Plugging Cocaine | Dangers Of Cocaine Rectal Use

Plugging is a method of drug use where someone inserts drugs directly into their rectum. While it’s not as common as snorting, swallowing, or injecting drugs, more people use this method than most realize.

Some people mistakenly believe plugging is safer than other methods of cocaine use. This is false. Plugging cocaine carries distinct and serious risks that other methods do not, including rapid overdose from accelerated absorption and severe gastrointestinal damage.

Plugging can also lead to severe weight loss and malnutrition as cocaine suppresses appetite and damages the digestive system. It increases the risk of heart problems including tears in the aorta, which is often fatal. Plugging cocaine also raises the chances of having a stroke or seizure, and long-term use can cause movement disorders like Parkinson’s disease. The drug reduces blood flow to the intestines, potentially causing tissue death in the bowels.

Perhaps most dangerous is that plugging increases overdose risk because the drug enters the bloodstream so rapidly. The body absorbs cocaine faster through rectal tissue than through the nose or mouth, making it easier to accidentally take a lethal dose.

Dangers And Risks Of Plugging Cocaine

Cocaine is a strong central nervous system stimulant that’s created from the leaves of coca plants.

It is sometimes used by doctors in the United States for valid medical purposes, such as local anesthesia during some surgeries. However, it has a high potential for abuse and potentially severe side effects. This is especially true if a person chooses to plug cocaine. When cocaine is inserted into the rectum, it can cause additional physical problems.

Serious side effects may include:

• passing blood
• rectal pain
• tears in the colon
• inability to control bowel movements
• decreased blood flow to the small intestine
• damage or death of rectal tissue

There’s also an increased risk of more severe adverse reactions, including an increased risk of overdose, when plugging cocaine.

Fentanyl

An additional and growing danger is fentanyl contamination in the cocaine supply. Given that rectal administration already accelerates drug absorption, fentanyl contamination in plugged cocaine dramatically increases the risk of rapid fatal overdose.

Fentanyl test strips can detect the drug’s presence before use. You should also keep naloxone readily available for anyone using cocaine from illicit sources, and you can obtain it over the counter at most pharmacies without a prescription.

Levamisole

Cocaine is also frequently adulterated with levamisole. This veterinary medication  can cause agranulocytosis, which is a severe reduction in white blood cells that compromises the immune system.

When cocaine is plugged, levamisole enters the bloodstream directly through rectal tissue. Anyone who uses cocaine and develops unexplained fever, mouth sores, or recurrent infections should inform a treating physician of their cocaine use immediately.

Plugging Cocaine Overdose Risk

When cocaine abuse occurs, there’s always a risk of accidental overdose. This risk may be increased if cocaine is being plugged. Drugs taken through rectal administration can take effect faster and generally have higher bioavailability compared to drugs that are swallowed. That means a person may experience a more intense high that both occurs and fades faster than usual.

This also means that the desired effects of the drug may wear off before the drug has totally left a person’s body, which may lead them to take more. This can contribute to a rapid overdose.

Common signs of a cocaine overdose can include:

• chest pains
• increased heart rate
• increased blood flow/high blood pressure
• high body temperature
• cardiac arrest (heart attack)
• seizures
• stroke

If you suspect a cocaine overdose, call 911 immediately.

Other Dangers Of Plugging Cocaine

Beyond the immediate side effects that happen right after using, plugging cocaine repeatedly causes serious long-term damage to the body. The rectum and intestines aren’t designed to handle caustic chemicals like cocaine, and regular exposure destroys tissue over time.

Each time someone plugs cocaine, they’re causing physical trauma to a sensitive part of their body while flooding their system with a toxic stimulant. The combination creates health problems that get worse the longer the abuse continues.

Long-term dangers of plugging cocaine include:

• severe damage to the gastrointestinal system including chronic pain and bowel problems
• internal tears, ulcers, and bleeding in the rectal tissue
• permanent cardiovascular damage including weakened heart muscle and irregular heartbeat
• dramatic weight loss leading to malnutrition and weakened immune system
• severe depression and mental health decline when not using the drug

These aren’t minor issues that will heal on their own once someone stops using. Many of these health problems require medical treatment and some may cause permanent damage.

Untreated cocaine addiction only gets worse over time, and the physical consequences become more severe with each use. If you recognize these warning signs in yourself or someone you care about, it’s time to get help.

If cocaine use is accompanied by severe depression or suicidal thoughts, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline immediately. These are recognized symptoms that require urgent support.

Potential For Healing

Early-stage rectal and gastrointestinal damage from cocaine use can improve with sustained abstinence and appropriate medical care. A gastroenterologist or colorectal specialist can assess the extent of damage and recommend treatment.

Severe or long-standing damage may require more intensive intervention. The sooner cocaine use stops, the greater the potential for recovery.

Side Effects Of Cocaine Use

When cocaine is inserted rectally, it absorbs into the bloodstream much faster than when snorted or swallowed. The rectal tissue is thin and filled with blood vessels, which allows the drug to bypass the digestive system and reach the brain within minutes. This rapid absorption creates a more intense high that hits harder and faster.

However, this also means the side effects are stronger and more dangerous. Someone who has just plugged cocaine will likely experience more severe physical and mental reactions than someone who used the drug in other ways.

Common short-term side effects of plugging cocaine include:

• high blood pressure
• increased heart rate
• constricted blood vessels
• nausea
• tremors and muscle twitches
• restlessness
• irritability
• increased alertness
• anxiety
• paranoia

These side effects can be frightening and physically dangerous, especially for someone with existing heart problems or high blood pressure. The intense spike in heart rate and blood pressure puts enormous strain on the cardiovascular system and can trigger heart attacks or strokes, even in young, otherwise healthy people. The mental side effects like paranoia and anxiety can lead to dangerous behavior or panic attacks.

If you or someone you know is experiencing these symptoms after using cocaine, seek medical help immediately, especially if there are chest pains, trouble breathing, or signs of a heart attack or stroke.

Cocaine Effects On The Brain And Body

Cocaine can produce euphoric effects by increasing the amount of dopamine in the brain. It works to block the reuptake of dopamine, which causes a buildup of the chemical. Messing with the brain’s natural communication and reward systems can have long-term effects, including new or worsening mental health issues. Rectal administration can also lead to potentially severe physical effects on a person’s body.

When drugs are plugged, they’re absorbed through the lining inside the rectum. After time, this can lead to side effects like persistent diarrhea, rectal tissue damage, and poor blood circulation.

Treatment Options For Cocaine Abuse

If you or a loved one may be plugging cocaine or engaging in substance use in general, don’t put off getting help. There are several treatment options available for cocaine addiction and abuse, including both inpatient and outpatient programs.

Inpatient treatment programs are more immersive. Generally, they’re the most effective type of treatment for people who struggle with cocaine use. With this option, a person will go to a detox facility for several days, weeks, or months and stay full-time.

Alternatively, outpatient treatment programs are available. In these programs, people may visit a treatment center several times each week to receive support and resources.

Cocaine abuse recovery may include:

• behavioral counseling
• medication-based treatments
• group or individual therapy
• contingency management or motivational incentives
• evaluation and treatment for other mental health problems
• long-term follow-up appointments to prevent relapse

When a person stops using cocaine, they may experience uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms including intense cravings, fatigue, depression, and irritability.

While cocaine withdrawal is generally not medically dangerous in the same way alcohol or benzodiazepine withdrawal can be, the psychological symptoms can be serious and are best managed with professional support.

Find Cocaine Use Treatment Today

Browse our directory to find cocaine use disorder treatment programs near you, or call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 for free, confidential support.

Written by the Addiction Resource Editorial Staff