Snorting Vs. Smoking Meth

Crystal meth, also called “ice,” is a powerful street drug that people use in several different ways. The most common methods are smoking it in a pipe, injecting it with a needle, or snorting it through the nose. Each method delivers the drug to your brain at different speeds and creates effects that last for different amounts of time.

Meth gives people who use it an intense high that includes extreme happiness, bursts of energy, and feeling wide awake for hours. When someone smokes meth, it reaches the brain within seconds and creates an immediate, powerful rush. This happens faster than snorting or swallowing the drug.

The high from smoking meth also fades quicker than other methods. Snorting meth takes a bit longer to kick in, but the effects tend to last longer in your system.

Physical Effects Of Smoking Meth

A person that smokes meth may experience extreme damage to the mouth and teeth (called “meth mouth”).

People that smoke meth may have more intense short-term and long-term side effects because of the stronger meth high that results from smoking the drug.

A person that smokes meth will have a greater likelihood of getting liver damage and lung damage. Mental health effects may be comparable to other methods of meth abuse.

Physical Effects Of Snorting Meth

Snorting meth, also known as “railing,” involves sniffing crushed-up crystals into the nose.

While this method is slightly less effective than smoking, it keeps the drug abuser from getting “meth mouth” as quickly as those that exclusively smoke the drug.

Snorting meth may:

• damage the nasal tissues
• cause sinus infections
• lead damaged septums
• cause nose bleeds

Some people choose to “hot rail” meth, which is when heated up crystal meth vapor is snorted, a sort of intranasal “smoking”. There is no safe way to ingest meth, and its effects are deadly.

Short-Term Effects Of Smoking And Snorting Meth

When people smoke or snort meth, the drug hits their system fast and creates intense effects. Many individuals go on binges where they keep using meth for several days straight without sleeping or eating properly. These binges continue until they crash hard during what’s called a meth comedown.

Mixing meth with other drugs makes things even more dangerous.

Common short-term effects include:

• rapid or irregular heartbeat
• intense feelings of happiness or euphoria
• extreme mood swings and emotional outbursts
• overconfidence or feeling invincible
• staying awake for long periods with high energy
• aggressive behavior and increased sex drive
• restlessness and inability to sit still

Combining meth with other substances creates serious risks. Some people mix meth with opioids in what’s called a “speedball,” which sends confusing signals to the brain and body since one drug speeds you up while the other slows you down. Using alcohol with meth is also dangerous because it puts extra strain on your heart and can make mental health problems worse. These drug combinations can lead to overdose, heart attack, or stroke.

Long-Term Effects Of Methamphetamine Use

Because meth works on the dopamine neurotransmitters in the brain, it can cause addiction. Sustained drug use involving meth, either by snorting or smoking, will impact vital systems.

Some lasting effects of meth abuse include:

• psychosis
• depression
• cognitive deficits and loss of executive function
• heart problems (heart failure, heart attack)
• liver problems
• high blood pressure

Because meth acts as an “upper”, it stresses the heart, lungs, and circulatory system. It also impacts a person’s mental faculties after extended periods of drug use involving meth.

Snorting And Smoking Meth Increase Risk For Addiction And Withdrawal

Snorting and smoking meth are both methods of administration that can increase a person’s risk for addiction and dependence, which can result in withdrawal symptoms.

Some signs of meth addiction and withdrawal include:

• skin sores
• confusion
• paranoia
• irritability
• anxiety or depression
• low energy and drowsiness
• intense meth cravings
• insomnia
• fatigue
• sleepiness
• loss of motivation
• seizures
• heart arrhythmias and hypertension
• dry mouth
• muscle spasms
• headaches

Meth Overdose

Taking too much meth can lead to a life-threatening overdose. This happens when someone uses multiple doses close together during a binge or mixes meth with other drugs like stimulants, depressants, or psychoactive substances. When the body can’t handle the amount of meth in the system, it starts to shut down.

Watch for these warning signs of meth overdose:

• stroke or seizures
• heart attack or chest pain
• feeling dizzy or like you might pass out
• severe stomach pain or cramping
• sudden personality changes or confusion
• passing out or not responding when someone talks to you
• extreme paranoia or hallucinations
• overly hyper, violent, or aggressive behavior
• irregular heartbeat or cardiac arrest

A meth overdose is a medical emergency that requires immediate help. If you see someone showing these symptoms, call 911 right away. Quick medical attention can save someone’s life and prevent permanent damage to the heart, brain, or other organs.

Addiction Treatment For Meth Abuse

If you or a loved one has a substance abuse disorder involving methamphetamines, then treatment can help.

Inpatient rehab programs and detox for meth abuse and addiction paired with behavioral therapies can help provide the first step towards continued recovery.

Written by the Addiction Resource Editorial Staff