So, you ended up insufflating approx. 17 mg Focalin? Honestly, I would have guessed it would have done a bit more for you, with no tolerance, however it did bring about modest euphoria as you are describing your experience. I don't know anything, really, about defeating time-release tablets/capsules, but it sounds you got it pretty well defeated for the first time. Next time, if you want to use this again, you might consider dosing around 25 mg or so. I know that seems a modest increase, but euphoriants like dexmethylphendiate (Focalin) can be fickle, doing you good one time and not as good the next, even at the same dose. It is unfortunate that methylphenidate and dexmethylphenidate, in the instant-release forms, have such a short duration of action, but they do. The comedown/crash can be subjectively more unpleasant than that of amphetamines. With methylphenidates, you get high fast and quick (esp. via insufflation), and you have a couple hours of good effects, then sharp crash; whereas with amphetamines, you get a longer, different type of high (depending on if you even can on account of tolerance), but endure a longer comedown. Methylphenidates do have rougher comedowns for a lot of users at commonly used doses, but they are over fairly quickly, unlike amphetamines. It has seemed to me methylphenidates' crash leaves you feeling sort of uneasy, somewhat depressed, and out of sorts, where amphetamine experiences don't even 'crash' so much as comedown and leave you less motivated, tired, and sort of downed out, but for a longer period. It does depend on the dose, but methylphenidate is not very forgiving to any user, tolerance or not, when crashing, whereas an amphetamine comedown is not even necessarily unpleasant for those who are completely amphetamine-naïve. The euphoria of methylphenidate is a bit more 'raw', and does not necessarily come with a great stimulant effect. But, amphetamine euphoria is a bit more 'pliable', and can be made more or less unpleasant via what one does with the stimulating effects that come with it. Methylphenidate is like a simple euphoria, if you will, but amphetamine euphoria often can be very interrelated with the stimulation and activation of the user's body and mind. I am not sure if I am making much sense, here, but this has been my personal experience combined with reading countless anecdotes on the euphoria of both.
In short, if you did defeat the time release sufficiently, it seems you got a good taste of methylphenidates and their euphoric effects. Your mood went up - that is a key sign of euphoria, even if subjectively mild. And, you experienced a very typical crash/comedown that seems right on the money for a drug like dexmethylphenidate, or any methylphenidate for that matter. I am not surprised you didn't feel 'high', because for their shortcomings, one thing I like about methylphenidates is that they are pretty honest in how they effect you, if that makes sense. I'd try the same dose again or a very slightly increased dose, if you want to do dexmethylphenidate, again. It will probably feel better the second go around, I'd think, because with methylphenidates, tolerance is a rather slow thing to build up, very much unlike amphetamines, where tolerance jumps leaps and bounds in literally days and weeks of use.
I hope you find your 'sweet spot' dose of a stimulant/euphoriant that pleases you. BE SAFE, but if you want to continue, experiment with different drugs of similar effect and the doses/routes of administration with much caution and prudence, and you may find a euphoric stimulant that you can use happily when desired and/or needed. I will say some people are just not 'upper people', but I like my whole spectrum of substances, so who knows as for you. Just, be safe, and never over do it. You can always take more, but never less. I warn you of this, because stimulants are potentially dangerous when used improperly or without caution. So, yeah, just be safe, and I wish you happy traveling - any questions you have for me, just ask. I am more than pleased to share my knowledge to help others benefit from psychotropic substances.
P.S. - I wouldn't add energy drinks or much caffeine to 'boost' the effects of stimulant drugs with which you have little or no firsthand experience. They can just complicate things for the worse, and leave you with a less enjoyable, potentially more risky, experience. I know it is 'just' caffeine, but we take caffeine's own profile of stimulant effects for granted because of its enormous popularity and availability. You want things to be as 'clean' as possible, if that makes sense. And, just a question - do you take any other medications or drugs, legal or not, on a regular basis? If so, what and how much. That would give me a much better idea of your situation.
40mg snorted would def be fun