5 Methods of Drug Abuse

In order for drugs to affect the brain they must first be put into the body. There are five methods of drug use which allow drugs to enter the body: swallowing, smoking, snorting, through suppositories and injecting.

1. Swallowing
Ingesting or swallowing drugs is the most common method of abuse. The individual takes the substance by mouth. They then pass to the stomach and then into the bloodstream. Of all the methods of drug abuse, taking them by mouth is considered to be one of the safest methods because it allows the body time for absorption and the digestive system will self induce vomiting as a defense mechanism to ingesting anything that does not agree with it.

2. Smoking
This method gets the substance into the body’s system a bit faster than swallowing because the smoke goes into the lungs where it quickly moves into the bloodstream. The most common drugs that are smoked are marijuana, heroin, crack and opium. Individuals who smoke are at risk for cancer of the mouth, throat and lung; heart disease and cardiac arrest, stroke, emphysema and bronchitis, pneumonia and other pulmonary disorders and hypertension.

3. Snorting
Some individuals snort drugs such as ecstasy, cocaine, heroin and amphetamines. The substance enters into the bloodstream through the nasal mucus membranes and through the stomach. Individuals using this method will experience the sensation within about 15 minutes after snorting the drug. There are a number of complications from snorting including the deterioration of the lining of the nasal cavity and the septum. Sharing straws and other items to snort the drugs can lead to hepatitis C and HIV.

4. Suppositories
Drugs entered into the body through suppositories will be delivered into the bloodstream through the rectum’s mucus membrane. While this is not a common method of substance abuse, drugs that have been taken using this method are cocaine, speed and ecstasy. The mucus membranes in the rectum are sensitive. Certain illicit drugs may have a high level of acidity and can cause the lining to be permanently damaged. There is also a risk of perforating the lower colon which can be fatal.

5. Injecting
Injecting is the fastest method for experiencing the high from the substance because it puts the drug directly into the bloodstream. Drugs can be injected into the soft tissue, into the muscle or directly into the vein. Individuals who inject will experience the high within 3 to 5 seconds (immediately). This method of delivery goes directly to the brain, escaping the body’s natural defense mechanisms including the digestive system. The dangers that come with injecting include infection at the site of injection. There is also the risk that sharing needles have including HIV and hepatitis. Some individuals may experience collapsing veins and arterial damage which can lead to gangrene, thrombosis and hemorrhaging.