There are various ways that people with drug addictions use substances. Some drugs are injected, others are taken orally, and some are snorted or smoked. Each method of delivery has its unique dangers and affects a person in different ways, but a drug addiction treatment program can help.
When compared to the other methods of administration, snorting drugs typically produces more rapid and intense effects. If you or a loved one needs help to escape the dangers of snorting drugs, contact Promises Behavioral Health today at 844.875.5609.
What Is Snorting?
Snorting, also called nasal insufflation, is not the same as smoking drugs. While smoking involves inhaling through the mouth, snorting involves forcefully breathing drugs in through the nose, and the drugs enter the body through the nasal cavity.
The substances that are snorted are most often in crushed pill form or in powder form. Some of the most commonly snorted drugs include:
- Heroin
- Methamphetamine
- Amphetamines (Concerta, Adderall)
- Cocaine
- Ecstasy (MDMA)
- Benzodiazepines (Ativan, Xanax)
- Bath salts
- Ketamine
- Flunitrazepam (Rohypnol)
- Sleeping pills (Ambien, Lunesta, Sonata)
In addition, prescription opioids, such as OxyContin, Vicodin, Actiq, and Percocet, are commonly snorted. Regardless of the type of drug that is ingested, there are severe risks of snorting drugs.
The Risks of Snorting Drugs
Snorting a substance delivers rapid, potent results because this type of ingestion bypasses the digestive tract and the liver. Drugs that are ingested orally go through the liver’s metabolization process after leaving the stomach and intestines.
Instead, snorted substances are delivered directly to the bloodstream via the blood vessels in the nose.
Snorting drugs produces powerful, quick effects, which increases the rate of addiction onset. In addition, snorting places people at a higher risk of overdose and increases the risk of many other health concerns related to substance use.
There are many dangers of snorting drugs that can develop over time with prolonged use. The risks to a person’s health are significant and can include:
- Chronic sinus infections
- Tooth decay — especially with methamphetamine use
- Frequent nosebleeds
- The loss of a sense of smell
- Difficulty swallowing
- Wheezing, labored breathing
- Damage to the lining of the nostrils, septum, and nasal cavity
However, in addition to these risks, there are many other grave consequences of snorting drugs. People who snort could contract or transmit diseases through shared paraphernalia like a rolled-up dollar bill or a straw.
Substances that are mixed with the drug (called “cutting” the drug) often cause blood vessels to rupture and cause cuts and tears throughout the nasal passages. When snorting devices are shared, other people can come in contact with the blood, spreading diseases like hepatitis C, HIV, and others.
Additional Dangers of Snorting Drugs
Prescription drugs are some of the most sought-after drugs people snort. These medications, whether they’re prescription stimulants, painkillers, or anything else, are crushed into a powder and ingested swiftly.
These medications often come in extended-release formulas. This means that they are intended to slowly release the medication into a person’s bloodstream over a period of time.
When people snort these drugs, they tamper with that extended-release mechanism, and instead, a surge of medication is delivered all at once. This not only produces amplified side effects but also increases the severity of risks and consequences.
Drug Addiction Treatment with Promises Behavioral Health
The risks of snorting drugs are significant, but help is available. There are many different treatment programs that can help you or a loved one stop snorting drugs and gain distance from the risks that come with it.
Right now is the best time to take that first important step to recovery. Begin a healthier, happier life by contacting Promises Behavioral Health at 844.875.5609.