Which of the following is a common sign of intoxication?

• A. Stumbling or swaying
• B. Pupil dilation
• C. Sleeping
• D. Hearing voices

Answer: (A)

Intoxication often disrupts the brain areas that control balance and movement, so a common and reliable sign you can observe is stumbling or swaying. This reflects impaired motor coordination, which is a typical effect of many intoxicants such as alcohol or depressants. The person may have trouble standing still, walking in a straight line, or maintaining steady posture, all of which make them appear unsteady or uncoordinated.

Pupil dilation, while it can occur with some drugs, isn’t a consistent or universal sign of intoxication because different substances cause different pupil responses (some dilate, others constrict). Sleeping can happen with certain depressants or after a person has already lost responsiveness, but it isn’t as immediate or common a cue for intoxication in the moment of assessment. Hearing voices is not a standard sign of intoxication; it’s more associated with psychiatric conditions or specific drug effects that aren’t generally representative of intoxication as a whole.

So the clear indicator to look for in many intoxicated individuals is impaired coordination manifested as stumbling or swaying.