Many of our characters have vices. For some, it may be gambling. For others, it may be substance abuse or drug addiction. Perhaps it’s a serial killer with a penchant for killing. Maybe they like to use gas cans to get high before a murder. I’m not here to judge, just to give you more information.

From my time within the criminal justice system, I’ve come across numerous unique ways to induce a high. Many of us are aware of the consequences of using alcohol, heroin, weed, or meth. We have even started hearing about people using things such as aerosol spray paint or dry-erase markers with similar effects. These get worked into books in multiple different ways apart from what I mentioned above. Here I’ve provided a small list of seemingly new, and weird, ways for your characters to get high or for your killer to subdue a victim.

1. Imodium

The medication you take for diarrhea relief can also, in the right dose, be used to simulate the pain-relieving effects of opioids. That said, too much can also cause heart problems like arrhythmias or a heart attack. It can also leave you backed up for quite a bit.

2. Motion Sickness Pills

For some people, an overdose of motion sickness pills, like Dramamine or Benadryl, can be worse than the effects of alcohol. They can cause delirium and hallucinations but can also cause serious complications like a heart attack, stroke, and kidney or liver failure.

3. Nutmeg

While some of you may use nutmeg to season pies and other food, others use it for the high. Only one to three nutmegs are all it takes for hallucinations, psychosis, and other symptoms to last hours to days. While it can cause more serious issues, death is relatively rare

4. Hand Sanitizer

Despite the whole world stocking up on soaps and hand sanitizer, it can actually be dangerous. Ethanol-based hand sanitizers, if ingested, can produce the same effects of acute ethanol intoxication. While drinking hand sanitizer doesn’t sound great to the rest of us, desperate people with alcoholism may use this as a last resort.

5. Pruno

Pruno is an alcoholic drink made mainly in prisons and surprisingly easy. It can be made from a combination of fruit, sugar, bread, or ketchup - certainly not appetizing for most of us. Yet, consumption of pruno in prison is frequent. Despite the frequency, there have not been many documented deaths related to it but be careful picking your ingredients for your character. Some items could result in foodborne botulism which is a rare paralytic disease and can land them in the hospital or with residual symptoms.

While this list isn’t all-inclusive, it may help your story stand out from others. Pruno can be introduced in a prison scene or an alcoholic may result to using ethanol-based hand sanitizer for one last hit before they’re found in an alley. Perhaps your serial killer uses motion sickness pills to wear down their target without getting caught. The options are endless.