Can You Get Addicted from Snorting Codeine?

Yes, you can get addicted from snorting codeine, just as you can get addicted to it by simply ingesting it. Most people who take codeine do not realize that it is an addictive opiate. The majority of people who abuse codeine think of it as a light opiate and less dangerous than traditional opiates. Unfortunately, this is simply not the case.

What is Snorting a Drug?

According to the National Library of Medicine, snorting a drug like codeine involves crushing a pill up and then inhaling it into the nose with a straw or off a surface.

Snorting any drug is a clear sign of abuse and, possibly, addiction. Snorting is a popular way to abuse prescription drugs. It is also a popular way to do other drugs such as heroin (a very close cousin to codeine) and cocaine.

Snorting a drug is no safer than doing it in another form, in fact it can be more dangerous. If you find yourself crushing a prescription drug, including codeine, chances are you are well on your way to addiction to that drug. To find codeine addiction treatment, call us at 800-291-1732 (Who Answers?) . We can help.

The Dangers of Snorting Opiates

Snorting codeine can cause nosebleeds.

Snorting prescription codeine and other opiates is dangerous. Due to the method of transmission more of the drug goes to the brain rather than through the digestive tract. When this happens, you do get higher faster but it can cause a host of other problems. Some of these problems are:

• damage to the delicate nasal tissues
• damage to the sinuses
• nosebleeds
• increased chance of overdose
• increased chance of damage to the brain

Snorting done with a straw is more likely to transmit infections such as hepatitis C, other viruses, and bacteria. Sharing any drug paraphernalia is dangerous due to these infections.

Most pills also have a protective coating so not too much of the drug reaches your blood at once. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, most prescription opioids are designed to be taken orally which allows for a slow and steady release of the drug into the body.

Faster Transmission, Faster Addiction

The faster the codeine is absorbed into the brain, the faster and more powerful the high. This makes someone snorting codeine more likely to be addicted to it. Snorting codeine is very similar to snorting cocaine in the way that it acts on the body. When you snort a drug, the drug travels with oxygenated blood through the body and then into the brain.

When you take codeine in pill form it has to go through the digestive tract first. This means that you become addicted faster when you snort codeine than you do when you just take the drug in pill form.

Finding Treatment for Codeine Addiction

When you have taken to crushing a pill and snorting it to make the effects better, chances are you are addicted to that drug and in need of treatment. To find the best treatment for you, call 800-291-1732 (Who Answers?) .

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