Not too long ago I was out with a friend of mine. My boyfriend, her, and myself were on our way to a show when I noticed she was sniffling unusually often. I would normally attribute this to allergies or a cold. However, my boyfriend had noticed too, and openly asked her is she was alright. She replied that it was a habit. Now, I have never noticed her sniffling that much before. My boyfriend has known her longer, and apparently this was new to him as well. I would also think if it were simply allergies or a cold then she would say it was. She is also an alcoholic and regularly smokes marijuana. Do you think she may have started or tried cocaine?
Well the only way to know for sure is to catch her in the act or find the drug in her possession. It could have been that she developed the habit has a result of her smoking marijuana as that drug produces a lot of smoke and often makes the user choke and cough a lot. Maybe you should have a talk with your friend and ask her if everything is okay.
Maybe she just has an untreated sinus problem? It's a vicious circle with your sinuses, constand sniffling just blocks them further which in turn leads to...more sniffling. What is certain though is that she won't thank you for asking her if she's using cocaine, purely on the basis of her having an alcohol problem. She may see it as you thinking the worst of her.
I have never heard of anyone who sniffs purely as a habit before. Given the fact that she uses alcohol and marijuana, there's the possibility that she may use other substances too. It doesn't necessarily have to be cocaine though. There are also many other substances which can be consumed by snorting. The buzz from cocaine is usually quite short-lived and while high on it, users tend to feel ten-feet tall (elevated self-esteem) and more confident. When coming down they will become more relaxed, quieter and maybe a little irritable so it'sworth keeping an eye on her behaviour too.
It's very possible that she is doing other sorts of drugs if she is using alcohol, and pot. You will probably notice a change in her if she is. If you feel she won't tell you just in a joking way ask her. Like dang girl the way you sniffling If I didn't know any better I'd say you doing coke? Watch her reaction to this it just might tell you more then words will.
I have friends who use it regularly as recreation, sort of like drinking at the end of a hard day of work and none of them really sniffle. I realize my source is anecdotal and that it's very likely that it might not be the case for everyone, but I think it's still best not to jump to conclusions, regardless.
Could be. How was she acting? Did she seem high off of something? If she's an alcoholic and smokes weed, it's not too far-fetched to think that she could be using coke, but until you find out for sure, you're not going to know. For some people, smoking too much weed can cause their nose to run too, simply from all the smoking that one is doing. Hopefully she gets herself together soon before she is so far gone on liquor and drugs that it will be a long climb back.
She had seemed pretty down. She was quiet. I would think it would be the kind of occasion where she is coming off the drug. I just thought it was extremely odd that she said she was sniffling out of habit yet neither I nor my boyfriend ever heard her do that before, at least nothing out of the norm. Like I said, he even asked her about it. Also, as @Sparkster said, it is uncommon to sniff out of habit. I thought about bringing it up as a joke, but because she already seemed down I did not want to create an awkward situation for her. I wouldn't necessarily jump to assuming she does cocaine based off of her other patterns of substance abuse either. I have had many friends that smoke marijuana and drank in the past, but they had not used anything else really.
This does sound like she may have been coming down off something. As mentioned, the high is quite short-lived. When coming down, or even not long after taking it, users will sniff often in order to ingest the remnants of the drug remaining in the nasal passage. However, I also agree that it's important not to jump to any conclusions. I would keep an eye on her behaviour, see if it starts to change over time. If she's addicted then she's going to need a constant supply of money so that's worth looking out for.
I know that she is usually broke. This individual always has someone else buy drinks, although someone who was fed up with this told me that she has her own supply of liquor before she comes to hang out. She does not have a job, and I am guessing she has ways to continue getting a high from bumming off others.
That actually sounds a lot like someone who I know very well. He is a cocaine user but he's not addicted and doesn't use it too regularly. However, over the last two years his use of the substance has started to become more frequent. He doesn't have a job and never seems to have any money, so he bums drunks, cigarettes and tobacco from other people all the time. I have never known him to buy his own. I guess he just stashes his cash until he has enough for coke and gets by from getting everything else he needs from other people. People are starting to get fed up of him though, it's something which has been going on for years now.
There's a lot of people who display this kind of behavior. It is kind of sad that they use people, including friends, to get their fix. The person in question for this thread is also getting on people's nerves because of this.
Yes, I get you here. I have a lot of friends who smoke and drink, but don't do coke. I used to smoke and drink, but never did coke, so I agree with you. But you asked in your original post "Do you think she may have started or tried cocaine?" I would say that anyone who is already drinking and smoking would probably do cocaine a lot quicker than someone who doesn't drink or smoke, know what I mean? At any rate, I feel bad for her, you said she seemed pretty down, and she was quiet. She probably has a lot going on.
If she is your friend you should just ask her. If you are worried, there should be no beating around the bush or speculation. You already know she has other 'habits' so there should be no need for her to hide if she were using coke.
I wouldn't jump to conclusions about her having started cocaine! It might just be something else or even nothing, just the usual alcohol and marijuana that you know of! I would suggest that you sit her down and ask her, friends voice out their concerns to their friends and take things from there. All the best.
Yes, I know what you mean. That is partly why marijuana is considered a gateway drug. Typically, someone does not go from nothing to a harder drug. They are eased into the drug culture by first experimenting with something much lighter like weed. I feel bad for her too. I wish I could help, but ultimately for anyone to get help they have to want to improve.
Until you can see that she has drugs in possession or you catch her in the act of doing cocaine, I would say that she just has a sickness or it's a weird habit of some sorts. I know people that flare the nostrils or scratch their chest out of habit. There are also people who cough often out of habit.
True. I just thought it was weird since after knowing her and with my boyfriend knowing her longer neither of us have ever seen her do that. If it is habit then it is something a person does regularly.
Have you tried asking your friend about it? Although it would appear too affront, but you can't just rely on your assumptions or gut feelings. You have to know the truth straight from her. Only then can you act according to the situation. What your friend took might not be cocaine but some other drug. Still, if you don't talk it out with her, you will never know in what way to help her.
No, I have not asked her whether she does :/ You're right. If I do not find out then I'll never know how I can help her. Still, I am worried that would push her away. Sometimes people can be defensive about that sort of stuff when asked.