According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, “Among people aged 12 or older in 2021, 0.4% (or about 1.1 million people) reported using heroin in the past 12 months.”[1]
Usually, when people imagine heroin addiction, they picture someone engaging in intravenous (IV) drug use. While it is most common to inject heroin, it is also possible to smoke and snort the drug. It is important to note that each method of administration is dangerous and has the potential to lead to life-threatening overdoses.
While injecting heroin is the most dangerous way to abuse the drug, snorting the substance can lead to an array of dangerous effects. Being aware of the dangers associated with snorting heroin can protect you from experiencing the consequences yourself.
Why Do People Snort Heroin?
There are many reasons a person may choose to snort heroin.
First, most people do not immediately begin shooting heroin the first time they use it. Typically, people start smoking or snorting the substance. Over time, individuals may develop a tolerance to heroin and move on from snorting to intravenous use.
Another reason someone may choose to snort the drug is that they believe it is safer or healthier than shooting up. While heroin causes more potent effects when it is used intravenously, snorting the drug is still extremely dangerous.
Lastly, someone may snort heroin to hide their drug abuse. IV drug use typically leaves needle marks behind that are a telltale sign of heroin addiction. When someone snorts the drug instead of injecting it, it can be more difficult to tell if they are abusing heroin.
Effects of Snorting Heroin
Regardless of the method you are using to abuse heroin, doing so is extremely dangerous. This drug is highly addictive and one of the main substances contributing to the high number of overdoses in the United States. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), there were 13,165 deaths reported in 2020 associated with heroin abuse.[2]
When you snort heroin, the effects take between 5 to 10 minutes to appear. This is because insufflation has a slower rate of absorption when compared to smoking or injecting the drug. The effects of snorting heroin can last for several hours, depending on how much you are abusing at a time.
The common effects of snorting heroin include:[3]
- Euphoria
- Slowed breathing and heart rate
- Feelings of heaviness in legs and arms
- Flushed skin
- Pinpointed pupils
- Dry mouth
- Drowsiness
- Nausea and vomiting
- Itching
Dangers of Snorting Heroin
Heroin is an extremely potent opioid drug that can lead to addiction, mental health issues, and an array of serious health complications. While some people believe that snorting heroin is safer than other methods of administration, no form of heroin abuse is safe. If you or a loved one suffer from heroin addiction, a heroin rehab center can help.
The dangers of snorting heroin include:
Damage to Your Nose
Snorting heroin can cause long-term damage to your nose. Common effects of snorting heroin include nasal irritation, chronic runny nose, nose bleeds, loss of smell, and problems swallowing.
Over time, the damage to your nose will become more severe. Eventually, you could develop a hole in the cartilage of your nose that separates the nostrils.[4] Snorting heroin can also lead to a significantly deviated septum.
Organ Damage
Heroin is a central nervous system depressant, so when you abuse the substance repeatedly it can lead to permanent adverse effects on your body’s circulatory system which can lead to an array of effects, including damage to your organs.
Chronic heroin abuse can lead to the following issues:
- Lung complications like pneumonia and tuberculosis
- Bacterial infections in the lungs
- Infection of the heart lining
- Clogging in blood vessels that lead to liver and kidney damage
Hormonal Changes
When you snort heroin frequently, the substance may begin to affect your hormones. For women, this could mean an irregular menstrual cycle, while men experience significantly reduced sexual function due to decreases in testosterone.[5] Lastly, both sexes can experience a decline in their sex drive.
Mental Health Issues
Snorting heroin can lead to significant changes in your brain. One of the most concerning effects heroin can have on your brain is a reduction in white matter, which could lead to a lowered ability to make decisions.[6] Additionally, long-term heroin abuse can lead to the development of mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, and more.
Risk of Overdose
Lastly, many people begin snorting heroin to avoid experiencing life-threatening overdoses. Unfortunately, you are still at serious risk of experiencing an overdose when you snort heroin.
The signs of a heroin overdose include:[7]
- Shallow breathing
- Weak pulse
- Tongue discoloration
- Bluish nails and lips
- Low blood pressure
- Muscle twitches
- Confusion or disorientation
- Loss of consciousness
- Cold and clammy skin
- Coma
- Death
If you believe that you or a loved one are suffering from a heroin overdose, contact emergency services immediately. Emergency medical professionals can provide you with an opioid overdose reversal medication known as naloxone (Narcan).
Find Help for Heroin Abuse and Addiction in California Today
If you or a loved one suffer from heroin addiction, recovery is possible. At Arise Treatment Center, we can provide you with the support and tools you need to overcome addiction and regain control of your life.
To learn more about our heroin abuse and addiction rehab program, contact Arise Treatment Center today.
References:
- https://nida.nih.gov/publications/research-reports/heroin/scope-heroin-use-in-united-states
- https://nida.nih.gov/research-topics/trends-statistics/overdose-death-rates
- https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/heroin/what-are-immediate-short-term-effects-heroin-use
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24159913/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8868137/
- https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/heroin
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470415/