WAYS PEOPLE USE
People use meth in different ways. These are referred to as “routes of administration.”
Routes include:
• Swallowing
• Booty bumping (or hooping)
• Snorting
• Smoking
• Hot railing
• Injecting
Each route influences the onset, duration, and intensity of the high, and impacts the body in specific ways. It is a good idea to regularly switch the route of administration to decrease the harms of repeatedly using in the same way. So if you inject meth, periodically give your veins a break and try smoking. If you usually smoke, change the route and go to swallowing for a while so your lungs can recover.
*If possible, avoid injecting as this is the most dangerous route.
SWALLOWING
Swallowing meth is the least harmful way to use. A gel cap (available at natural food stores) is filled with a dose that has been crushed into powder. The powder can be mixed with juice, coffee (trucker coffee), or wrapped in tissue paper (parachute) for swallowing. The come-on is slower than with snorting, smoking, or injecting, and the rush isn’t as strong, but the high lasts the longest. Swallowing is considered a “less addictive” route because the brain doesn’t make the association of getting an instant reward like with smoking or injecting.
Onset: 20-45 minutes
Risks: Nausea, stomach pain, vomiting. Damage to the stomach lining may occur with prolonged use. People with ulcers or digestive issues might experience problems with this route. Some users report that even though the immediate rush isn’t so intense, the high is very strong. This can be overwhelming if you aren’t expecting it.
Harm Reduction: If you experience stomach pain or nausea, consider switching your route, taking a break, or stopping altogether. For someone new to swallowing, it might be tricky to gauge how high you will get until it hits you. Start with a lower dose and see how it affects you.
People use meth in different ways. These are referred to as “routes of administration.”
Routes include:
• Swallowing
• Booty bumping (or hooping)
• Snorting
• Smoking
• Hot railing
• Injecting
Each route influences the onset, duration, and intensity of the high, and impacts the body in specific ways. It is a good idea to regularly switch the route of administration to decrease the harms of repeatedly using in the same way. So if you inject meth, periodically give your veins a break and try smoking. If you usually smoke, change the route and go to swallowing for a while so your lungs can recover.
*If possible, avoid injecting as this is the most dangerous route.
SWALLOWING
Swallowing meth is the least harmful way to use. A gel cap (available at natural food stores) is filled with a dose that has been crushed into powder. The powder can be mixed with juice, coffee (trucker coffee), or wrapped in tissue paper (parachute) for swallowing. The come-on is slower than with snorting, smoking, or injecting, and the rush isn’t as strong, but the high lasts the longest. Swallowing is considered a “less addictive” route because the brain doesn’t make the association of getting an instant reward like with smoking or injecting.
Onset: 20-45 minutes
Risks: Nausea, stomach pain, vomiting. Damage to the stomach lining may occur with prolonged use. People with ulcers or digestive issues might experience problems with this route. Some users report that even though the immediate rush isn’t so intense, the high is very strong. This can be overwhelming if you aren’t expecting it.
Harm Reduction: If you experience stomach pain or nausea, consider switching your route, taking a break, or stopping altogether. For someone new to swallowing, it might be tricky to gauge how high you will get until it hits you. Start with a lower dose and see how it affects you.
BOOTY BUMPING (Hooping)
Booty bumping is taking meth up the butt. This route comes on faster than swallowing. People do it by mixing meth with water, drawing the liquid up into a 3ml or 5ml syringe barrel without a needle, then squirting the liquefied dose into the anus. Another way is to put powdered speed on a finger, insert it, then dab the rectal lining (dabbing). Others insert a shard of crystal into their anus. The blood vessels that line the rectum absorb the drug quickly.
Onset: 3-5 minutes
Risks: Crystal meth is abrasive. Inserting it into the anus can cause tiny cuts in the rectum. This increases the risk of contracting or transmitting HIV, hepatitis C, as well as other blood borne infections, especially for those having anal sex. Even with a condom, it is still risky to have anal after booty bumping since the abrasive powder or pieces of crystal can tear the condom. Regular booty bumping may also cause hemorrhoids, rectal bleeding, and damage to the mucous membranes of the rectum. Fecal matter on fingers can transmit parasites, hepatitis, and other infections.
Harm Reduction: Use your own syringe barrel (without the needle) for booty bumping. Don’t share gear. Use lube on syringe or on finger to reduce the risk of tearing rectal lining. Consider not having anal right after booty bumping. If you do, wear a condom but remember abrasive crystals can rip the condom’s thin latex. Wash your hands before and after. If you can’t, use hand sanitizer.
Booty bumping is taking meth up the butt. This route comes on faster than swallowing. People do it by mixing meth with water, drawing the liquid up into a 3ml or 5ml syringe barrel without a needle, then squirting the liquefied dose into the anus. Another way is to put powdered speed on a finger, insert it, then dab the rectal lining (dabbing). Others insert a shard of crystal into their anus. The blood vessels that line the rectum absorb the drug quickly.
Onset: 3-5 minutes
Risks: Crystal meth is abrasive. Inserting it into the anus can cause tiny cuts in the rectum. This increases the risk of contracting or transmitting HIV, hepatitis C, as well as other blood borne infections, especially for those having anal sex. Even with a condom, it is still risky to have anal after booty bumping since the abrasive powder or pieces of crystal can tear the condom. Regular booty bumping may also cause hemorrhoids, rectal bleeding, and damage to the mucous membranes of the rectum. Fecal matter on fingers can transmit parasites, hepatitis, and other infections.
Harm Reduction: Use your own syringe barrel (without the needle) for booty bumping. Don’t share gear. Use lube on syringe or on finger to reduce the risk of tearing rectal lining. Consider not having anal right after booty bumping. If you do, wear a condom but remember abrasive crystals can rip the condom’s thin latex. Wash your hands before and after. If you can’t, use hand sanitizer.
SNORTING
Speed is crushed into a powder then snorted into nostril through a straw, a rolled dollar bill ($5, $10, $20), or off the back of your hand. The come on is fast and the rush is intense.
Onset: 3-5 minutes
Risks: Damage to the nasal passages, sinus infections, congestion, nose bleeds, contracting or transmitting HIV, hepatitis C, and other blood borne infections from sharing snorting gear. Dollar bills are covered in germs which can also cause infections.
Harm Reduction: Don’t share snorting gear. Use your own straw or put a bump on the back of your hand to snort. If you must share a straw, clean before using with an alcohol pad. Crush meth into a fine powder to cut down on abrasive damage to the sinuses. Alternate nostrils to reduce sinus damage. A saline nasal spray can be used to keep sinuses moisturized if they are dry and scabbing. Steaming with water and clove oil can help sooth infected nasal passages.
Speed is crushed into a powder then snorted into nostril through a straw, a rolled dollar bill ($5, $10, $20), or off the back of your hand. The come on is fast and the rush is intense.
Onset: 3-5 minutes
Risks: Damage to the nasal passages, sinus infections, congestion, nose bleeds, contracting or transmitting HIV, hepatitis C, and other blood borne infections from sharing snorting gear. Dollar bills are covered in germs which can also cause infections.
Harm Reduction: Don’t share snorting gear. Use your own straw or put a bump on the back of your hand to snort. If you must share a straw, clean before using with an alcohol pad. Crush meth into a fine powder to cut down on abrasive damage to the sinuses. Alternate nostrils to reduce sinus damage. A saline nasal spray can be used to keep sinuses moisturized if they are dry and scabbing. Steaming with water and clove oil can help sooth infected nasal passages.
HOT RAILING
Inhaling vaporized speed through the nose with a bent glass tube. One end of a bent glass tube is heated red hot; the hot end is placed over a line of powdered speed. The hot end vaporizes the drug which is then inhaled into the nostril through the cool end of the tube. The come on is fast and the high is intense.
Onset: 5-10 Seconds
Risks: Damage to nasal passages and lungs, burns from the hot end of the tube, transmitting or contracting HIV, hepatitis C, and other infections from sharing gear.
Harm Reduction: Do not share hot railing gear. Use your own glass tube every time. If you must share, clean the tube with an alcohol swab. Alternate nostrils to reduce damage. Saline nasal spray can be used to keep sinuses moisturized. Use a hot water steam with clove oil to help treat dried out or infected sinuses (be careful not to get clove oil in your eyes).
Inhaling vaporized speed through the nose with a bent glass tube. One end of a bent glass tube is heated red hot; the hot end is placed over a line of powdered speed. The hot end vaporizes the drug which is then inhaled into the nostril through the cool end of the tube. The come on is fast and the high is intense.
Onset: 5-10 Seconds
Risks: Damage to nasal passages and lungs, burns from the hot end of the tube, transmitting or contracting HIV, hepatitis C, and other infections from sharing gear.
Harm Reduction: Do not share hot railing gear. Use your own glass tube every time. If you must share, clean the tube with an alcohol swab. Alternate nostrils to reduce damage. Saline nasal spray can be used to keep sinuses moisturized. Use a hot water steam with clove oil to help treat dried out or infected sinuses (be careful not to get clove oil in your eyes).
SMOKING
Meth is placed into a bubble pipe, heated with a lighter, then vapour is inhaled through the mouth. Smokers generally use more meth than people who snort or swallow.
Onset: 5-10 Seconds
Risks: HIV, hepatitis C, and other blood born infections if pipes are shared. Burns to the lips and fingers from hot pipes. Viruses are passed through cuts, blisters, burns, or sores on the lips or in the mouth from one user to another. Smoke of any kind will cause damage to the lungs.
Harm Reduction: Always use your own smoking gear. If you can’t, use your own rubber mouth-piece. If you don’t have a mouth-piece, at least use an alcohol swab to clean off smoking gear before placing it to your lips. If you are a heavy smoker, consider switching to swallowing for a while, or take a break
Meth is placed into a bubble pipe, heated with a lighter, then vapour is inhaled through the mouth. Smokers generally use more meth than people who snort or swallow.
Onset: 5-10 Seconds
Risks: HIV, hepatitis C, and other blood born infections if pipes are shared. Burns to the lips and fingers from hot pipes. Viruses are passed through cuts, blisters, burns, or sores on the lips or in the mouth from one user to another. Smoke of any kind will cause damage to the lungs.
Harm Reduction: Always use your own smoking gear. If you can’t, use your own rubber mouth-piece. If you don’t have a mouth-piece, at least use an alcohol swab to clean off smoking gear before placing it to your lips. If you are a heavy smoker, consider switching to swallowing for a while, or take a break
INJECTING/SLAMMING
The riskiest way to use meth. A dose is crushed, mixed with sterile water in a spoon, cooker, or the syringe barrel itself, then injected into a vein. Evidence suggests shooting meth is more addictive than other routes. The high is very quick and intense, but it doesn’t last as long as with smoking or swallowing. People who inject tend to do more speed more often. Tolerance builds quickly with injecting. The crash after slamming can be extremely hard.
Onset: 15-30 seconds
Risks: Injecting opens a direct path from the outside into the blood stream. Viruses like HIV, and hepatitis C can be passed from one user to the next by sharing needles, ties, filters, cottons, and cookers. Other injection related harms include:
*MSRA (potentially life threatening anti-biotic resistant staph infection)
*Cellulitis (swollen skin and tissue damage from missing the vein)
*Abscesses (pus filled infection at injection site)
*Blood Clots and Embolisms (free floating blood clot)
*Vein Damage
*Cotton Fever
*Endocarditis (infection of heart lining)
Injection drug use can result in circulation problems, heart attack, stroke, loss of limb, and death. Injection drug use poses serious health risks!
Harm Reduction:
Learn safer injection techniques (watch ANKORS safer injection Youtube video-in links section). Go to your local harm reduction organization and get trained!
Get your drugs tested at a harm reduction organization. Meth is sometimes tainted with fentanyl. Use an overdose prevention site (OPS) whenever possible. Don’t use alone! If you do, keep the door unlocked so someone can rescue you! Get training in how to use naloxone and carry a kit with you at all times (watch ANKORS naloxone video in links section).
The riskiest way to use meth. A dose is crushed, mixed with sterile water in a spoon, cooker, or the syringe barrel itself, then injected into a vein. Evidence suggests shooting meth is more addictive than other routes. The high is very quick and intense, but it doesn’t last as long as with smoking or swallowing. People who inject tend to do more speed more often. Tolerance builds quickly with injecting. The crash after slamming can be extremely hard.
Onset: 15-30 seconds
Risks: Injecting opens a direct path from the outside into the blood stream. Viruses like HIV, and hepatitis C can be passed from one user to the next by sharing needles, ties, filters, cottons, and cookers. Other injection related harms include:
*MSRA (potentially life threatening anti-biotic resistant staph infection)
*Cellulitis (swollen skin and tissue damage from missing the vein)
*Abscesses (pus filled infection at injection site)
*Blood Clots and Embolisms (free floating blood clot)
*Vein Damage
*Cotton Fever
*Endocarditis (infection of heart lining)
Injection drug use can result in circulation problems, heart attack, stroke, loss of limb, and death. Injection drug use poses serious health risks!
Harm Reduction:
Learn safer injection techniques (watch ANKORS safer injection Youtube video-in links section). Go to your local harm reduction organization and get trained!
Get your drugs tested at a harm reduction organization. Meth is sometimes tainted with fentanyl. Use an overdose prevention site (OPS) whenever possible. Don’t use alone! If you do, keep the door unlocked so someone can rescue you! Get training in how to use naloxone and carry a kit with you at all times (watch ANKORS naloxone video in links section).
- Never share rigs - use your own works every time! That means syringe, needles, ties, cookers, and filters.
- Always use sterile water.
- Clean hands with soap and hot water before injecting if you can.
- If no soap/hot water is available, use hand sanitizer, a handy wipe, or an alcohol pad.
- Clean injection site with alcohol pad before shooting.
- Maintain a clean surface for all injection gear.
- Rotate injection sites.
- Give veins a break and switch to another method such as smoking or swallowing for a while.
- Dispose used rigs in a SHARPS container. Your local needle exchange/harm reduction organization will supply free slamming gear, SHARPS containers, and harm reduction info and supplies.