Plugging Heroin | Does Plugging Heroin Work?

Heroin is one of the most addictive and dangerous drugs in the United States, typically taken by injection, snorting, or smoking. What’s less commonly known is that some people also use heroin through rectal administration, a practice known as plugging or boofing, which involves mixing the drug with water and inserting it into the rectum using a needleless syringe.

People choose this method because the rectum’s dense network of blood vessels absorbs drugs almost as quickly as intravenous injection, producing an intense high that hits faster than swallowing or smoking. While plugging is less common than other methods, it carries its own set of health risks on top of the already dangerous effects of heroin itself.

Why Do People Plug Heroin?

Some people choose to plug heroin because of veinous collapse in typical injection sites, or because they do not want to create “track marks” from heroin injection. Drug administration through the rectum creates an intense high because the drug is absorbed through delicate tissues and into the bloodstream very quickly. This method of drug use does carry the usual risks of illicit drug use involving opioids and additional potential harm because of the quick drug ingestion.

Side Effects Of Plugging Heroin

Heroin works to suppress pain and also slows down the central nervous system (CNS). Many people also choose to use other CNS depressants like benzodiazepines with heroin because benzos alleviate withdrawal effects and make the “come down” off heroin more tolerable.

Because heroin is considered a “street drug”, there is no way to verify the quality of the drug as is possible with a prescription drug. In fact, many illegal opioids are contaminated with fentanyl, which is over 50 times more potent than heroin, and may easily cause an overdose.

Heroin can cause physical symptoms when ingested rectally, such as:

• drowsiness
• heavy arms and legs
• respiratory depression
• dry mouth
• constricted pupils
• nausea
• warm, flushed skin

The effects of heroin will typically last between a half-hour and an hour. The extreme sedation caused by heroin can complicate other risks of plugging heroin.

Physical Effects Of Plugging Heroin

Plugging heroin will involve injecting heroin mixed with water into the rectum. Because this is done outside of a sterile healthcare environment with non-sterile equipment, the potential for infection and other problems increases.

Some people may experience physical symptoms, such as:

• persistent diarrhea
• damaged rectal tissue
• poor blood circulation

Notably, people that take heroin as a suppository and engage in risky sexual behavior increase their risks of intravenous/sexually transmitted diseases like HIV/AIDS and hepatitis. This increased risk of sexually transmitted infections occurs because people that are addicted to heroin or use heroin recreationally also tend to find themselves in more dangerous interpersonal and sexual situations. Prolonged heroin abuse also increases the risk of organ damage, psychological impacts, and overdose death.

Long-Term Effects Of Plugging Heroin

Sustained opioid abuse is detrimental to the heart, liver, and kidneys in particular. Heroin use has also been shown to contribute to serious mental health symptoms that stem from heroin-induced brain injuries.

Over the long term, a person that abuses opioids like heroin may experience the following effects:

• increased risk of infection and cancers
• low blood pressure
• stroke
• heart attack
• irregular heartbeat
• symptoms of dementia
• brain damage
• multiple organ failure (liver and kidney)
• constipation
• chronic depression
• irritability
• loss of pain sensitivity

The long-term effects of plugging heroin are severe and can permanently damage your body and mind. While plugging might seem like a safer alternative to injecting because it doesn’t leave track marks, it causes just as much harm to your internal organs and brain over time. The damage to your heart, liver, kidneys, and brain can be irreversible, and many of these conditions can lead to early death. If you or someone you know is plugging heroin or using it in any way, it’s critical to seek addiction treatment as soon as possible before these long-term effects become permanent or life-threatening.

Increased Risk Of Overdose

Over time, the sustained use of heroin may eventually result in an overdose. When a person takes drugs like heroin, they may build up a tolerance and will need more of the drug to achieve the same result. In addition to the tolerances that develop, many people will use other drugs or alcohol that can make the depressant effects more potent. When the body is overwhelmed by CNS depressants, overdose symptoms can occur.

Some signs that a person has overdosed on heroin include:

• slowed heart rate
• lethargy
• drowsiness
• respiratory depression
• coma
• pinpoint pupils
• agitation
• confusion
• cold or clammy skin

Overdoses frequently occur when a person stops using opioids for a period of time and then takes the drug again in the same quantity, before their tolerance has adjusted. When a heroin overdose happens, drugs like naloxone (Narcan) can prevent deaths.

Heroin Withdrawal And Why Quitting Alone Is Dangerous

One of the biggest obstacles to stopping heroin use is withdrawal, which can begin within hours of the last dose and feel physically overwhelming. Symptoms include intense muscle aches, sweating, chills, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, anxiety, and powerful cravings that make it extremely difficult to stay sober without help. For people who have been plugging heroin, the rapid absorption method can accelerate dependence, meaning withdrawal may set in faster and feel more intense.

Trying to quit cold turkey without medical supervision can be dangerous, and the risk of relapse during withdrawal is high. Medical detox programs can manage these symptoms safely using medications like buprenorphine or methadone, making the process more manageable and increasing the chances of a successful recovery.

Find Treatment For Heroin Addiction

If you or a loved one is plugging heroin or other opioid drugs, there is no better time to get help than now. You can prevent the risk of overdose death and lifelong physical and psychological effects by making a change now. Browse our directory or reach out to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) for more information about addiction recovery.

Written by the Addiction Resource Editorial Staff