Dangers of Snorting Meth

Let’s be abundantly clear here: There is no such thing as safe methamphetamine abuse. Whether you are smoking, swallowing, inhaling, or snorting meth, you are risking your health (and possibly your life) every time you ingest this highly dangerous drug.

What Is Snorting When it Comes to Drugs?

In the context of substance abuse, snorting refers to inhaling drugs through your nose. To be snorted, the drugs must first be ground into a fine powder.

When most people think of snorting drugs, cocaine is probably the first substance that comes to mind. But other drugs, such as heroin, amphetamine, and methamphetamine (meth), are also often ingested via snorting. 

Please note that snorting meth or other substances is not the same as huffing or sniffing. Huffing and sniffing describe a different dangerous behavior: the intentional inhalation of fumes from gas, solvents, or other household substances to achieve a recreational high.

Why Do People Snort Meth?

As we noted at the top of this page, methamphetamine can be abused in the following four ways:

• Snorting meth through the nose
• Smoking crystal meth
• Injecting a solution that contains meth 
• Swallowing the drug

People may choose meth snorting for various reasons, such as:

• They have a fear of needles.
• Do not want to risk the infections that can result from IV drug use.
• They do not have access to a syringe for injecting the drug or a pipe for smoking it.
• They prefer the duration and intensity of the effects that result from meth snorting.

As we will discuss in the next section, meth snorting can cause severe and potentially irreversible harm. 

What Are the Dangers of Snorting Meth? 

No matter how a person uses meth, doing so puts them at risk for significant physical, psychological, and social damage. 

The following are examples of the many potential physical dangers that are associated with meth snorting:

• Damage to the nose and nasal passages
• Impaired or lost sense of smell
• Frequent nosebleeds
• Hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Heart attack
• Disrupted functioning of kidneys and liver
• Loss of appetite, weight loss, and malnutrition
• Injuries due to slips, falls, car crashes while under the influence of meth
• Tics and tremors
• Seizure
• Death

The psychological and behavioral impact of meth snorting can include the following outcomes:

• Problems with focus, concentration, and memory
• Changes in the structure and function of the brain
• Development or worsening of anxiety, depression, and other mental health concerns
• Psychosis, which can include hallucinations and delusions
• Anhedonia (inability to experience joy)
• Paranoia
• Addiction
• Loss of hope for the future
• Thoughts of self-harm and/or suicide

From a social and economic perspective, meth snorting can cause the following setbacks:

• Frequent absenteeism from work or school
• Substandard performance at work or in school
• Academic failure and job loss
• Long-term unemployment
• Financial devastation
• Being arrested, fined, and jailed
• Ruined relationships with family members and friends
• Social withdrawal or ostracization

As detailed above, continued meth abuse can lead to the deterioration of your body, mind, and spirit. It can rob you of the ability to form and maintain meaningful relationships, find and keep a job, and otherwise engage in a productive and satisfying lifestyle. 

But you can avoid these outcomes by choosing to enter treatment for meth addiction. When you get the help you need, you can stop snorting meth and starting living a healthier life. 

What to Do if You Become Addicted to Snorting Meth?

When snorting meth transforms from a recreational habit to an addiction, you will begin to lose control of your thoughts and behaviors. The powerful meth cravings you experience – and the painful symptoms you develop when you can’t acquire or use the drug – can keep you trapped in the downward spiral of active addiction.

Thankfully, the situation is not hopeless. Meth addiction is a treatable condition. 

If you have been thinking about getting help to stop snorting meth, it’s important to understand your options. There is no single path that’s right for everyone. You should focus on finding the provider whose services and treatment philosophy align with your needs and goals.

One important factor when choosing a meth addiction treatment provider is knowing which levels of care they offer. Depending on how you have been impacted by your struggles with compulsive meth abuse, you may benefit from time at one or more of the following levels:

• Detoxification
• Residential treatment
• Partial hospitalization program (PHP)
• Intensive outpatient program (IOP)

Also, if your history of snorting meth is associated with a mental health disorder, you may need dual diagnosis services. 

Dual diagnosis is a clinical term that describes someone who has developed both a mental illness and an addiction. Attempting to treat either an addiction or a mental health disorder while not addressing the co-occurring concern is unlikely to lead to long-term success. 

Contact Our Meth Treatment Facility at Los Angeles Detox

Los Angeles Detox offers a full continuum of personalized services for adults whose lives have been disrupted by meth addiction and certain co-occurring mental illnesses. 

At our meth treatment center in Los Angeles, California, you will have the opportunity to work in close collaboration with a team of highly skilled professionals. These dedicated caregivers will take the time to get to know you as a unique individual, so that we can be sure we are providing the customized care that will best prepare you for improved health and successful recovery.

To learn more about our programs and services, or to schedule a free assessment, please visit our Contact page or call our center today.