The Dangers Of Snorting Klonopin

Klonopin (clonazepam) is a benzodiazepine drug that is used to control seizures and panic disorders. Klonopin is available in tablet form. The tablet’s ingredients are clonazepam, lactose, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, and cornstarch. In its chemical form, clonazepam is a light yellow crystal powder.

Benzodiazepines act as a sedative, slowing down the body’s function. They are often prescribed for anxiety, insomnia, muscle relaxation, and seizures. They increase the effect of gamma amino butyric acid (GABA) in the brain. GABA reduces brain activity that is responsible for rational thoughts.

Benzodiazepines like klonopin are often misused due to their sedative nature. According to an article published in The Mental Health Clinician, benzodiazepine abuse is a growing problem. Around 2.3 to 18 percent of Americans have misused sedatives or tranquilizers for nonmedical use in their lifetime. About 10 percent of those who abuse benzodiazepines met criteria for abuse or dependence. In 2010, there were around 186,000 new benzodiazepine abusers. Additionally, emergency departments have seen a 139 percent increase in benzodiazepine related visits. The number of admissions to treatment programs for benzodiazepine abuse just about tripled from 1998 to 2008.

These statistics point to America having an increasing problem with people abusing benzodiazepines. People tend to misuse klonopin in one of three ways. One way is by crushing the drug and snorting it. Another way is by crushing the drug and smoking it. A final way to abuse klonopin is by crushing the drug, mixing it with a solution, and shooting it.

Snorting Klonopin

Can you snort klonopin? If you are wondering, can you snort klonopin tablets the answer is yes, but you shouldn’t. Prescription medications such as klonopin should never be taken anyway other than as prescribed by a doctor. Snorting klonopin is abusing the medication and can result in addiction, dependence, overdose, and serious harm to a person’s nasal cavity.

The dangers of snorting klonopin are numerous. As mentioned above, klonopin contains ingredients such as cornstarch, which should not be put in the nose. Putting anything in the nose that isn’t supposed to be there can result in irritation and swelling of the mucous membranes inside the nose. This swelling can result in a stuffy nose and can make it difficult for a person to be able to breath through their nose. Infections can also develop in the nose in the sinus cavity after a person snorts klonopin. If the object in the nose is not removed, an infection can result in symptoms of sinusitis or worsening infection. Snorting klonopin can also lead to nosebleeds from the nasal tissue being damaged from pressure against the tablet.

Shooting Klonopin

Can you shoot clonazepam? Shooting klonopin is a form of abusing the medication. It is a lot less common than orally taking or snorting klonopin because it is not water-soluble. People who shoot drugs tend to pick ones that are water-soluble.

The dangers of shooting klonopin can result in permanent damages and a myriad of negative health consequences. Using a syringe to inject klonopin can result in infections, overdose, and cardiovascular disease.

Skin infections such as abscesses are very common among people who shoot drugs. This is because contaminants in substances, along with non-sterile needles, and poor hygiene increase a person’s risk for developing abscesses or skin infections. Injecting klonopin can also result in scarring and needle tracks.

Endocarditis is another dangerous consequence of injecting klonopin. Endocarditis is inflammation of the interior lining of the heart and can occur with repeated intravenous drug use. The bacteria from poorly sanitized needles and injecting substances into the veins that shouldn’t be there can cause this condition.

Additionally, needle sharing can also result in the spread of blood-related conditions such as hepatitis and HIV. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 1 in 10 new HIV diagnoses in the United States are attributed to shooting drugs. The risk for getting or transmitting HIV is so high with injecting drugs is because a HIV-negative person might use the injection equipment of a HIV-positive person and the equipment might have blood on it. HIV can survive on a used syringe for up to 42 days.

Smoking Klonopin

Can you smoke clonazepam? Smoking clonazepam is another form of abusing the medication. According to a study published in the Journal of Adolescent Health, the transition to smoking prescription pills such as klonopin is a significant act for young people and it represents an escalation of drug use. Smoking represents a more extreme form of prescription drug misuse, because it decreases the time to onset of the drug’s effects and increases the intensity of the high. Smoking klonopin increases a person’s chances of developing dependence and addiction.

Additional dangers of smoking klonopin are that it can cause respiratory illness such as a chronic cough, wheezing, shortness of breath, or chronic bronchitis.

Klonopin Addiction

The faster a drug reaches the brain, the more likely it is to be addicting. The fastest way to get klonopin to the brain is through smoking it. When klonopin is smoked, it enters a person’s lungs where it is absorbed into the bloodstream and can quickly travel to the brain. The second fastest way to get klonopin to the brain is through injecting it. Shooting klonopin injects the drug directly into the blood vessels. Snorting also results in the drug getting to the brain faster than taking it orally.

Most of the time, if a person has resulted in snorting, shooting, or smoking klonopin they are already addicted to it. This is because people who are addicted to klonopin don’t want to wait to experience their desired effects so they pick a faster delivery method to get them high faster. As their addiction progresses, people who abuse klonopin will seek out the fastest method to get their high.

Klonopin Overdose

Misusing klonopin by either snorting, shooting, or smoking the medication can result in a deadly overdose because the drug is able to make its way into a person’s body a lot faster. When snorting, smoking, or injecting klonopin the drug reaches a person’s bloodstream and brain a lot faster, greatly increasing their risk for overdosing. Intravenous users are far more likely to accidentally overdose on benzodiazepines than those who snort or smoke the medication. Overdosing can result in serious health consequences such as death. Other signs of benzodiazepine overdose include slurred speech and respiratory depression.

Finding Help

Sorting, smoking, and injecting klonopin all indicate an escalation in drug use. Abusing klonopin can result in a series of health consequences, which can be fatal. If you or someone you love is addicted to klonopin and not taking them as prescribed by your doctor, finding a high-quality rehab clinic can mean the difference between life and death. Rehab clinics equip a person with all the tools they need to successfully overcome their addiction. Trained medical and mental health professionals enable a person to detox comfortably and focus on their recovery journey.