Cannabis and alcohol are two of the most commonly used substances among teens and young adults. Many young people are seeing these things more often in music, media, and social culture. This makes them curious or feel pressured to try them.
Being high and being drunk may seem like fun, but each has its risks. These risks can seriously affect your health, behavior, and future. Understanding the differences and consequences is a critical step toward making informed, safe decisions.
Alcohol and cannabis are both commonly used substances, creating quite different experiences. Understanding how being high or drunk affects your brain and body is important. It helps you make better choices about using substances, especially for young adults.
If you are curious, worried, or want to know more, understanding how these states are different can help you. It can help you see the signs, stay safe, and make choices that protect your health and well-being.
Getting “high” typically refers to the effects of cannabis, a plant that contains the psychoactive compound THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). THC interacts with receptors in the brain, altering mood, perception, and physical coordination.
Common methods of use may include:
The feeling of being high from the use of cannabis can be different depending on the person, the dose, and the setting.
Some users feel more creative, calm, or happy. However, others may feel anxious, have panic
attacks, or feel out of control. Overall, being high is a mixed bag. While some enjoy the ride, others may find it unsettling.
The effects of being high can last for 5 to 30 minutes. This depends on the method used. For edibles, the effects can last from 2 to 6 hours.
Being “drunk” refers to the effects of alcohol (ethanol) on the brain and body in noticeable ways. Alcohol is a depressant, meaning it slows down your central nervous system.
Common Types of Alcohol Include:
Drinking Patterns vary between:
A rise in blood alcohol levels, when drunk, can have long-term effects, including:
Some people drink to feel more social or confident. However, being drunk can also lead to accidents, risky behavior, and emotional outbursts. Effects begin within 10–30 minutes and vary depending on body size, food intake, and drinking pace.
When comparing the health risks of being high and being drunk, it is important to know how each substance affects the body. Alcohol and cannabis may seem harmless in social situations. However, they have different risks that can affect your physical and mental health.
Being high or drunk can affect brain development in young people. It can also raise the risk of long-term addiction. However, the health consequences of being high vs being drunk vary from person to person.
While both being high and being drunk can alter your behavior, they often lead to different outcomes.
Being high on cannabis tends to produce more inward or subdued behavior. While cannabis usually doesn’t provoke aggressive behavior. Some people may feel socially withdrawn, anxious, or paranoid while high, leading them to avoid interaction altogether. Others might act abnormally simply because they are less aware of their surroundings.
When someone is drunk, their behavior is typically louder, bolder, and more impulsive. Alcohol lowers inhibitions and impairs judgment. Slurred speech, poor coordination, and emotional outbursts (like sudden anger or sadness) are also common. This lack of control can result in damaged relationships, legal trouble, or physical harm.
Ultimately, both being high and being drunk affect how you act, respond, and relate to others. Knowing how drug or alcohol behavior can help you stay in control and avoid situations that put your health, safety, or future at risk. Substance use doesn’t just affect your body; it changes how you act and how others perceive you.
Many people don’t see how fast substance use can lead to problems. It can affect goals, health, and happiness.
Driving high vs driving drunk, is dangerous and illegal. Cannabis and alcohol affect the brain in different ways. But both impair judgement toward driving safely and, therefore, put lives at risk.
Cannabis can impair your ability to drive in different ways. THC—the active ingredient in marijuana—slows reaction time, affects coordination, and alters perception of time and distance. High drivers may struggle to focus, have trouble staying in their lane, and be slower to respond to sudden hazards. The effects can last for several hours, especially with edibles.
Alcohol affects motor skills, reaction time, vision, and decision-making. Drunk drivers are more likely to speed, drift between lanes, or miss stop signs and signals. Even small amounts of alcohol can slow your reflexes and cloud your judgment.
Blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels of 0.08% or higher are illegal in most states. But impairment often begins well before reaching that limit.
Many believe driving high is safer than driving drunk. While the type of impairment may differ in high vs drunk, both reduce your ability to drive safely.
Driving while high or drunk can result in DUI charges, license suspension, fines, and even jail time. You don’t have to be over the legal limit if law enforcement observes signs of impairment.
Driving under the influence, whether high vs drunk, is not just illegal; it is deadly. If you are planning to drink or use cannabis, always arrange for a sober ride. You might save your life or someone else’s.
Not everyone who becomes high vs. drunk, to cope with emotions or pressure, will develop a problem. But it is crucial to recognize when the influence of marijuana and alcohol starts to interfere with daily life.
The signs of trouble may look different depending on whether someone is getting high vs drunk. But the underlying issue is the same. Using substances in a way that harms your health, relationships, or goals.
People who drink heavily may start to black out, get into fights, make risky decisions, or struggle with school, work, or friendships. Drinking as a way to cope with stress or to escape emotions can quickly lead to dependency or addiction.
With cannabis, the signs might be subtler, like loss of motivation, increased anxiety, memory issues, or becoming more withdrawn. Some people use weed to relax or avoid uncomfortable feelings. But over time, it can interfere with focus, drive, and emotional stability.
If you find yourself needing to be high vs drunk just to feel “normal” or to get through the day, it may be time to pause and reflect.
Seeking help does not mean you have failed. It means you are paying attention to your well-being. You can get support by talking to a trusted adult, therapist, or health professional. Help is available—and taking that first step could change everything.
Understanding how high vs drunk affects your body and brain gives you the power to protect yourself and your future. You don’t have to go along with the crowd.
Struggling with alcohol or marijuana can lead to risky behavior, poor judgement, and long-term health consequences. Being drunor high may feel different, but both can trap you in cycles of dependence and isolation.
If you or someone you love is battling addiction, now is the time to take control. The Hope House offers compassionate, expert-led care to help you break free and build a life of clarity and purpose.
