It can be chambered in AR-15s and there are a few manufacturers making bolt-action rifles chambered in it. Because there is such a small amount of powder in the cartridge, my suppressor doesn’t have to do much to mitigate the muzzle blast. It’s part of the reason why subsonic rimfires are so much fun to shoot suppressed. The general rule of thumb in the gun industry is that ammunition going over 1050 ft/s is supersonic and ammunition going under 1050 ft/s is subsonic. That’s obviously not scientifically accurate but it’s close enough for what we’re talking about today.
- Seeking professional help and support for crack addiction is crucial for overcoming this challenging substance use disorder.
- Do not use soap or dishwashing liquid that has not been mixed with water — they are too thick and will get stuck in the syringe.
- The Recovery Village provides care to those struggling with the use of cocaine and other drugs.Reach outto one of our knowledgeable representatives today to learn how you can start on your path to recovery.
- In fact, researchers have known for years that injecting cocaine is more dangerous than snorting or smoking it.
- But it can also produce some not-so-pleasant psychological and physical effects.
Is Smoking Or Snorting More Addictive?

Hopefully, there are things in this manual that will be new and helpful even to those of us who have been injecting for a long time. However, reading about how to inject and actually doing it are two different things. If you are new to injecting, we can only caution you to read this manual thoroughly before you begin and to go slow and be aware of everything you’re doing.
Recognizing Overdose Signs
Make sure you have all the materials you need before you begin, and don’t assume you’ll always have access to water. Finally, be considerate of others—no one likes coming across a used needle and syringe in their apartment building or seeing bloody tissue in a public toilet, and there’s no reason they should have to. If you’re injecting in a relatively public place, like a toilet stall in a public bathroom, try to make it look like you’re changing your clothes or freshening up. Most importantly, always try to stay as calm as possible no matter where you’re injecting. Damage to the blood vessel linings is another danger which can be caused by cocaine injection. This often occurs when shooting cocaine because a person doesn’t have any medical training in how to give themselves shots.
Can You Inject Cocaine?
Since cocaine shooting brings higher doses of the drug much quicker in the bloodstream and then in the brain, the progression of drug tolerance, dependency and addiction happen at a faster pace. Powdered drugs must be dissolved into a liquid form before they can be injected—a process known as “cooking.” Different drugs dissolve differently. If you’re using something like injectable morphine or hormones that are already in liquid form, cooking is completely unnecessary. Some drugs will dissolve in water without being heated; some people cook their cocaine, for instance, while many more do not because it can clot when heated, mess up your shot, and clog your needle. Drug preparation practices are an important component of both HIV risk and protective behaviors. For instance, cookers, the small bottle-cap type vessels used to prepare drugs, are often the most efficient containers to share drugs among injectors.
But after powder cocaine is cooked into crack cocaine using baking soda (thereby removing the freebase cocaine from the hydrochloride salt), dissolving it for injection becomes more difficult. “A place for everything and everything in its place.” This common phrase is definitely applicable to subsonic and supersonic ammo. There’s no reason not to have a healthy supply of each type – especially if you’re using a suppressor. This is because the supersonic bullet is traveling faster than the speed of sound, which produces a cracking sound when it breaks the sound barrier.
Lastly, all of the injectors who either “washed” the crack or employed the “alcohol melt process” (four out of four) were older than 45 years old. Hence, in addition to living in different geographic regions, such as New York or Bridgeport, belonging to different injection cohorts may expose injectors to diverse crack preparation practices. In particular, older injectors may bring a range of knowledge and techniques from other drug using experiences to a new practice, such as crack injection.
Speedball
Later on, people start injecting it because this will give them a faster high. While it was once considered an important ingredient in a multitude of medications, cocaine has now become one of the most dangerous illegal drugs sold in the United States. Cocaine abuse can cause serious side effects, especially when it is injected. Ascorbic (citric) acid also known as Vitamin C powder reduces the risks of abscesses and infection. People often inject cocaine because it delivers the most intense high, but it’s extremely dangerous. In fact, injecting cocaine is arguably the most dangerous way to use this drug.

If you’re worried that a friend may overdose, for instance, have them check in with you by phone after they get high to make sure everything is okay. And finally, avoid using with people you don’t like or who couldn’t care less about what happens to you if you were to overdose. This increases the chances of having a heart attack within minutes of the substance reaching the bloodstream. In fact, there have been some cases reported of people dying from a heart attack the first time they attempted this delivery method. Shorty after someone injects crack into their bloodstream, the drug enters the brain and interacts with dopamine-releasing cells.
Injecting Cocaine Effects On The Brain
It is therefore important for anyone who is going to take a drug to assess their mood and mindset before they get high. You should always be aware of how you’re feeling prior to altering your consciousness. Try to make yourself available to other people who use drugs who may need support.
Risks Associated With Injecting Crack Cocaine
The following is a breakdown of possible intravenous injection sites, beginning with the safest options and moving toward the least safe ones. As important as preparing your drugs as cleanly as possible is injecting them as safely and as carefully as possible. This does not mean that powdered cocaine is a safe alternative to smoked cocaine.
- However, freebase crack cocaine is still sometimes modified and taken via intravenous injection, or shooting, by certain individuals.
- While they sound like different substances, they create the same stimulating effects on the body.
- It’s also important to use sterile equipment to prepare drugs to avoid introducing viruses and bacteria into the body that can lead to serious infections.
- In fact, the sharing of needles among IV drug users is a primary method of spreading HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C.
- Mixing a weak acid with crack cocaine makes it one of many skin-popping drugs.
The Risks Of Intravenous Drug Use
It’s a good idea to know where your major nerves are so that you can avoid them when getting off. This page may contain sensitive or adult content that’s not for everyone. To view it, please log in to confirm your age.By continuing, you also agree that use of this site constitutes acceptance of Reddit’s User Agreement and acknowledgement of our Privacy Policy.
When you call the number listed on this ad, your call will be answered by Treatment X, a licensed addiction treatment provider and paid advertiser on AddictionResource.net. Damage to the injection site can lead to noticeable scars on the body, which are called “track marks.” Track marks make it difficult for a person to go out in public without wearing long sleeves or pants. Clean your injection spot with soap and water or an alcohol wipe before getting off. Check out our blog posts and resource links for the latest information on substance abuse.
Don’t apply creams, salves or oils you use to treat your track marks or bruising until the injection wound has begun to close (a couple of hours after injecting) otherwise you might cause an infection. Treat missed shots (those that ended up somewhere other than in your vein) immediately with a warm water soak or compress to reduce the likelihood of irritation and abscess formation. Warmth will open the capillaries and bring disease-fighting white blood cells to the affected area. This section of the manual presents information on proper injection technique (intravenous, intramuscular, and subcutaneous injection). Substance abuse treatment for cocaine addiction can include motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral therapy, group therapy, and detox support services.
Medical Disclaimer

Some are clean and well-maintained, and the occupants behave like average citizens, usually because their crack addictions are less severe. That’s because some people who are addicted to crack exchange sex for crack money. A medical detox can help ease some of these symptoms and provide a safe environment for withdrawal. You will be monitored by a team of professionals and may be provided medication if necessary. Crack affects the brain’s reward circuits by increasing the levels of dopamine, a neurotransmitter responsible for pleasure and motivation. The study also found that despite better treatment outcomes in some areas of measurement, these users still experienced the same severity of problems in other areas of their lives.
Here’s what else you need to know about freebasing, including what it feels like and the risks involved. Binge usage of cocaine — when the drug is taken repeatedly and at increasingly high doses — can lead to a state of increasing irritability, restlessness, and paranoia. Chronic use can result in a period of paranoid psychosis, in which the user loses touch with reality.