The giveaway signs YOUR loved one is on drugs: From cocaine, ketamine, ecstasy and even magic mushrooms – these are the telltale clues in someone’s eyes, behaviour and toilet habits

With around three million people in the UK admitting they took illegal drugs in the past year, it’s clear that drug-use is becoming ever more normalised.

Across every sector of society, from young party-goers to students and from professionals to retirees and middle-class mums, it’s no longer unusual to find people under the influence – on nights out, at festivals, concerts and even dinner parties.

According to the latest Crime Survey for England and Wales, among the 8.7 per cent of people aged 16 to 59 who had taken drugs in the past year, cocaine and cannabis were the most popular.

But many people are also experimenting with other drugs which are increasingly easy to obtain – such as ketamine and magic mushrooms.

Yet while many may see their drug-use as harmless and recreational – sometimes even as therapeutic or beneficial – their friends and family members may be concerned about the physical and mental dangers, plus the risks of dependency and addiction.

Earlier this month, Hollywood actor Barry Keoghan admitted that he had been to rehab three times and nearly died due to substance abuse. 

The 32-year-old Saltburn star said that ‘technically did die for a few seconds’ due due to excessive cocaine use.

It is dangers like this which is why, according to Zaheen Ahmed, director of therapy at UK Addiction Treatment Centres, the largest private drug and alcohol treatment provider in the UK, it’s crucial to be aware of any changes in their mood or behaviour.

He explained there are key signs that someone is currently taking a particular drug – but there are also some more subtle indicators that they are becoming regular users.

He said: ‘Illegal drugs are everywhere, in all parts of the country and all walks of life. Stroll through any city and you can’t escape the smell of cannabis. In some circles, taking cocaine is now as common as drinking alcohol. Ketamine is popular among the younger generation, and while MDMA and Ecstasy aren’t quite as prevalent as they used to be, they are still widely used.

‘When someone regularly takes one of these drugs, there are several clues – as well as the signs they are actively under the influence.’

He explained that drug-users might require immediate medical help while intoxicated – or else longer-term support if their drug-use becomes problematic.

He added: ‘It’s important to know what they’re taking.’

Here The Daily Mail highlights the tell-tale signs that someone is using some of the most common drugs….

Cocaine

One giveaway that someone is using cocaine is if they regularly disappear for a few minutes – then come back unnaturally energetic.

If they keeping nipping to the toilets or making excuses to head off to another room, it’s possible they’re snorting a line of the Class A drug.

Anyone obsessively guarding their wallet, purse or handbag may be worried about losing their stash – or else concerned that someone will find it.

They may also appear furtive and shifty if they feel people around them might disapprove of their drug use.

Traces of white powder in the nose, making then sniff a lot, are an obvious clue – but so is their changed behaviour.

As the stimulant is absorbed through the mucous membranes, it enters the bloodstream, accelerating signals between brain and body, and causing a flood of dopamine – the neurotransmitter associated with pleasure.

Within five minutes, users typically experience a euphoric rush, appearing excitable, hyper-alert, and talkative. They can also display paranoia, recklessness and aggression.

Mr Ahmed said: ‘The change is obvious. The person is different to how they normally are, suddenly becoming agitated and hyperactive.’

As the drug diminishes their appetite, they may lose interest in food. They may also seem tense – chewing their cheeks or biting their lips.

Another visible indicator is dilated pupils – where the dark circles in the centre of the eyes become larger than normal and don’t shrink, even when exposed to light.

With their nervous system stimulated by the highly-addictive Class A drug, the user’s heart rate and blood pressure can spike dramatically – making them look flushed and sweaty.

They might also seem more than usually interested in sex. Mr Ahmed said: ‘It affects the pleasure centres in the brain. After the initial high fades, people often become desperate for sexual release.’

The immediate effects of cocaine last around half an hour – before they either need another line to maintain their high or else suffer the harsh comedown. Anyone regularly using cocaine is likely to display periods of fatigue, irritability and anxiety as the drug leaves their system – as well as a craving for more.

Ketamine

The immediate effects of ketamine are dramatic and obvious – but the signs that someone is using it regularly can be more subtle.

While directly under the influence of a high dose of the drug, the most alarming indication is that they become motionless, and apparently trapped in a trance-like state.

But over time, using ketamine can also make people depressed and unsociable – as well as making it painful for them to go for a pee.

Developed as a medical anesthetic in the 1960s, ketamine has become a popular recreational drug, particularly for younger people, mixing a strong sedative effect with powerful hallucinations.

The Class B drug kicks in within 30-60 minutes if swallowed as a clear liquid, or within 15 minutes if snorted as a powder.

Depending on dose, users can experience detachment and numbness – or else plunge into a mind-bending paralysis known as a ‘K-hole’.

Even at a low dose, they seem spaced-out and in a dream-like condition, with slurred speech thanks to the sedative effect.

Disorientation and loss of co-ordination can result in users putting themselves in dangerous situations, while the anaesthetic effect means they can injure themselves without even noticing.

Mr Ahmed said: ‘Another danger is falling into a K-hole, where a person feels completely disconnected from their body and reality, and unable to move. It’s a very deep, dark, place of sadness and depression. Their impression of time can be wildly distorted, and they can become paralytic – as though stuck in a trance – which can be terrifying.’

Although remaining conscious, users may be breathing slowly or shallowly, staring into space and apparently completely detached from their surroundings.

While the short-term effects of ketamine typically wear off within an hour, users may continue to display longer-term symptoms.

Mr Ahmed said: ‘Users often describe gaps in their memory; generally they become less sociable and hide themselves away from other people. With repeated use, these after-effects can build into longer-term problems such as cognitive decline or depression.’

As well as seeming distant or not ‘present’ in conversations, regular users may lose interest in things they previously enjoyed.

Prolonged use of ketamine can also damage the bladder and the kidneys – which can make people need to pee more frequently or become incontinent. Some have described pain so intense that it feels like ‘peeing broken glass.’

MDMA/Ecstasy

A delirious outpouring of love is often the biggest clue someone has taken MDMA – but the brutal comedown may leave them tearful and depressed.

A person who is regularly taking the drug may seem unfocused or flat – and only capable of getting excited about the prospect of their next night out or party.

Swallowed or rubbed into the gums as a white-grey powder, or taken in the form of an Ecstasy pill, MDMA is a man-made psychoactive substance that is both a stimulant and a mild hallucinogen. It kicks in within 30 minutes to half an hour, boosting levels of neurotransmitters in the brain such as serotonin and dopamine – producing feelings of euphoria, increased sociability, and heightened senses.

Mr Ahmed said: ‘It’s easy to spot someone who has taken MDMA or Ecstasy – they seem loved-up and energised. They will want to hug people and tell them they love them.

‘The drug amplifies all their senses and emotions, so they may feel intense love and affection. But if they become upset or feel rejected, the intensity of their sadness will be multiplied ten-fold too.’

As a result, taking MDMA can make some people feel anxious, confused, and paranoid, believing someone is trying to hurt them or is plotting against them.

Because it stimulates the nervous system, MDMA produces some similar effects to cocaine – a surge of energy, raised heart rate and blood pressure, plus dilated pupils and, often, a clenched jaw and grinding of the teeth.

It also interferes with the regulation of body temperature – which can lead to dangerous over-heating and insatiable thirst.

Mr Ahmed said: ‘They might say they feel hot and pour water on themselves to cool down. Or they might say they’re thirsty and drink large amounts of water.’

As the body over-heats, users can suffer muscle breakdown as well as kidney, liver, and heart damage. If they drink too much water they can also end up with a condition called hyponatraemia, where sodium levels are over-diluted, causing nausea, headaches, confusion and even seizures.

The immediate effects of the Class A drug last three to six hours, followed by a comedown lasting several days.

After the disruption to their dopamine levels, users might seem flat or depressed, anxious or exhausted.

As well as struggling to concentrate or remember things, they may well show signs of insomnia or disturbed sleep.

And although the drug is not regarded as directly addictive, users can develop a psychological dependence, losing interest in hobbies or relationships, obsessively focusing instead on the next opportunity to take the drug and once again experience the euphoria it brings.

Cannabis

If someone has constantly bloodshot eyes and seems increasingly unmotivated, it may be a sign they are regularly using cannabis.

Another clue may be the pungent smell of the drug clinging to their hair and clothes – and even seeping out in their sweat.

Often touted by users as a way of relieving pain, stress, or anxiety, it can cause a wide-range of short-term effects, from giggling and lethargy to full-blow psychosis.

Usually smoked or vaped, the psychoactive compounds in the Class B drug enter the bloodstream through the lungs in under two minutes.

The visible symptoms are related to THC – or tetrahydrocannabinol – a compound which binds to receptors in the brain and triggers the release of dopamine to create the feeling of being ‘high’.

Signs someone has been smoking recently may include unprompted silliness, fits of the giggles, relaxation or disinhibition.

At a physical level, THC causes vasodilation, or widening of the blood vessels, which boosts flow to the capillary vessels in the eyeball – meaning red and bloodshot eyes.

It can cause a sudden drop in blood pressure, leading to a ‘whitey’ – where a person feels dizzy and light-headed. As well as feeling nauseous, they may look pale and sweaty.

Other areas of the brain – responsible for short-term memory, co-ordination, and decision-making – are also affected.

Mr Ahmed said: ‘This is what makes a person seem “stoned”… They may be chilled out, lethargic and unmotivated. Their speech may seem slurred, their reaction times may seem slower, and they may struggle to keep track of conversation.’

While it usually causes relaxation, high doses of THC can lead to paranoia and anxiety.

Mr Ahmed said: ‘In susceptible individuals, THC can produce drug-induced psychosis, creating symptoms similar to schizophrenia. A person might be convinced someone is out to get them or that their partner is cheating on them. They can become dangerously delusional.’

Less seriously, cannabis also causes ‘the munchies’ – a sudden, intense craving for food.

The short-term effects of cannabis typically last up to an hour – although THC remains in the body for longer.

Mr Ahmed said: ‘Cannabis stays in the system for up to 30 days, and the smell can come out in a person’s sweat.’

More generally, the pungent smell of cannabis provides another clue someone is using the drug – either in the air when they smoke it, or on hair, clothing, and furniture. Users may also attempt to mask it with perfume, aftershave or incense.

Although cannabis can be medically prescribed, it is usually at a lower dose.

For regular recreational users, however, there are range of possible side-effects.

Mr Ahmed said: ‘It can impact on studies or work performance and put strain on relationships. People can become demotivated, content with doing nothing, and losing interest in long-term goals.’

As well as constant bloodshot eyes, users may seem tired and sluggish, while struggling with memory and concentration.

Being without the drug may leave them irritable or anxious. And as a result of regularly smoking it, they can also develop respiratory symptoms such as a cough or wheeze.

Magic mushrooms

The signs that someone is regularly taking magic mushrooms can vary depending on who is using them – and why.

While some people deliberately consume large doses to trigger a full-blown psychedelic ‘trip’, a current trend is to ‘micro-dose’ – where smaller amounts are taken, supposedly to aid relaxation or boost mental health.

However both can lead to cause longer-term changes in behaviour – and potential risks.

According to Mr Ahmed, the symptoms displayed by someone experiencing vivid hallucinations after taking magic mushrooms can resemble mental illness.

The fungi – which can grow wild or be deliberately cultivated – contain the naturally occurring psychoactive compound psilocybin.

When the mushrooms are eaten or brewed as tea, psilocybin converts to psilocin and activates receptors in the brain responsible for sensory perception, mood, and cognition.

Within 30 to 45 minutes, the effects kick in – which can include feelings of deep peace and euphoria, but also intense visual and auditory hallucinations and a distorted sense of reality.

Mr Ahmed said: ‘The effects of magic mushrooms can seem similar to a mental health problem. A person on mushrooms may not behave in a way that is a rational response to their actual environment.

‘If you’re sober and talking to them, it’s very obvious that they’re having a very different experience to you, even if you’re in the same room. They are seeing and hearing things that aren’t really there. For example, they might believe God is talking to them, or that the room has turned into a jungle, or that the curtains are changing into snakes.’

Some people may experience a positive ‘trip’ that can offer insights into themselves and the world. Users may seem happy, excited and energised.

But a bad ‘trip’ can leave them frightened, paranoid, overwhelmed, and anxious.

Mr Ahmed said: ‘Someone who isn’t used to hallucinations can be extremely confused and ask: “What’s happening to me?”‘

Someone taking a large dose of mushrooms – ranked as a Class A drug – usually has dilated pupils. As well as breathing more quickly than normal, they may have an elevated temperature and increased blood pressure, making them red and sweaty. The short-term effects of mushrooms can last up to six hours. For people who are micro-dosing – with the mushrooms often consumed in sweets or chocolate – the effects are far less dramatic. However someone may still have a distant or dreamy look, and may seem to be experiencing the world around them more intensely – seemingly fixated by tiny details or displaying a heightened sense of wonderment.

Mr Ahmed said there were dangers associated with mushrooms, whatever the dose.

He said: ‘Users may become psychologically reliant on these experiences, finding it challenging to engage with the real world without the altered state that psilocybin provides.

‘Regular use can exacerbate existing mental health conditions like depression or anxiety and can also lead to the development of new psychiatric issues.’

Users may also experience problems with memory, concentration and decision-making.