Effects & Dangers Of Snorting Opioids

Opioid drugs are used to provide potent pain relief for both severe pain and chronic pain in medical contexts, binding to opioid receptors to temporarily change how the body responds to pain and stress.

However, drugs in this class are also frequently misused for their strong euphoric effects and are the most lethal class of drugs for overdose deaths by a wide margin.

While any abuse of opioids can be dangerous, harmful, and addictive, certain methods of ingestion are known to increase these risks to an even greater degree, including snorting.

Snorting Opioids

Injection is the fastest and most intense form of opioid abuse, followed closely by smoking. However, many people instead choose to snort opioid drugs, often due to the stigmatization of injection drug abuse, unfamiliarity with other forms of ingestion, or for ease of use.

The drug, which must be a fine powder (though liquid solutions are sometimes also snorted), is usually placed on a mirror or plane of glass, divided into a dose or lone using a credit card or razor, and then inhaled into the nasal passages using a straw or rolled-up dollar bill.

Opioids That Are Frequently Snorted

Heroin and fentanyl are likely snorted most often, though crushed prescription opioids like oxycodone (OxyContin, Percocet), hydrocodone (Vicodin), and others can be snorted with some effort.

However, many prescription drugs, and extended-release medications in particular, are produced with binders and tamper-resistant formulations that can make snorting difficult, irritating, or counter-productive.

Likewise, heroin and fentanyl are often cut with a wide variety of unpredictable and potentially harmful filler substances.

Effects Of Snorting Opioids

When a person snorts an opioid drug, they may experience a brief but intense high called a rush followed by a longer period of relaxed, calm pleasure.

In addition to euphoric effects, opioids also act as strong central nervous system depressants, meaning that they tend to slow down activity in the mind and the body. This, in turn, can produce side-effects that may include:

• nausea and vomiting
• drowsiness
• sedation
• dizziness
• headache
• stomach pain
• constipation
• sleep apnea
• changes in mood and behavior

Dangers Of Snorting Opioids

While many dismiss the danger of snorting compared to shooting up, the truth is that any form of substance abuse carries serious short-term and long-term risks.

Snorting opioids are associated with several risks and dangers, including:

• tolerance (needing more of the drug to produce the same effect over time), dependence (needing to keep taking the drug over-time to avoid withdrawal symptoms), and addiction (using the drug compulsively, even when it causes you harm)
• high risk of infections and disease transmission in the nasal cavity, especially if you are sharing equipment or using dirty/non-sterile materials
• high risk of physical injury to the nasal septum, sinuses, throat, lungs, and heart from inhaling foreign substances
• congestion, sinus infections, chest pains, runny nose, nosebleeds, headache, difficulty speaking, and voice changes
• reduced ability to smell and taste
• increased risk of other negative psychological effects related to opioid abuse, including depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts or impulses
• an increased risk of ‘graduating’ to smoking or injecting opioid drugs
• an increased risk of overdose, especially if you are mixing drugs or drinking while snorting an opioid

Opioid Overdose

Any method of opioid abuse that increases its effects also increases your risk of experiencing life-threatening opioid overdose symptoms.

The risk of overdose further increases if you are also taking other depressants like alcohol, benzodiazepines, sleeping pills, or muscle relaxants, or if you are taking stimulants like methamphetamine, amphetamines (Ritalin, Adderall), or cocaine.

Signs of opioid overdose can include:

• pale, cold, or clammy skin
• extreme drowsiness or confusion
• pinpoint pupils
• blue-colored lips or fingertips
• trouble breathing (gasping, gurgling, shallow breathing, or no breathing)
• muscle limpness or weakness
• loss of consciousness, coma, or death

If you suspect a heroin overdose, oxycodone overdose, fentanyl overdose, or an overdose related to any other opioid/opiate drug, immediately call 911 and administer the opiate antidote medicine naloxone (Narcan) if you have access to it.

Treatment Options For Opioid Addiction

Leading treatment providers, including Bedrock Recovery Center in Canton, MA, offer a variety of t addiction treatment options to help those who struggle with opioid abuse and addiction.

Opioid addiction treatment options include:

• medical detox services to safely manage opioid discontinuation and withdrawal
• inpatient treatment programs for focused, intensive recovery inside a residential treatment facility
• outpatient treatment programs, for professional care that fits into your schedule
• medication-assisted treatment programs using the FDA-approved treatment aids methadone, buprenorphine, or naltrexone
• dual diagnosis care for co-occurring mental health disorders like anxiety, depression, PTSD, and more
• aftercare support, including peer support groups, case management, job placement assistance, and outpatient counseling

To learn more about our treatment options for opioid use disorder, please contact us today.