Crushing And Snorting Pills

Why Do People Crush And Snort Pills?

Some people may engage in drug misuse or abuse for a variety of reasons, utilizing different methods of administration. In some cases, a person may resort to crushing and snorting pills due to limited alternatives, while others may deliberately choose this method to experience more rapid and intensified effects compared to other routes of drug consumption.

What Happens When You Snort Drugs?

Snorting drugs allows the drug to enter a person’s brain quickly through the olfactory and trigeminal nerves that travel directly to the brain from the nasal cavity. This produces results quicker than drugs traveling through the bloodstream, with less of the drug being filtered out.

Consequently, a person will often experience quicker and stronger effects when snorting or inhaling the smoke of a drug through the nose than when taking it by mouth or through injection. But as a result, the effects of the drug also wear off more quickly, which can cause an unpleasant or dangerous experience when using particular drugs.

Side Effects Of Snorting Drugs

Snorting drugs comes with many short-term side effects including:

• Frequent runny noses
• Nose bleeds
• More difficulty “coming down” from a drug
• Inflammation or infection of nasal passages

Long-term effects of snorting drugs may include:

• Perforation or permanent scarring of nasal septum
• Increased risk of addiction or dependence
• Loss of smell or other permanent nasal damage

Snorting drugs puts a person at risk for a variety of side effects, some of which may be long-lasting or dangerous. And, though snorting drugs can increase the strength of the drug effects, the more often a person snorts drugs, the less effective it becomes as tolerance is developed.

Dangers Of Crushing And Snorting Pills

Crushing and snorting pills present unique risks when compared to other methods of drug ingestion.

Certain drugs cause greater risks than others because they contain corrosive chemicals in their preparations or require only a small difference between an effective dose and an overdose. For example, a potentially lethal dose of fentanyl is only 2mg (about the size of 5–7 grains of table salt). It’s easy to exceed this small amount, as it is difficult to measure precisely while snorting. Additionally, corrosive chemicals, such as hydrochloric acid, battery acid, and lye, are used in the production of methamphetamine, and snorting it can lead to severe nasal damage.

Some possible dangers of snorting drugs are:

• Developing addiction
• Taking more than intended, leading to serious side effects, overdose, or death
• Contracting blood-borne viruses, such as hepatitis C, if sharing a nasal tube with any amount of nose-bleeding
• Permanent or severe nasal damage

Misuse and abuse of drugs can cause dangerous consequences, even at first use. A slight change in dosing can cause drastic changes in effect, and it is difficult to determine exact amounts when snorting drugs.

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Signs That Someone Is Snorting Drugs

If you are concerned that your loved one may be snorting drugs, you can look out for the following signs someone is crushing and snorting pills:

• Increased frequency of runny noses
• Frequent bloody noses
• Possession of drug paraphernalia, such as straws, rolled-up paper tubes, metal spoons, or razor blades used to crush or inhale
• Signs of intoxication
• Signs of withdrawal

Though signs of intoxication and withdrawal vary depending on the type of drug used, they often cause noticeable differences from a person’s usual personality or behavior.

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What Types Of Pills Do People Crush And Snort?

People attempt to crush and snort many types of pills and tablets. However, certain medications are more likely to be abused, with some companies now producing crush-resistant pills.

Some common types of medications that people crush and snort include:

Opioids

There are many kinds of opioids. Prescription opioids include morphine, codeine, hydrocodone, oxycodone, methadone, and buprenorphine. Illegally manufactured opioids include heroin and fentanyl.

Though all opioids work on the same receptors in the brain and body, causing similar effects, they have different potencies. Intoxication with opioids can cause constricted pupils, slowed breathing, and relaxation. Overdose from opioid use can cause severe brain damage or death because not enough oxygen is reaching the brain.

Benzodiazepines

Benzodiazepines are a class of medication that can help with anxiety, muscle tightness, and seizures by causing sedative effects and hypnosis. Examples of benzodiazepines include Valium, Ativan, and Xanax.

These drugs work by slowing down the central nervous system, causing a person to feel sleepy and relaxed. However, when misused, they may also cause memory loss, aggression, increased irritation, or difficulty sleeping.

Sleeping Pills

There are many medications prescribed as sleeping pills, like Ambien, Lunesta, and Sonata. They were first marketed as safer alternatives to benzodiazepines but have been associated with high rates of misuse as well.

They are often misused alongside alcohol, marijuana, and benzodiazepines and are associated with higher rates of psychological distress.

Stimulants

Stimulants include methamphetamine, amphetamines, and cocaine. These may come in crystalized forms or as prescription stimulant pills that people choose to crush and snort. Snorting cocaine causes nasal deformities referred to as “coke nose” and causes thousands of overdoses every year.

Stimulants tend to increase one’s central nervous system activity, resulting in increased heart rate, breathing, cognition, and energy levels. Some people may find them initially useful to be more productive in school or at work, but continued misuse or abuse does not lead to overall improved performance.

Find A Drug Treatment Program

Crushing and snorting pills to achieve a faster high is a sign of drug abuse. Evidence-based and effective treatments in an addiction treatment program can provide the support and resources needed to start fresh.

If you’re ready to start your recovery journey, contact a treatment provider today to explore your treatment options.