Plugging Meth | Effects Of Crystal Meth Rectal Use

Crystal methamphetamine, commonly called meth, is one of the most widely abused illegal drugs in the United States. While people typically think of meth being smoked, snorted, or injected, some users choose a method called “plugging,” which involves inserting the drug rectally. This method of drug use has become more common among people who are trying to avoid visible signs of drug use like needle marks or damaged nasal passages.

However, plugging crystal meth is extremely dangerous and can cause serious health problems that may last for years or even be permanent. This method of using meth can lead to severe damage to the bowels and rectum, dangerous infections, increased risk of overdose, and a higher likelihood of developing drug addiction.

What Does Plugging Mean?

Plugging drugs is a term that is used to describe the insertion of substances like crystal meth into the rectum. This route of administration is sometimes referred to as “booty bumping,” rectal use, or rectal administration.

Drugs that are commonly plugged include:

• Adderall (amphetamine/dextroamphetamine)
• methamphetamine
• alcohol
• MDMA/ecstasy

Crystal meth is an illicit substance, meaning it is illegal for recreational use in the United States. Both prescription drugs and illicit drugs can be plugged to achieve desired effects.

Why Do People Plug Crystal Meth?

Methamphetamine drugs can be used in a variety of ways, including by intravenous injection, insufflation (snorting), inhalation, and smoking. The reason why someone chooses to take meth rectally can vary from person to person.

Reducing Harm Of Meth Use

When using proper techniques for rectal use, plugging meth has been described by some harm reduction advocates as a way to use meth without developing track marks or abscesses seen among people who inject meth.

Rectal administration can also allow people to avoid side effects of snorting drugs, such as nasal irritation, or effects on the lungs from inhalation. Even so, plugging meth is not safer than snorting, smoking, or injecting it. In addition to the general side effects of meth, plugging meth carries a high risk for overdose, damage to the rectal tissue, and other long-term health consequences.

Quick And Powerful Effects

Rectal administration has a high bioavailability rate. This means that drugs that are taken rectally can produce more powerful effects in small doses, compared to other methods of drug use. Plugging drugs like meth can cause effects to kick in very quickly, as a result of how quickly the drug reaches the bloodstream. For people who are addicted to meth, or are searching for a high, this can be a primary motivator to “booty-bump” meth.

Side Effects Of Plugging Meth

Methamphetamine is a powerful stimulant that dramatically increases dopamine levels in the brain. Dopamine is a natural chemical that controls body movement, mood, and the brain’s reward system that makes us feel pleasure and satisfaction. When meth floods the brain with excess dopamine, it creates intense but dangerous effects throughout the body.

When someone plugs meth rectally, the drug enters the bloodstream quickly through blood vessels in the rectal wall, causing effects to be felt within just a few minutes. This rapid delivery method can cause serious physical and mental health problems that are often more intense and dangerous than other ways of using meth.

Physical and psychological effects of plugging meth can include:

• rush of energy
• euphoria
• agitation
• restlessness
• rapid heart rate
• increased blood pressure
• high body temperature
• decreased appetite
• diarrhea
• paranoia
• aggressive behavior

Additional side effects of plugging can also occur without the use of proper lubrication, or if someone attempts to plug crystal meth without fully dissolving it into a liquid. Plugging crystal rocks without fully dissolving them may cause damage to external tissue and infection.

Dangers Of Plugging Meth

Methamphetamine is an extremely dangerous drug when abused, and plugging meth carries an high risk for developing addiction. As an illegal substance with powerful effects on the brain’s reward system, meth quickly becomes habit-forming, making it very difficult for people to stop using once they start. When someone becomes addicted to meth, they may turn to desperate measures to continue getting the drug.

Dangers of plugging meth include:

• bowel disease
• rectal tissue damage
• intestinal damage
• necrosis
• psychological problems (e.g. psychosis)
• violent behavior
• difficulty sleeping
• extreme weight loss
• drug overdose

The combination of these physical and mental health risks makes plugging meth one of the most risky ways to use this already harmful drug. Anyone with meth addiction should seek professional help, as the longer someone uses meth, the more severe and potentially permanent health consequences may become.

Plugging Meth And Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Plugging meth can increase the risk for contracting sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and STIs such as hepatitis C, hepatitis A, and HIV.

There are several reasons to explain this increased risk:

• Rectal tears: Improperly plugging meth can cause tears, which may become entry points for these diseases during anal sex.
• Poor judgment: Many forms of substance use, including meth use, can cause poor judgment. People who are using meth may be at greater risk for having unprotected sex.
• Sharing applicators: Sharing applicators, such as syringes, can increase the risk for contracting diseases and infections.

These increased risks for STDs and STIs make plugging meth not only dangerous for immediate health effects but also for long-term consequences that can affect someone for the rest of their life. Once someone contracts diseases like HIV or hepatitis C, they require lifelong medical treatment.

The Connection Between Plugging Meth And Sexual Risk-Taking

Researchers and healthcare providers have consistently noted a strong link between plugging meth and high-risk sexual behavior, a pattern sometimes called “chemsex.” Meth is well known for lowering inhibitions and intensifying sexual drive, and rectal administration amplifies these effects by delivering the drug to the bloodstream rapidly. This significantly increases the likelihood of unprotected sex with multiple partners, raising the risk of contracting HIV, hepatitis C, and other sexually transmitted infections.

Meth’s powerful effect on judgment makes safe decision-making nearly impossible while under the influence. For this reason, treatment for people who plug meth often needs to address sexual health alongside addiction recovery, including STI testing and counseling to address the psychological factors linking drug use and sexual behavior.

Overdose Risk From Plugging Meth

Drug toxicity, or overdose, can occur following the excessive use of one or more drugs at once. Overdose is a higher risk among people who insert drugs rectally for a couple of reasons. First, plugging meth causes greater absorption of the drug into the body. People can overdose after taking smaller doses this way than they might if they took the drug orally. In addition, it can be difficult to gauge how much meth you’ve taken when inserting it rectally.

Signs of meth overdose include:

• fever
• flushed skin
• high blood pressure
• stomach pain
• chest pain
• difficulty breathing
• rapid or irregular heartbeat
• loss of consciousness
• stroke
• heart attack

Overdosing on meth has the potential to cause organ damage, stroke, and sudden death. If someone you know is experiencing signs of an overdose after plugging meth, call 9-1-1 or poison control right away.

Treatment For Meth Abuse And Addiction

Plugging meth is often a sign of drug addiction. If you or someone you know is abusing or addicted to meth, there are many different options for treatment.

Treatment options for meth addiction include:

• medically supervised detox for meth addiction
• inpatient rehab programs
• outpatient counseling
• cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
• dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
• group therapy
• family therapy
• dual diagnosis treatment for co-occurring mental health disorders
• support groups
• virtual healthcare services (telehealth)
• aftercare programs

Contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) today to learn more about how to find meth addiction treatment near you.

Written by the Addiction Resource Editorial Staff