Drugs That Users Inject
Abusing drugs by injecting them is dangerous, but not everyone knows precisely how injections can pose risks in addition to the threat already posed by the drug being used. Injecting drugs can cause serious, even life-long health consequences. Not only can the effects of drugs be more intense when injecting them, the long-term health effects can be dire. If you have a heroin addiction or abuse other addictive substances by injecting them, your health will deteriorate. With drug abuse and addiction treatment, you can manage your substance abuse problem and transform your life for the better.
People may abuse drugs by injecting them into the veins or injecting them beneath the skin, a practice known as skin popping. Almost any drug commonly abused can be dissolved into liquid and injected into the body. However, the addictive drugs most widely abused intravenously include:
- Heroin
- Prescription opioids such as Vicodin or morphine
- Other prescription drugs such as Adderall
- Methamphetamine (aka crystal meth)
- Crack cocaine
- Ecstasy
- MDMA
- PCP
- Ketamine
Illicit drugs and prescription drugs that are abused intravenously can more quickly lead to physical dependence and drug addiction. Remember that drug addictions are chronic conditions. They will not spontaneously get better. Addiction treatment and abstinence from drugs and alcohol are the best ways to manage substance use disorders.
4 Dangerous Effects of Injecting Drugs
Intravenous drug use and addiction can lead to dangerous short-term and long-term health consequences. Common intravenously abused drugs can cause health issues such as:
1. Vein injuries
Collapsed veins are a common problem for heroin abusers, but injecting other drugs can cause collapsed veins too. A collapsed vein can occur when drug abusers inject the same site repeatedly or use a blunt needle to shoot the drug. Skin popping can also lead to vein problems. The scar tissue created by skin popping can cause sclerosis of the veins and also cause tissue damage.
2. Wound botulism
Injecting an illegal drug like black tar heroin or meth can cause wounds to develop. Injecting these drugs into muscles or under the skin can cause wounds that develop botulism. Botulism bacteria can be serious–even deadly. Unfortunately, because of the stigma associated with drug abuse and addiction, many drug abusers wait too long to seek medical treatment.
3. Increased risk of infection
Botulism infections aren’t the only infectious risk. Injecting drugs like crystal meth and heroin is associated with an increased risk of contracting HIV and Hepatitis C, two viruses that can be deadly if left untreated. These viruses are contracted among drug abusers who share needles.
4. Increased risk of drug overdoses
Injecting drugs like crack cocaine and prescription medications derived from the poppy plant (opioid painkillers) cause a quick and powerful high. Injecting just slightly too much of a drug or combining drugs can cause an overdose. Heroin overdoses have increased in recent years, as have overdoses involving opioid drugs.
How to Get Help for Drug Addiction
Substance use disorder treatment can help you manage your drug or alcohol addiction. Heroin addiction treatment or treatment for addictions to prescription opioids or other commonly abused drugs can safeguard your health and even save your life. The effects of drugs can be deadly whether you inject or take them by other methods.
Addiction treatment programs that include evidence-based substance abuse and mental health treatment like cognitive behavioral therapy can lead to addiction recovery. If you have an opioid addiction, addiction to heroin, or other substance use disorders, you need addiction treatment and recovery plans. You may also need dual diagnosis treatment if you have co-occurring disorders such as addiction and bipolar disorder or other mental disorders.
Learn about the Benzo withdrawal timeline here:
Muse Treatment Center Drug Rehab Los Angeles
Muse Treatment is a leading Los Angeles alcohol and drug rehab with treatment programs that address all levels of care, including medical detox, inpatient rehab, intensive outpatient treatment, medication-assisted treatment, and dual diagnosis treatment. With our broad range of evidence-based and holistic treatment approaches, we can help you achieve addiction recovery. We can also tailor an addiction treatment program to suit your individual needs. Don’t wait for rock bottom like an opioid overdose or the dangerous effects of heroin injections. Call our treatment center at (800) 426-1818 to get the medical assistance you need to be well.
