Over the past few years, getting high has significantly increased in popularity, surpassing both drinking alcohol and smoking cigarettes. According to the statistics of the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 48 million people over the age of 12 have tried marijuana. That roughly translates to 22.2 million users a month. Given these numbers, people have gotten more creative with how they get high. Some people may not be aware of this, but there are actually weird ways to get high, and if you think that marijuana is the only way for someone to be stoned, think again. Weird ways to get high
1. Licking toads
No one in their right mind would think of licking a toad but -- surprise! -- some people actually do this. The thing is, people are not going to parks and picking up toads and licking them to gross out their significant others —they do it to get high. In the United States, the Colorado river toad is one of the unfortunate amphibians being licked to get high. People seem to be so hooked on “Toad Venom” due to the psychedelic trip it offers. So much so that the National Park Service issues a warning in early November, asking people to stop licking another psychedelic toad, the Sonoran desert toad, which secretes enough toxin to kill an adult dog. Muscle weakness, vomiting, and an accelerated heart rate are to be anticipated in exchange for that psychedelic experience. Let's be clear -- we do not recommend licking toads to get high in any way!2. Glue and adhesives
Just when you think that it could not get any worse than licking toad venom, people find other ways to get high through common household items such as adhesives. It is easy to think of the reason why some choose to snort glue to get high—it is affordable and easily accessible. Those who use this to get high typically choose solvent glues as their inhalant. According to Healthline, model glue and rubber cement are often the forms of solvent glue that are consumed by those who want to get high. Sadly, young teens are the main demographic of users who prefer to use glue and adhesives to get high. The majority of the time, the curiosity of minors leads them into life-threatening situations. The dangers this demographic exposes itself to are acute respiratory failure, brain failure, and heart rhythm disturbances. 3. Tampons
Another teen fad is getting high by boiling tampons and consuming the concoction to get baked. This trend can be seen from all parts of the world, which makes it more alarming. This is one of the strangest (and arguably nastiest) ways to get high. If you think drinking the juices from an unused tampon is strange, then you are in for a treat because this is just the tip of the iceberg for this trend. Desperate users will resort to used tampons and other menstrual products like napkins just to get high. There have been reports of people sifting through trash just to get their hands on it—literally. The reason why people keep turning to this kind of method is because of the effects it gives to people, which, according to the Indonesian Drug Agency, make users feel as if they are “flying.” On top of that, it also makes users hallucinate. The kicker: No one knows what it is about the concoction that produces this mind-altering effect. Needless to say, also not recommended.
4. Hand sanitizers
Most hand sanitizers contain 62% of ethyl alcohol, and teens use this to their advantage for getting high. Their method is simple; they use salt to separate the alcohol from the sanitizer component. The liquid they end up with is what they use to get high. Hand sanitizers are easy to get and cheap, so it is no surprise why teens go for this kind of medium to get themselves stoned. Loss of smell, hallucinations, nausea, vomiting, lightheadedness, worsened respiratory conditions, poor judgment, chemical burns in the nose, and mood swings are the side effects of ingesting hand sanitizer in exchange for getting high. People have died from doing this, and we are adamantly against the practice of consuming hand sanitizer.
5. Nutmeg
Nutmeg is often used to add more flavors to sweet and savory dishes, but were you aware that this particular ingredient is used for getting high? A certain chemical in nutmeg causes people to feel high when taken in certain doses. The majority of people have access to nutmeg since it can mostly be bought in supermarkets. These are well-liked not only for their accessibility but also for the results they have on those who use them to try to get high. There is what we call "nutmeg poisoning," which happens when one consumes too much nutmeg. The result may be heart palpitations, fatigue, nausea, anxiousness, or dizziness. Looking for alternative ways to get high can be dangerous business. As they told you in elementary school: Just say no.
Advertising disclosure: We may receive compensation for some of the links in our stories. Thank you for supporting LA Weekly and our advertisers.
