There are multiple ways for a person to use heroin. Some choose to inject, smoke, or snort the drug. These methods of taking heroin are outlined below:
The most common methods of taking heroin is to inject the drug into a person’s system. The person will go to extreme measures to obtain the paraphernalia necessary to “shoot up” the drug. The user cooks the heroin in order to melt it so that it can be injected into the body via needle and syringe. Most people typically choose the veins in their arms (e.g., bend of their elbows) to begin with. However, repeated users find it difficult to inject the drug into these veins over time and may choose another body part to inject into. For these users, using the veins in their legs may be the first alternative.
Smoking heroin is one of the more tricky methods of taking heroin. Users will use aluminum foils or pieces of paper to put the heroin into. They will then put a straw or other hollow piece of material into their mouth while they heat the heroin underneath the foil or paper. This causes fumes to be released, and the person can then inhale the fumes through the straw or hollow material. This method is widely used and is considered by many users and non-users as a more accepted in comparison to injecting or snorting.
This method is usually how many people first use the drug. This happens because the individual may be afraid to inject the drug or too inexperienced to find a method to smoke it. Most users give up snorting because you would have to use a more potent form of heroin (e.g., typically most expensive) in order to feel the same effects as other methods of taking heroin.