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Heroin is usually injected, sniffed/snorted, or smoked.
Typically, a heroin abuser may inject up to four times a day.
Intravenous injection provides the greatest intensity and most
rapid onset of euphoria (7 to 8 seconds), while intramuscular
injection produces a relatively slow onset of euphoria (5 to 8
minutes). When heroin is sniffed or smoked, peak effects are
usually felt within 10 to 15 minutes. Although smoking and
sniffing heroin do not produce a "rush" as quickly or as
intensely as intravenous injection, NIDA researchers have
confirmed that all three forms of heroin administration are
addictive.
Injection continues to be the
predominant method of heroin use among addicted users seeking
treatment; however, researchers have observed a shift in heroin
use patterns, from injection to sniffing and smoking. In fact,
sniffing/snorting heroin is now the most widely reported means
of taking heroin among users admitted for drug treatment in
Newark, Chicago, and New York.
With the shift in heroin abuse
patterns comes an even more diverse group of users. Older users
(over 30) continue to be one of the largest user groups in most
national data. However, the increase continues in new, young
users across the country who are being lured by inexpensive,
high-purity heroin that can be sniffed or smoked instead of
injected. Heroin has also been appearing in more affluent
communities. |
