Have you ever wondered if your pet lizard or local wild lizards can experience an altered state of consciousness like humans do when using psychoactive substances? Many pet owners and herpetology enthusiasts find themselves curious about the effects various plants, medications, and illegal drugs have on these cold-blooded creatures.

If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer: while comprehensive research is still lacking, limited studies and anecdotes suggest that substances like marijuana, caffeine, alcohol, and others do produce observable behavioral changes in lizards when ingested, though effects likely differ due to their non-mammalian biology.

Defining What It Means for a Lizard to Get “High”

Documented Reactions Lizards Have to Psychoactive Substances

Although lizards lack complex brains like mammals, they can still be affected by psychoactive drugs in noticeable ways. Here are some documented reactions lizards exhibit when exposed to substances that alter brain chemistry:

  • Impaired motor control – Lizards may have trouble walking or climbing after ingesting cannabis, alcohol or sedatives. They can appear uncoordinated and clumsy.
  • Lethargy – Depressants like alcohol often make lizards less active and energetic. They may move more slowly or stay still for long periods.
  • Agitation – Stimulants like cocaine or amphetamines can make some lizards jittery and erratic. They dart around quickly in an amped up state.
  • Disorientation – Psychedelics like LSD or magic mushrooms can alter a lizard’s perception and cause confusion. They may behave oddly and seem “out of it.”

So while lizards lack higher cognition, their basic behavior and motor functions are still affected by substances that cross the blood-brain barrier and interact with the primitive structures in their brains.

Key Physiological Differences From Mammals That Influence Effects

There are a few key differences in lizard biology compared to mammals that impact how psychoactive substances affect them:

  • Lower brain temperature – Lizards are cold-blooded, so their brains operate at temperatures much cooler than mammals. This influences how quickly drugs are metabolized.
  • Smaller brain size – Reptiles have much smaller and simpler brains. Mammals have larger, more complex brains with more receptors for drugs to interact with.
  • Liver enzymes – Lizards produce different liver enzymes than mammals, which impacts how drugs are broken down and processed through the body.
  • Route of exposure – Lizards are less likely to voluntarily ingest drugs orally like mammals, although skin absorption is possible.

These physiological differences mean that lizards generally need higher relative doses of psychoactive substances to exhibit effects. And the effects tend to be related more to motor control and reflexes rather than complex mood, perception and cognition changes seen in mammals.

Specific Substances and Their Impacts on Lizards

Marijuana and CBD

There is limited research on the effects of marijuana and CBD on lizards. Some owners have experimented with giving tiny doses to their pet lizards for anxiety or pain relief. However, the long-term impacts are unknown and dosing can be challenging for these small animals.

It’s best to consult an exotic veterinarian before trying any CBD or cannabis products on lizards.

Alcohol and Other Depressants

Alcohol and depressants like benzodiazepines can be extremely dangerous if given to a lizard. Their tiny body size and metabolism make it very easy to accidentally overdose them. Even small amounts can cause lethal sedation or respiratory failure.

According to the Center for Avian and Exotic Medicine, “Even minimal amounts of alcohol can be deadly for lizards.” These substances should be avoided at all costs.

Stimulants Like Caffeine or Cocaine

The impacts of stimulants on lizards are complex. In small doses, caffeine may briefly speed up their metabolism. However, too much can overstimulate their heart rate and breathing potentially leading to seizures or heart attacks. Cocaine and similar drugs have similar risks.

Safe Dose Overdose Effects
None Hyperactivity, tremors, seizures, death

Lizards have extremely efficient cardiovascular and respiratory systems. Introducing stimulants can throw off their delicate homeostatic balance. It’s safest to avoid exposing lizards to any stimulants.

Psychedelics Such as LSD or Magic Mushrooms

There is no research available on the effects of classic psychedelics like LSD or psilocybin mushrooms on lizards. However, we know these drugs act primarily on mammalian brain receptors. Since reptiles have very different brains, psychedelics likely have little to no effect.

That said, a lizard on psychedelics would be an awesome reptile name. Can you imagine telling friends you have a bearded dragon named Lizardlucy or a leopard gecko called Shroombert?

Ethical Considerations of Exposing Lizards to Intoxicants

Exposing reptiles to potentially harmful substances raises important ethical concerns that must be carefully considered. While curiosity about how drugs affect lizards is understandable, their well-being should be the top priority.

Consent and Harm

Lizards cannot consent to being exposed to intoxicants. As they lack the cognitive ability to understand the implications, giving lizards drugs could be considered exploitation. Further, we do not fully understand the long-term health effects these substances may have on reptiles.

Potential risks like organ damage, disrupted brain development, and addiction mean exposing lizards to intoxicants could seriously harm them.

Preserving Wildlife

Many lizard species face habitat loss and population declines. Exposing wild-caught lizards to toxins, even briefly, could worsen these threats if the lizards suffer lasting health effects after release.

This would be unethical when preservation of reptile biodiversity is already an immense challenge.

Promoting Responsible Science

While learning about different species is important, science should aim to benefit, not harm, research subjects. Studying how drugs affect the lizard brain could perhaps reveal useful neuroscience insights.

However, responsible science requires minimising suffering and using alternative approaches when available. As reptiles cannot provide informed consent, exploring this research question risks exploiting them for questionable gain.

Considering Ethics Committees

Most scientific institutions require ethics committees to evaluate research proposals involving animal subjects. This process aims to balance scientific discovery with ethical obligations. Proposed lizard drug experiments would likely fail ethics reviews due to the high potential for exploitation and harm, combined with doubtful benefits.

Ethics oversight exists to prevent unethical treatment of voiceless species.

Advice for Responsible Reptile Owners

Signs Your Pet Lizard May Have Ingested Intoxicants

Lizards exhibit some telltale signs if they have accidentally or intentionally ingested intoxicating substances. Here are some things to look out for:

  • Lethargy or lack of normal activity – Lizards that are usually active may become very still and inactive if intoxicated.
  • Loss of coordination – An intoxicated lizard may have trouble balancing or walking properly, stumbling or swaying unsteadily.
  • Disorientation – Lizards use their eyesight and sense of smell to navigate their environment. If intoxicated, they may seem confused about their surroundings.
  • Dilated pupils – Lizards’ eyes may appear more dilated or enlarged than normal when under the influence of certain substances.
  • Regurgitation – Some intoxicated lizards may regurgitate their food due to nausea.
  • Seizures – Severe reactions can cause muscles spasms and loss of motor control in reptiles.

Any significant changes in your lizard’s normal behavior could signal a problem requiring veterinary attention. It’s important to monitor them closely and be aware of potential access to toxins.

What to Do If You Suspect Your Lizard is High

If you notice any concerning signs that your pet lizard may have ingested something intoxicating, take action right away:

  • Safely contain the lizard to prevent injury and monitor breathing/activity.
  • Check the enclosure for possible toxins or drugs the lizard may have accessed.
  • Call your exotic vet or an emergency clinic to describe the symptoms.
  • Follow vet recommendations for safely transporting the lizard to receive medical care.
  • Bring a sample of the suspect toxin if available for identification.
  • Discuss how the lizard could have accessed the dangerous substance to prevent future repeats.

With rapid veterinary treatment, many lizards can fully recover after intoxication incidents. Supportive care to stabilize breathing, heart rate, body temperature and prevent dehydration is crucial. Your vet may administer medication to counteract the effects of toxins.

Going forward, be vigilant about properly securing any hazardous substances kept in homes with reptiles. Never purposefully expose lizards to alcohol, cannabis, tobacco or other drugs, as this is extremely dangerous for their health and illegal in many areas.

Conclusion

While lizards may not get high in precisely the same way humans do, enough scientific evidence and anecdotal reports exist to indicate that common recreational and pharmaceutical substances can induce altered states, behavioral changes, and even toxicity in these unique reptiles.

Hopefully this overview has satisfied your curiosity on this topic. However, we cannot recommend intentionally exposing your scaly friend to any potentially harmful intoxicants solely for the sake of amusement.

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