Identifying the Odors of Drug Use
If you think someone you know is using drugs, you can do a number of things to confirm your suspicions. One potential option is paying attention to the telltale odors of drug use. Not all drugs have a distinctive odor. In addition, not all forms of a given drug have the same odor. However, by knowing what drugs can potentially smell like, you increase the odds that you can detect them.
You also increase the odds that you can help a loved one affected by drug abuse or addiction. This is vitally important. The sooner your friend or family member gets help, the sooner they can recover from the many harms of addiction. Effective treatment is available for even the most serious drug problems.
The Importance of Detecting Drug Odors
Why is it important to know what drugs smell like? This knowledge can help you in a number of ways. First, most people who use drugs take at least some steps to conceal their behavior. This is true, in part, because – with limited exceptions for marijuana – drug use is illegal. A person who uses drugs may also want to hide their actions from:
- Parents
- Other family members
- Teachers
- Employers
The smell of drugs can alert you to their use, even in the absence of other signs. By learning the difference between drug odors, you may also be able to tell which specific substance is being used. In addition, the smell of drugs can indicate that your loved one needs help from a treatment program.
What Does Heroin Smell Like
Heroin is usually injected or nasally inhaled. However, it can also be smoked. When smoked, the drug may have a sharp, acidic odor. You may also notice a smell that resembles household vinegar. Be aware that these are generalizations. Any given batch of heroin may have a smell that varies somewhat from the expected norm.
What Does Cocaine Smell Like
Cocaine is a single stimulant drug with two distinctive forms: a powder and the rock-like substance known as crack. Powdered cocaine can vary in smell depending on the chemicals used to process it. Examples of these chemicals include kerosene and ether.
For decades, drug dogs have been trained to detect the drug by targeting the smell of methyl benzoate. This substance is found in all powdered cocaine. It has a smell often described as resembling flowers or fruit.
What Does Crack Smell Like
Crack is made by further processing powdered cocaine. When smoked, it tends to smell at least somewhat like the chemicals used to make it. In addition, it has a smell most often equated with burning plastic.
What Does Meth Smell Like
Meth is methamphetamine, a stimulant chemically related to amphetamine. A range of chemicals may be used to make the drug. When smoked, its smell may resemble those chemicals. In addition, meth smoke may smell like:
- Burning plastic
- Household cleaners
You may also be able to detect an ammonia-like smell in the sweat of someone who uses meth.
What Does PCP Smell Like
PCP is a common abbreviation for the hallucinogenic drug phencyclidine. You may also see the same drug referred to as angel dust. PCP can injected, swallowed or nasally inhaled. However, most people who use the drug smoke it. When smoked, PCP has a distinctive odor that resembles permanent marker fumes.
What Does Weed Smell Like
Weed is a common slang term for marijuana, a drug made from dried cannabis plants. Before and after it is burned, marijuana tends to have a powerful smell. In its unburned state, it has a complex odor sometimes describes as:
- Weedy
- Piney
- Vegetal
- Mildly skunk-like
When smoked, it can smell like burning rope with spicy or floral overtones. However, there is great variation in the exact smell of the drug. The smell of burned marijuana tends to linger long after its smoke disappears.
How to Help a Loved One With The Drug Use
If you find out your loved one is using drugs, what do you do next? Addiction specialists recommend doing a few things to help them. These things include:
- Telling them about your concerns regarding their drug use
- Educating yourself on addiction and its impact
- Taking a compassionate and loving attitude toward them
- Recognizing that professional treatment is crucial to their recovery
- Encouraging them to seek help
- Supporting their attempts to get help in any way you can
- Continuing to support them once they enter treatment
Experts also strongly recommend that you avoid doing things that can hurt rather than help. Such things include preaching to or arguing with your loved one. They also include guilt-tripping or shaming them. In addition, you should avoid making excuses for your loved one’s behavior or ignoring it.
Locating Effective Drug Treatment
All drug problems can be effectively treated with the right kinds of recovery options. Depending on the drug your loved one is using, those options may include:
- Psychotherapy
- A combination of psychotherapy and medication
Not all therapies and medications work equally well in all circumstances. Instead, your friend or family member needs options suited to their particular form of addiction. In addition, these options must be customized to meet their specific situation. Finally, reputable rehabs only use treatments that are known to work for many affected people.
When you familiarize yourself with these principles, finding effective drug treatment becomes an easier task. Another thing to keep in mind is the convenience of treatment. Generally speaking, your loved one is more likely to enter a program located nearby.
Also pay attention to the levels of treatment offered by local drug rehabs. Your loved one may need one of several levels of outpatient care. They may also need residential care. Make sure that rehabs in your area offer suitable options.
Using Insurance Coverage for Rehab
Can you use insurance coverage for rehab? Yes. Today, substance treatment is classified as an essential form of healthcare. As a result, the vast majority of insurance plans cover this treatment. However, not all plans offer the same amount of coverage. Your plan may or may not pay for specific treatment options. It may also limit the amount of time you can stay in treatment without paying for it yourself. Check your policy to learn more about the details of your coverage.
Find Long-Term Sobriety Today With Pathfinders
What do drugs smell like? The answer to this question depends on the drug in question. It may also vary from case to case for any given substance. Awareness of the telltale odors of drugs can help you spot substance use in your loved ones. In turn, awareness of your loved one’s drug use can help you get them started on their journey toward recovery.
Have more questions about how to detect drug use? Talk to the experts at Pathfinders. We can answer those questions and give you a clearer picture of your loved one’s situation.
Need help for someone affected by serious drug problems? At Pathfinders, we provide specialized treatment for all forms of addiction. No matter the extent of your loved one’s drug use, we have treatment options that will support their long-term recovery. For more information on recovery at Pathfinders, contact us today.
