The first thing to do is to learn more about teen drug use from a qualified drug and alcohol treatment center. What Should I Do if I Suspect Teen Drug Use? It can also look like a white or blue powder if it has been ground up. Meth looks like small white to off-white color crystals, as well as bluish-colored crystals, similar to shards of glass. Another common scent to be aware of is if your teen smells like ammonia all the time. Other types of meth have a strong chemical smell like cleaning products. Some types of meth can smell like burning plastic when it is smoked. Meth, crystal meth, or methamphetamine can have a few different smells, depending on how it is produced. There is also a form of heroin that is sticky and looks like burned sugar or tar and is black. The white powder looks like baking soda, while the brown powder looks like cocoa powder. Less pure heroin will smell like vinegar when it is being smoked.

Heroin does not always have an odor, depending on its purity. Crack cocaine can look like small whitish-colored rocks or powder if it has been ground up. Cocaine has more of a floral scent that is hard to detect since it is typically snorted.Ĭocaine looks like a white powder, such as baking soda. Crack cocaine can smell like burning plastic or strong chemicals when it is smoked. This will depend on whether cocaine or crack cocaine is being abused. If it has already been ground up, it could look like any green to brownish herbs like dried parsley, basil, or marjoram. If your teen is going through a lot of air freshener spray, you may want to investigate further. The scent will also linger and can be hard to cover up. It is easy to identify the smell of buds as well as when it is smoked. Marijuana has a distinct musty, skunk-like smell to it. This is when you must rely on your nose and eyes to help. In other cases, if your teenager has just started experimenting with drugs, signs of drug use are not always present. A decrease in personal hygiene could also be indicative of drug abuse. Some types of drug use can be identified through behavior changes, as well as changes in eating and sleep patterns. If you smell this scent, it does not necessarily mean your teen is abusing drugs just that they might need to develop better hygiene habits. This is often indicative that they are just sweaty, and the sweat is lingering in their bedding and clothes.

Before you confront your teen about teen drug use, it is recommended to find out what the smells mean.įor instance, some teen boys and their rooms can smell musty with the scent of Doritos corn chips. Do you smell something funky in your teen’s bedroom? Maybe you noticed the car they drive has strange smells? These smells could be potential drug odors.

What does meth smell like on a child