffing
Some kids may sniff different substances to get high. Some of these substances include gasoline, paint, glue, and aerosols. They sniff these substances to cause an altered state of mind, some of which produce a high that can be highly addictive.
What Legal Products Are There That Can Cause A High?
There are a ton of legal products teens can use to get high, and here are just a few examples:
1. Inhalants
Inhalants are the number one cause of teen deaths. Inhalants are cheap, readily available, legal, and easily accessible. There are so many household products, from dust to glue, that can be inhaled to get high. This is why it is so important to keep these products in a secure place and keep inhalants out of reach.
2. Prescription Drugs
Many teens will get prescription drugs from their home medicine cabinet because they know that medications like painkillers and sleeping pills are easy to get. Even if they aren’t prescribed to them, they can still get a hold of them. But that doesn’t mean they are safe. It has been seen that teens who abuse these medications can become addicted quicker than other teens. It only takes them one time to become addicted. This becomes a problem when they start to abuse the drug and take larger doses to get a better high.
3. Foods
Kids can get high by eating foods that have been concentrated in form. Lots of carbonated drinks, chocolate, tea, coffee, and energy drinks can have a very high level of caffeine. These pills and energy drinks can cause manic behavior and anxiousness. Along with those items, other stuff like psychedelic mushrooms, nutmeg, whipped cream canisters, and the like can also cause a high.
4. Dangerous Activities
One activity that many kids may try to do is something called the choking game. Essentially, teens will try to alter their breathing techniques or purposefully choke themselves to the point of passing out to create the sensation of getting high.
What Are The Dangers Of Getting High With Legal Substances?
In addition to being dangerous, these legal ways to get high have a number of risks involved. These are some of the important risks that you need to know about:
1. They Can Be Highly Addictive
Many kids think that if a substance is legal, then it must be safe. That couldn’t be more wrong. What they don’t realize is that the legal substances they are using can become highly addictive and can start major problems down the line.
2. They Can Hinder Their Future
Many times, kids who decide to get high legally do it because they think they won’t get caught. However, when they do get caught and get charged, they can face some serious consequences. The good news is that many teens who get charged end up getting rehabilitated, and they do move on. But not every teen gets that chance.
3. They Can Cause Brain Damage
If a teen is using drugs, then they are depriving their brain of oxygen. This can cause brain damage, and in the long run, this can lead to brain problems.
4. They Can Lead To Overdose
Being able to get high on legal substances may seem amazing when you are a teen because you get to have all of the fun without worrying about the consequences of getting caught. But this isn’t good. When you are using legal substances, you have no way of knowing how your body will react to them. For example, if you take too much of one thing, it can cause an overdose, which can cause your heart to stop beating.
5. They Can Lead To Death
Overdosing is one warning sign of death. When you are taking in a lot of legal substances, it can lead to death. This is why it is so important to keep these substances locked up in a safe place so your teens can’t get to them.
What Better Ways Can I Teach My Kids To Get High?
While that might sound weird, there are actually natural and healthy ways to get your kids high. Things like sleeping well, laughing a lot, exercising, and the like are all-natural ways to boost one’s mind and help them reach the feel-good sensation they so much sought after.
In other words, these activities can help produce euphoric effects without the reliance on dangerous drugs, substances, and other things. Also, by being able to get used to these natural highs, your teens will be less likely to fall into addiction to legal substances or, worse, illegal substances.
Conclusion
As a parent of a child, it is your job to teach them the difference between what is natural and what is unnatural. Only then can they learn to discern between legal and illegal substances. Of course, this is easier said than done. But, it comes with time.
That being said, if you do suspect your child is using drugs, legal or illegal, to get high or catch them in the act, don’t hesitate to act immediately. By ensuring your child gets help as soon as possible, you increase the chances of a successful recovery, allowing them to get back on track with life and ensure they grow into healthy adults that avoid dangerous substances and only ever opt for natural, healthy ways to feel great!