Harm Reduction Is insufflation(snorting) dangerous regardless of the substance?

[piller97]

Of course all snorting carries risk, but I'm talking about the damage typically done by snorting cocaine, the deterioration of the septum.
Do all substances cause this? Or is it limited to cocaine? Is it only certain substances?

I remember reading somewhere that the deterioration was due to the high acidity level of cocaine, though i can't seem to find the article now.



The answer to this question is probably pretty obvious, but I've done searches and i can't find anything definitive.

Also, if you chose to snort substances, what are some harm reduction techniques that you practice?

Thanks!
-p

 

[Hammilton]

Cocaine is a pretty strong vasoconstrictor, and with the continual, repeated use, the lack of blood to the tissue will cause it to die. This is an effect particular to cocaine. There may be other other drugs which have similar effects, but I'm unfamiliar with them now.

You should be thankful for it, actually. By constricting the veins, cocaine limits its own absorption, limiting its negative cardiac effects. Be happy for that, at least.

All substances probably cause some damage, but I believe cocaine is especially bad. Meth is probably up there too, given the acidic and toxic byproducts commonly found in it. I don't think that heroin is especially bad, and I suspect that many pills are fairly safe.

With Suboxone strips, personally, I dissolve the strip on a spoon with just enough water to cover the strip. I use the pokey end of a plastic flosser to stir it up and get it completely dissolved. Then I bring the spoon to my nose and gently sniff a bit into each nostril. I go back and forth until it's all in my nose. It takes about ten minutes. Too quick and it ends up going down the back of my throat, though I try to get as much of that into my mouth (not pleasant). Having a very slightly stuffed nose is helpful, actually, slowing the velocity of the water into my sinuses. It'll clear your sinuses after an hour or so, too.

 

[Dr_Robotnik]

I would say mephedrone (4-MMC) when available in abundance before the 2010 ban here in the UK did the most harm to my nose. Cocaine may well be worse on a mg per mg basis, but mephedrone's fiendishness and the fact you can hoover up huge fuck off lines of it make it the worst. I don't even want to think how many grams I've sniffed. Ketamine is also pretty bad because once tolerance rears it's ugly head your talking 250-500mg lines for a hole and multiple grams in a session just for one person. I know a lot of K heads who complain of holes in the septum. Amphetamines can also burn the insides of your nostrils. I find racemic amphetamine sulphate (what we get here in the EU) if pure, nearly always leads to chemical burn. I won't even put it up my nose anymore.

I think probably any synthetic drug is going to be bad. From some of the reports of new research chemicals such as Ethylphenidate and people describing how sore it is to sniff, it simply has to be very bad for your nose.

To be honest I don't find high grade coke that bad. It's like sniffing air. You don't need huge lines like other chemicals mentioned above either. However as said it is a potent vasoconstrictor so it will do damage with regular use.

 

[Mr.Scagnattie]

Yeah, snorting anything enough can cause this. Certain drugs are worse than others as far as how damaging they are, but you shove enough of anything up your nose, and you're going to do damage.

 

[blight12]

Well snorting is an ROA and shouldnt influence the risk factors of any drug either way beyond via its specific BA level, not so? I would imagine something like IV holds additional risks beyond the BA increase due to possible inpurities etc, but not snorting surely?

 

[flyhighk]

I think non water soluble stuff can accumulate in your lungs if you snort too much stuff.

 

[Treefa]

The occasional line of coke or h probably won't blow out your septum. Lol.

However if you make a habit out of snorting, in particular vasoconstrictors such as cocaine and amphetamines, then yeah you gonna have 1 nostril lol.

^^flyhighk is also right, but I see a lot of people snort things the wrong way..I've found the best way is to take gentle inhalations DIRECTLY into your SINUS CAVITY..so do it kinda like your trying to break loose a lugee lol.
I seen a lot of dumbasses born with good sinuses just straight aspirate lines and lines of coke or oxy or dilaudid or whatever right into their lungs because they BREATHE IT IN...
DON'T FUCKING BREATHE IT IN PEOPLE,,Snort it...into your nasal cavity...if it goes to your lungs not only is it wasteful it's potentially quite harmful.
End rant.

 

[Mr.Scagnattie]

^^

Haha. So true. Such a bloody waste when you see people just hawk all this shit into their lungs and stomach by snorting hard enough to pop their eyes out of their sockets.