Heroin Methods Of Abuse: Injecting, Smoking, And Snorting

There are three common routes of administration for heroin use that pose varied risks. Heroin is most frequently ingested or administered by means of smoking, snorting, or injecting.

Smoking and snorting often lead to injecting heroin intravenously to maximize the effects. Any heroin or opioid use can lead to heroin abuse and addiction, and a potentially fatal overdose.

Injecting Heroin

Injecting heroin directly into the bloodstream is known by the heroin slang term “mainlining.”

It is considered to be the most efficient and rapid method — it’s also associated with the highest risks.

Bioavailability, which is the absorption rate of heroin, is known to be the highest for intravenous injection, depending on potency and dosage. The typical dosage of street-level purity is 100mg.

Heroin is more lipid-soluble than other opioids and crosses the blood-brain barrier more rapidly. Injected heroin crosses the blood-brain barrier within 20 seconds with almost 70% of the dose.

How Heroin Is Injected

Intravenous injection is when heroin is injected into a vein.

Common injection paraphernalia for heroin include:

• syringes
• needles
• spoons
• lighters
• tourniquets

The typical injection process involves solubilizing (dissolving) heroin with citric or ascorbic acid. Powder and tar heroin require different methods of preparation for injection heroin use.

Black tar heroin is mixed with water over high heat until it dissolves into a liquid form that can be injected via a syringe. The impurities in black tar heroin can increase health risks and hazards.

The powder can simply be mixed and dissolved into room temperature water.

Risks Of Injecting Heroin

People who inject heroin once or regularly are at very high risk of bacterial and viral infections, as well as a potentially fatal heroin overdose.

Heroin often contains other opiates, additives, and impurities that increase the risks and dangers to health.

The health risks and long-term effects of intravenous heroin abuse include:

• scarred or collapsed veins
• infection of the heart lining and valves
• abscesses
• pneumonia
• tuberculosis
• liver and kidney disease
• HIV
• hepatitis B
• hepatitis C
• other blood-borne viruses

Learn more about how heroin is injected, or “skin popping”.

Smoking Heroin

The method of smoking heroin, or “chasing the dragon”, involves inhalation of heroin vapor into the lungs, where it quickly circulates the bloodstream and binds to opioid receptors in the brain.

The most common way of smoking heroin is foil smoking. This process involves liquifying heroin with heat on aluminum foil and inhaling the vapors with a straw or glass tube.

Smoking or “chasing” heroin may be preferred because it is associated with fewer risks, particularly overdose deaths, and social stigmas than injection drug use.

However, any heroin use is damaging, and smoking the drug often eventually leads to intravenous heroin use.

Risks Of Smoking Heroin

The health risks of smoking heroin are similar to other methods. The risk of overdosing is common to any form of heroin use but varies depending on a person’s tolerance.

The risks that are specific to smoking heroin include:

• pulmonary infections
• severe bronchospasms
• leukoencephalopathy, or the degeneration of white brain matter
• aggravated asthmatic symptoms
• emphysema

Find more information on the risks and method of smoking heroin.

Snorting Heroin

An alternative to injecting and smoking heroin is snorting or sniffing (intranasal administration) white or brown powder heroin.

How Heroin Is Snorted

The snorting method, also called insufflation, only applies to the powder varieties of heroin and does not require any paraphernalia or preparation rituals.

The simplicity of insufflation, along with decreased fear of viruses and infections, can increase the appeal. This makes it even more dangerous for people less experienced with using heroin.

Risks Of Snorting Heroin

Some of those who abuse heroin may believe that snorting is a way to avoid the health hazards and risks affiliated with heroin injection.

But snorting heroin poses similar risks to health, including the risk of overdose and death.

Ingesting heroin through the nose may also cause serious health issues including:

• nosebleeds
• sinusitis or sinus inflammation
• perforated nasal septum
• irritation of nasal mucosa
• loss of smell

Read more about the dangers and side effects of snorting heroin.

Effects Of Injecting, Smoking, And Snorting Heroin

Immediate or short-term effects that are common to all heroin use are analgesia (the inability to experience physical pain) and euphoria (an experience of intense pleasure and relaxation).

Other possible side effects may include:

• drowsiness and sedation
• respiratory depression
• decreased heart rate and blood pressure
• mental confusion and disorientation
• heaviness or numbness in extremities
• nausea and vomiting
• dry mouth
• constipation
• warm and flushed skin
• withdrawal symptoms
• intense cravings

The number of heroin-related opioid overdoses and overdose deaths has increased due to the prevalence of stronger synthetic opioids, namely fentanyl, being mixed into heroin.

What To Do If A Loved One Is Using Heroin

When heroin addiction continues for extended periods of time, physical dependence and tolerance increase the need for higher doses and frequency of use to achieve the same effects.

Higher doses and higher concentrations of heroin increase the risk of overdose. The drug naloxone is the only known antidote to heroin overdoses.

If your loved one is injecting, smoking, or snorting heroin, seek professional help. You might consider an inpatient drug rehab program or a medication-assisted treatment (MAT) program.

Methadone and buprenorphine are prescription opioids used during detox and MAT to medically facilitate the safe cessation of heroin use and minimize withdrawal symptoms.

FAQs About Heroin Methods Of Abuse

Find commonly asked questions about how heroin is abused below.

❓ Can You Drink Heroin?

✔️ Heroin can be liquified with certain preparation methods, but it is not normally ingested orally as a liquid.

❓ Are There Other Methods Of Injecting Heroin?

✔️ In addition to intravenous injection, heroin can also be injected subcutaneously (under the skin) and intramuscularly (into the muscle).

❓ Can Black Tar Heroin Be Snorted?

✔️ Snorting is the one method that is incompatible with tar heroin. Only white powder heroin and other powder varieties can be snorted.

Find Local Treatment Programs For Heroin Addiction

Whether it is smoked, snorted, or injected, heroin in all forms and manners of administration is extremely addictive and can be life-threatening if left untreated.

Fortunately, substance use disorders such as heroin addiction can be treated with a variety and combination of approaches, including MAT and behavioral therapy.

If you or a loved one is affected by an addiction to heroin, consider reaching out to an addiction specialist who can provide information on the addiction treatment process.

At Spring Hill Recovery Center, a range of treatment programs and approaches are available to help your loved one recover from heroin addiction. Call today to explore your treatment options.