Drunk vs. High: Key Differences and Symptoms

What Does It Mean to Be Drunk?

Being drunk refers to a state of alcohol intoxication. This happens when someone drinks alcohol and it enters the bloodstream, affecting the brain and central nervous system. Alcohol is a depressant, which means it slows down brain activity and bodily functions. The amount of alcohol consumed, body weight, tolerance, and other factors all play a role in how drunk a person feels.

Symptoms of Being Drunk

Alcohol intoxication produces a range of physical and mental symptoms. These can vary from person to person, but some common signs include:

• Slurred Speech: Alcohol impairs the muscles needed for clear speech, leading to noticeable slurring.
• Impaired Judgment: Decision-making becomes risky or impulsive, often resulting in poor choices or dangerous behavior.
• Loss of Coordination: Walking, standing, or even sitting can become difficult. People may stumble or fall.
• Mood Swings: Alcohol can rapidly shift mood from happiness to anger or sadness, sometimes within minutes.
• Short-Term Effects: These include euphoria, relaxation, slowed reaction time, and reduced inhibitions. As intoxication increases, memory lapses, confusion, and blackouts can occur.
• Physical Symptoms: Nausea, vomiting, flushed skin, and a strong smell of alcohol on the breath are common.
• Alcohol Poisoning: Consuming excess alcohol in a short period can lead to life-threatening symptoms like slowed breathing, unconsciousness, or even death.
• Long-Term Risks: Regular heavy drinking increases the risk of cognitive decline, brain damage, liver disease, and other health problems.

Alcohol’s impact on the central nervous system is profound. It slows reaction time, impairs coordination, and negatively impacts cognitive functioning. Even a single episode of heavy drinking can cause memory loss or blackouts.

What Does It Mean to Be High?

Being high typically refers to the effects of smoking marijuana or consuming cannabis products. Marijuana contains THC, a psychoactive compound that alters brain function. Unlike alcohol, marijuana can act as both a depressant and a mild hallucinogen, depending on the dose and the person.

Symptoms of Being High

The experience of being high on marijuana can vary widely, but common symptoms include:

• Euphoria: Many users feel happy, relaxed, or giggly.
• Altered Perception: Colors, sounds, and time may seem different or distorted.
• Increased Appetite: Often called “the munchies,” users crave snacks or unusual food combinations.
• Dry Mouth and Red Eyes: These are classic physical signs of cannabis use.
• Increased Heart Rate: Marijuana can cause the heart to beat faster than normal.
• Mild Motor Impairment: Some users may feel clumsy or have trouble with coordination, but this is usually less severe than alcohol-induced impairment.
• Anxiety or Paranoia: High doses or certain strains can cause panic or fear, especially in unfamiliar settings.
• Short Term Effects: These include relaxation, laughter, and sometimes confusion or forgetfulness.
• Cognitive Effects: Marijuana can impair short-term memory, attention, and decision-making, especially in high doses or with frequent use.
• Mental Health Issues: Regular use, especially starting in adolescence, is linked to an increased risk of anxiety, depression, and even psychosis in some individuals.

The effects of marijuana on the central nervous system are different from alcohol. While both substances impair cognitive functioning, marijuana is more likely to alter perception and mood, while alcohol is more likely to cause physical impairment and risky behavior.

Key Differences Between Being Drunk and High

While both alcohol and cannabis affect the brain, their outcomes are distinct.

Mental State

• Alcohol can cause emotional instability, aggression, or depression.
• Cannabis can lead to introspection, laughter, or paranoia.

Motor Skills

• Alcohol impairs coordination and balance significantly.
• Cannabis slows reaction time but doesn’t usually cause stumbling.

Cognitive Functioning

• Alcohol intoxication heavily impairs judgment and memory.
• Cannabis affects focus and short-term memory but can also heighten certain thoughts.

Social Behavior

• Drunk individuals may act impulsively or aggressively.
• High individuals are often relaxed, quiet, or highly talkative depending on the strain.

Aftereffects

• Alcohol can lead to a hangover: headaches, dehydration, and nausea.
• Cannabis typically causes fatigue or brain fog with no physical illness.

Overdose Risk

• Overconsumption of alcohol can lead to alcohol poisoning.
• Marijuana has a low overdose risk, but may cause panic or psychosis in rare cases.

Legal and Social Implications

In the United States, alcohol is legal for those 21 and over in all states. Cannabis laws vary by state. Some have legalized both medical and recreational use. Others allow only medical cannabis or prohibit it altogether.

Socially, alcohol tends to be more accepted. Drinking at social gatherings is common. However, cannabis use is becoming more normalized, especially in states where it’s legal.

Employers may test for both substances. Even where marijuana is legal, testing positive can lead to job loss in some workplaces.

Safety Considerations: Drunk vs. High

Both alcohol and marijuana can negatively impact your ability to drive, operate machinery, or make safe decisions. The increased risk of accidents, injuries, and legal trouble is significant for both substances.

Driving

Driving under the influence of alcohol or cannabis is illegal in the United States. Alcohol slows reflexes and impairs judgment, making accidents more likely. Cannabis may cause delayed reaction time and poor depth perception. Both raise the risk of harm.

Addiction Potential

Alcohol has a high addiction potential. Withdrawal can be dangerous or fatal. Cannabis is less addictive, but users can develop dependence. Withdrawal from cannabis includes irritability, insomnia, and appetite changes.

Overdose Risk

Alcohol poisoning can be fatal. It occurs when the body cannot process the amount of alcohol consumed. In contrast, while cannabis may cause extreme discomfort or panic, it is unlikely to cause death on its own.

Additionally, using alcohol and marijuana together can amplify impairment and increase the risk of overdose, accidents, and addiction.

Mental Health and Long-Term Risks

Both substances can contribute to mental health issues. Alcohol use is linked to depression, anxiety, and increased risk of suicide. Marijuana use, especially in young people, can increase the risk of psychosis, anxiety, and depression.

Long-term use of either substance can lead to addiction. Alcohol use disorder and cannabis use disorder are recognized medical conditions. Chronic use of either can negatively impact relationships, work, and overall quality of life.

High vs. Drunk: Which is More Dangerous?

The answer depends on the context and amount of use. Excess alcohol can cause immediate life-threatening conditions like alcohol poisoning, while marijuana overdose is rarely fatal. However, both substances can impair judgment, increase risk-taking, and lead to long-term health problems if misused.

Mixing the two increases the risk even more. People who drink alcohol and smoke marijuana together are more likely to use higher amounts of both, leading to greater impairment and a higher chance of developing addiction or experiencing negative health effects.

Can You Be Drunk and High at the Same Time?

Yes, you can be drunk and high at the same time, a state often referred to as being “cross-faded.” This occurs when alcohol and marijuana are used simultaneously, leading to a combined intoxication that can intensify the effects of both substances.

Alcohol and Marijuana Rehab Near Me

Understanding the differences between being drunk and high is essential for making informed decisions. Both substances affect the central nervous system in unique ways.

Alcohol intoxication leads to physical impairment and higher overdose risk. Being high on marijuana alters perception and thought but carries fewer physical dangers. Still, both can impair judgment, reduce coordination, and increase the risk of accidents or long-term issues.

If you or someone you know struggles with alcohol or marijuana use, seek help from a medical professional or addiction specialist. Our Scottsdale drug and alcohol rehab facilities provide personalized, comprehensive treatment for people struggling with substance use disorder.

Making informed choices can help protect your health and the health of those around you. Talk to an addiction specialist today.