Snorting Heroin - Signs and Dangers
- February 28, 2022
- Prosperity Haven
- Addiction Treatment
As most people already know, heroin is an extremely powerful drug that can create dependence very quickly. This means even using it one time could result in a life-long addiction, greatly increasing the risk of major health issues, overdose, and death. However, you may not even be aware that someone you love is addicted to heroin. Sometimes, you may not be aware of the signs or even the ways in which people use heroin.
So, how do you know if someone is using heroin? While there are various signs, symptoms, and behaviors associated with heroin abuse (more on that below), one of the most common identifiers is the presence of needles. Heroin addicts usually inject heroin directly into the bloodstream using needles, which means that the frequent appearance of needles could be an indicator of heroin use.
However, a lack of needles lying around does not mean that someone isn’t using heroin. There are other ways to use heroin that may be less obvious. So, this begs a few important questions. What are some of the alternative methods that heroin addicts use to take the drug? Can heroin be snorted? Finally, what are the signs and dangers of using heroin? In today’s post, we will answer all of these questions and more, but first, let’s focus on the common query concerning snorting (or sniffing) heroin.
Can You Snort Heroin?
Unfortunately, the answer is “yes.” Though the most common way for heroin addicts to abuse the drug is by injecting it with a needle, it can also be snorted through the nose. Typically, heroin is delivered in a powdered form, allowing abusers to snort it by placing it on a flat surface and either sniffing it directly or using a make-shift straw. But there are other ways to snort heroin as well.
In many cases, heroin that addicts acquire is cut with other substances. It may not be pure enough to snort on its own. In this case, the drug can still be liquified with heat and then snorted. This is assuming that the heroin comes in its traditional form (white powder). But many abusers also use black tar heroin, which requires an entirely different process.
When users are snorting black tar heroin, they must first let it dissolve in water. Then it can be snorted through the nose like powdered heroin. Unlike traditional heroin that comes in the form of a white powder, black tar heroin is a dark, sticky substance. Despite the differences in their appearance and texture, the effects and risks of either form of the drug are largely the same.
Why Do People Snort Heroin?
If you’ve ever watched movies involving drug use, you probably have the common image of someone injecting heroin into their arm using a syringe. While this is the most common method, it requires various pieces of equipment, including the needle and syringe, something to heat the heroin (like a lighter), a spoon or similar metal object to hold the drug while it is being liquified, and sometimes a rubber band or something else to wrap around the upper arm to make veins more accessible.
However, in addition to the standard risks and dangers associated with heroin use, the injection process also comes with its own risks. Hygiene is frequently an issue among heroin addicts and sharing needles is a common practice. This contributes to higher contraction rates of conditions like HIV and Hepatitis. Over time, it can also damage blood vessels, forcing users to inject the drug into different parts of the body.
Not only that, injecting or even smoking heroin requires addicts to have the right equipment on hand. Alternatively, many abusers choose to snort heroin because they can just do it quickly without needing to prepare the drug (assuming it comes in the powdered form). This makes their behavior easier to hide from others. Additionally, many heroin addicts also see it as a safer option, since it doesn’t involve the risks associated with dirty needles.
Snorting heroin also means that the drug takes longer to reach its full effect. The effects of smoking or injecting the drug are almost instantaneous, which can only amplify the drug’s addictive properties. When heroin is snorted, it takes about 5-10 minutes to take full effect, reducing the overwhelming effect on the brain and lowering the risk of a fast-paced addiction.
What Happens When You Snort Heroin?
When you snort heroin, the drug is absorbed into the bloodstream via the nose and lungs. This process takes a few minutes, which means the effects of snorting heroin are not quite as fast or “intense” as other methods, like smoking or injecting. In any case, heroin addicts can still expect all of the same effects when snorting, just with a little more build-up time. These effects include:
- Euphoria
- Dry mouth
- Flushed skin
- Sense of heaviness in the extremities
- Nausea and vomiting
- Nasal irritation
- Itching
- Clouded thoughts
- Drowsiness that comes and goes
Signs Of Snorting Heroin
Sadly, it can be a lot harder to find out early on if someone you know is snorting heroin. They will likely keep less drug paraphernalia around and they will exhibit fewer of the most common signs of heroin use (bruising, scarring, collapsed veins, etc). However, this does not mean that you cannot still detect heroin abuse.
If you want to know how to tell if someone is snorting heroin, it’s best to focus on behavioral changes. Typically, heroin abusers will be more reclusive, secretive, and irritable. They may also have difficulty concentrating, staying awake, or having coherent conversations. Additionally, one of the few physical signs of snorting heroin is nasal irritation. You may notice red or inflamed nostrils, which the abuser may pick at from time to time. Or you may notice the use of slang for heroin being used. Finally, it is very common for heroin users to experience sudden and rapid weight loss, which is true regardless of the intake method.
A few of the signs can also depend on the type of heroin being snorted. With traditional powdered heroin, you may notice small drug baggies or trace amounts of white powder lying around. Alternatively, if someone is using black tar heroin, you will likely find bottles used to hold and liquify the substance.
Danger Of Snorting Heroin
In addition to the addictive nature of heroin, snorting heroin can also cause additional damage to the nasal passages and lungs. This can make it harder to breathe and increase the risk of respiratory infections. Over time, heavy heroin abuse via snorting can also lead to some or all of the following long-term effects:
- Insomnia
- Infections of the heart lining
- Skin abscesses and infections
- Liver and kidney disease
- Mental disorders
- Lung diseases
- Reproductive issues
Additionally, many people who snort heroin eventually move on to smoking or injecting the drug to experience a more intense high. This increases the health risks and makes the drug even more addictive. If this happens, abusers may also experience:
- Greater difficulty fighting their addiction
- Collapsed veins
- Greater risk of HIV or Hepatitis
Is your child, friend, coworker, parent, or spouse struggling with their heroin addiction? Are you looking for treatment options that target each patient’s specific needs? Finally, are you looking for a comprehensive heroin abuse treatment center that provides a wide range of effective treatment options? If so, feel free to contact the experts at Prosperity Haven to learn more.
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