Can You Get a Cockroach High?
WouterA common question that a lot of people have is: “Can you get a cockroach high?” The answer is yes. Cockroaches like beer. In fact, they’ll drink beer until they get buzzed. The high sugar content in beer makes it very appealing to them. The alcohol in beer makes them intoxicated, and they may even get high. In their drunken state, cockroaches cannot fly.
Cockroaches also have an incredible sense of smell. They produce a distinct odor that can make people feel nauseous. Cockroaches’ sense of smell is so powerful that they can track the scent of human food. They also pick up smells from dead bugs, cardboard, and paper.
Researchers also found that cockroaches can detect certain narcotics. Although they don’t get high from cocaine, they can be affected by LSD, which works on serotonin receptors. Interestingly, this drug didn’t affect cockroaches’ learning, but it affected spiders’ web-building abilities. It also decreased ants’ foraging activity.
While the possibility of getting high from cockroaches is a popular myth among children, the truth is that the insect is bad for your health. Cockroaches can contaminate food, cause allergic reactions, and transmit diseases through their bodies. They can also enter the ear canals of humans and bite the fingernails of sleeping children. The allergens in their excrement can cause sneezing, asthma, and other allergic reactions.
