Snorting morphine

Is snorting morphine effective vs taking morphine orally? Can snorting morphine get you high? What dangers are present and can they be avoided? More on snorting morphine effects here.

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minute read

If you’re thinking about snorting morphine, you should know what happens to the brain and the central nervous system as a result.  In fact, morphine is highly addictive when snorted.

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Here, we review what happens in the body while snorting morphine, as well as the dangers and safety concerns of snorting morphine. We welcome questions about snorting morphine or treating morphine addiction at the end of this article, and will try to answer all legitimate questions with a personal reply.

Morphine: What are you really snorting?

Morphine is actually one of the many alkaloids produced from the poppy plant. It is a schedule II substance and is available in many prescription forms, including injections, oral solutions and tablets. Once in the body, morphine is first metabolized in the liver (partially in the brain and the kidneys) and then affects the central nervous system. Morphine is converted into active metabolites, such as M3G and M6G, or other opiates such as codeine and normorphine.

On the market, morphine is found under many product labels, such as Astramorph®, Duramorph®, Infumorph®, Kadian®, Morphine Sulfate®, MSIR®, MS-Contin®, Oramorph SR®, Roxanol®. The active ingredient in these products is morphine sulfate and the inactive ingredients are (depending on the product) croscarmellose sodium, lactose anhydrous, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose and others.

How does snorting morphine affect the body?

Morphine is one the most powerful drugs for the relief of severe pain. Up until today, morphine has been considered the standard against which new analgesics are measured. As with other narcotic analgesics, taken in moderate doses, morphine dulls the senses and can induce deep sleep. But when taken through the nasal passage, what happens?

Snorting is a process of inhaling morphine powder through the nose, where is absorbed into the bloodstream through the nasal tissues. The official medical term for it as intranasal administration. The bio availability is usually longer with this method of taking morphine, because of the quick absorption of the molecules into the bloodstream through the nasal tissue and circulation bypass. In fact, morphine must be water soluble so it can be absorbed in the membrane. However, one part of the dose (not absorbed) goes to the throat and into the stomach, and is often unpleasant to taste.

Snorting morphine to get high

Snorting morphine is the third fastest way to reach the brain, after injecting and smoking. Fast delivery affects brain regions that facilitate addiction, while slow delivery is often used for addiction therapy.

Even though snorting is preferred due to the intensified effects ,it also increases the risk of infections in the nasal area, including instant and chronic bleeding, and serious injuries of the septum. One reason for that is the constriction of the blood vessels and the caustic nature of the drug.

Snorting morphine vs oral

When taken orally, half of the dose of morphine affects the central nervous system, while the other half goes through the liver and then enters the system. This is they way morphine was designed to be taken.

One of the most common way of morphine pills abuse is crashing the pills, turning them into powder and snorting them with a small tube. Bear in mind that you can find many additives in the pills, which are strongly not recommended. Further, the absence of enzymes, which have the role to protect the human body, make snorting a much more dangerous method for taking morphine. In fact, damage may appear to the nasal tissues and the membrane between the nose and the brain. Do not forget that snorting morphine may pose a significant risk to the user that could result in overdose and death.

Snorting morphine side effects

Snorting morphine can result in multiple side effects. If these symptoms are severe and don’t go away, please ask for professional help.

  • diarrhea
  • difficulty urinating or pain when urinating
  • dizziness
  • dry mouth
  • mood changes
  • small pupils
  • sweating
  • vomiting

Snorting morphine dangers

If you decided to snort morphine you need be aware of the risk level. Snorting any drug affects specific areas of the brain, which can develop addiction. Often, users in the urge for an instant way to get high overslook some important facts about snorting, such as the dosage. The regular dose, prescribed for oral use or injection, in this case is missing the natural “filters” of the human body and goes straight to the bloodstream. That may result in possible overdoes and eventual death.

Snorting morphine safely

Is it possible to snort morphine safely? No, it is not possible to snort morphine safely. Of course, the standard procedures for responsible behavior, such as the hygiene level do matter, yet again the risk is always there.

There are no recommended daily limits for snorting morphine because the dosage is patient-dependent. The drug history and the medical condition, are among the many factors which affect the dose range. Some users, after snorting 30mg of morphine sulfate experience the “rush”, while others are only “sociable” after the same dose.

Snorting morphine questions

Do you still have questions about snorting morphine? If so, please let us know. We respond to all morphine questions with a personal and prompt reply.

Reference Sources: NHTSA: Morphine
Daily Med: Morphine sulfate
FDA: Morphine prescribing information
Erowid: Morphine experiences
About the author
Lee Weber is a published author, medical writer, and woman in long-term recovery from addiction. Her latest book, The Definitive Guide to Addiction Interventions is set to reach university bookstores in early 2019.
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