Are high eyes proof that someone has been using marijuana?
What Are High Eyes?
High eyes is an informal term that refers to changes to pupil size and eye color that can occur when a person has been using marijuana.
Common attributes of high eyes are:
- Dilated, or expanded, pupils
- Reddening of the sclera (the whites of the eyes)
According to an April 2024 study in the journal Frontiers in Neuroscience, high eyes may not only involve altered appearance of the pupil, but functional changes as well.
That study involved 189 participants ages 21-55, including 159 regular cannabis users and 30 in the control (no cannabis) group. Findings included:
- Prior to using marijuana, the members of the cannabis group had larger average pupil size than the members of the control group. The researchers noted that this may indicate that long-term marijuana use can have a prolonged effect in this area.
- Average pupil size among the cannabis group increased after participants consumed marijuana.
- Pupil size has “a strong correlation” with a person’s blood THC levels. THC, or delta 9 tetrahydrocannabinol, is the primary psychoactive ingredient in marijuana.
- Inhaling cannabis either from a cigarette or a vape caused an immediate slowdown in both dilation and constriction speeds. Prior research suggests that this change could be an indication of marijuana-induced disruptions in a person’s working memory.
How Can You Tell if Someone Is High?
High eyes are by no means the only potential sign that someone is under the influence of marijuana. However, it’s important to remember that this drug can affect different people in distinctly different ways.
Factors that can influence how someone looks and acts when they are high include:
- Their physical and mental health
- How much marijuana they used
- The potency of the marijuana
- How often they use marijuana
- If they’ve also been using other substances
With these caveats in mind, the following are among the more common signs that someone is high:
- Slowed movements
- Impaired coordination
- Increased appetite and thirst
- Slurred speech
- Forgetfulness
- Difficulty focusing or concentrating
- Delayed responsiveness (physical and mental)
- Odor of marijuana on body or clothing
What Are the Warning Signs of Marijuana Addiction?
One of the dangers of frequent marijuana use is that it could lead to addiction.
The fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) includes 11 criteria for cannabis use disorder, which is the clinical term for marijuana addiction. To be diagnosed with this condition, a person only needs to meet two of these criteria:
- Having powerful urges to use marijuana
- Having a persistent desire to stop using marijuana, but being unable to do so
- Frequently using a larger amount of marijuana, or using it for a longer period of time, than intended
- Spending a substantial amount of time acquiring, using, and recovering from the effects of marijuana
- Failing to fulfill responsibilities at home, in school, or at work due to their marijuana use
- Using marijuana in circumstances that pose a clear physical hazard, such as by combining weed with other drugs or driving while impaired
- Continuing to use marijuana after experiencing physical or psychological harm that was either caused or worsened by prior use of the drug
- Continuing to use marijuana even after going through personal or social problems – such as losing their job or being arrested – that were caused or worsened by their prior use
- Reducing or ending their participation in important social or work-related activities because of their marijuana use
- Developing tolerance, which means they need to use more (or more potent) marijuana to experience the drug’s effects
- Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when they try to stop using marijuana, or when they’re prevented from doing so for a certain period of time
If you think you’ve become addicted to marijuana, or you suspect that someone you care about has developed this condition, the best first step is to schedule an assessment at a reputable addiction treatment center in your area.
In addition to providing you with an accurate diagnosis, the professional who conducts your assessment should be able to discuss your treatment options with you and recommend the programs and services that may be best for you.
Is Marijuana Addiction Actually Dangerous?
Some people refuse to acknowledge that marijuana is actually addictive. Others accept that you can become dependent on the drug, but downplay the seriousness of this condition.
Both of these viewpoints are misguided.
Is marijuana as addictive as drugs such as opioids or benzodiazepines? No, it’s not. But a lower risk of addiction is not the same as no risk at all.
And once a person has developed an addiction, the compulsions and other symptoms that they experience can have a disruptive impact on virtually every part of their life.
In the case of marijuana addiction, failing to get appropriate treatment can expose a person to considerable physical, psychological, and social damage.
From a medical and mental health perspective, compulsive marijuana use can contribute to:
- Delayed brain development (especially among people who begin to use the drug during adolescence)
- Chronic bronchitis and other respiratory concerns
- Serious gastrointestinal problems (cannabis hyperemesis syndrome)
- Increased risk of certain types of cancer
- Memory problems
- Diminished cognitive processing
- Onset or worsening of various mental health disorders
Marijuana addiction can also undermine a person’s social and financial wellbeing, with potential outcomes including:
- Downturn in performance at work or in school
- Academic failure
- Difficulty finding and keeping a job
- Conflicts with friends and family
- Withdrawal and isolation
- Loss of vital personal support
- Being arrested, fined, and/or jailed
- Financial difficulties
- Abuse of other substances
- Homelessness
Learn More About Marijuana Addiction Treatment in Tampa Bay
If you have become addicted to marijuana, please know that help is available and treatment works. When you get the right type of care, you can stop using this drug for good and build a foundation for a healthier future in recovery.
Tampa Bay Recovery Center offers customized outpatient treatment for adults who have been struggling with the compulsive use of marijuana and other drugs. We also serve clients who have anxiety, depression, and other co-occurring mental health concerns.
Treatment options at our marijuana rehab in Tampa Bay, FL, include outpatient detox, a partial hospitalization program (PHP), an intensive outpatient program (IOP), and a sober living residence.
In each of these programs, you can expect to receive personalized services and compassionate support from a team of professionals who are truly invested in your success.
To learn more about how we can help you or a loved one, or to schedule a free assessment, please visit our Admissions Contact page or call us today.
