Opioid addiction is a significant problem in the United States. When you are addicted to an opioid, you are at risk of experiencing a life-threatening overdose. According to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), “There were approximately 81,806 opioid overdose deaths in 2022.”[1]
When you imagine opioid addiction, you probably think of heroin or fentanyl. However, it is just as common to become addicted to prescription opioids like hydrocodone. Also known as Norco, some people develop an addiction to this prescription drug after taking it for pain.
Eventually, addiction causes you to develop a tolerance to hydrocodone. This means the drug will not affect you in the same way as it usually does. To counteract this, you might begin snorting hydrocodone to increase the potency of the effects.
Unfortunately, there are many dangers associated with snorting Norco. You could damage your nasal passages, suffer from throat and lung issues, contract diseases like HIV or hepatitis, and experience a life-threatening overdose.
In this article, you will learn:
What you will learn:
- Can you snort hydrocodone?
- What are the risks of snorting Norco?
- What are the signs of a hydrocodone overdose?
Can You Snort Norco (Hydrocodone)?
Norco is a prescription opioid that contains hydrocodone and acetaminophen. Medical professionals prescribe it to treat moderate to severe pain. There are different dosages of Norco, including 5mg of hydrocodone, 7.5mg, and 10mg.[2]
If you are abusing Norco to experience a high, you will eventually become addicted to it. While most people simply swallow the pill, it is possible to snort it. This involves crushing the pill into a powder and using a straw or dollar pill to snort it into your nose.
Most of the time, people begin snorting hydrocodone once they develop a tolerance to it. Since they are no longer getting high from swallowing the pill, they are snorting it to increase the potency of the effects.
Unfortunately, snorting hydrocodone is dangerous. It can be hard to avoid binging on the drug when using it in this manner, increasing the likelihood of overdose. Norco is designed to be swallowed, and snorting it could lead to other dangers like nasal, throat, and lung damage.
What are the Dangers of Snorting Norco?
When abused, hydrocodone can cause side effects like euphoria, relaxation, dizziness, and drowsiness. If you snort it, the effects become more intense. While the high might be pleasurable, snorting Norco increases your risk of experiencing dangerous effects.
The risks of snorting hydrocodone include:
Nasal Damage
Even though hydrocodone is a pain reliever, people snort hydrocodone to experience an intense high. When you snort Norco it goes into your mucous membranes and enters your bloodstream immediately. The tissues that line your nasal passages are delicate and snorting the drug can lead to damage.
Some of the ways snorting Norco can damage your nasal passages include:
- Cuts and abrasions in nasal tissue
- Nasal crusting
- Facial pain and swelling
- Trouble swallowing
- Frequent runny nose and nosebleeds
- Perforation of the septum after long-term snorting
Throat and Lung Issues
The hairs in your nose are designed to keep toxins and irritants out of your throat and lungs. One of the effects of snorting hydrocodone is damage to nasal hairs. When you no longer have these hairs, your throat and lungs are left vulnerable to damage from hydrocodone.
Snorting hydrocodone can cause tears in the throat that leave you susceptible to infection. You can also develop a hoarse-sounding voice. Once hydrocodone travels to your lungs, you are at risk of asthma, lung inflammation, and respiratory failure.[3]
HIV and Hepatitis
Pain medications like hydrocodone are not meant to be snorted. When you are snorting this drug, you might be sharing straws or dollar bills with other people. Snorting drugs can lead to tears and cuts in the nose, you might come in contact with other people’s blood if sharing tools.
As a result, you are at an increased risk of contracting diseases like HIV and hepatitis.
Overdose
Lastly, snorting is a type of substance abuse that increases your likelihood of experiencing an overdose. When you snort a drug, sometimes you become addicted to the act of snorting. As a result, you might binge on the drug or use it many times in a short period.
Doing this puts you in danger of experiencing an opioid overdose. The signs of a hydrocodone or Norco overdose include:[4]
- Bluish-colored lips or fingernails
- Slowed and shallow breathing
- Cold and clammy skin
- Unconsciousness and unresponsiveness
- Confusion, dizziness, and drowsiness
- Low blood pressure
- Small, pinpointed pupils
- Seizures
- Coma
If someone is displaying the signs of a Norco overdose, contact 911 immediately. Medical professionals can administer a drug called Narcan to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.
Find Help for Hydrocodone Abuse and Addiction
If you or a loved one suffers from hydrocodone addiction, it’s time to seek help. At PAX Memphis, we can connect you with a top-rated drug rehab center in your area.
Contact us today to learn more about how we can connect you with a hydrocodone addiction treatment center.
References:
- The Federal Communications Commission (FCC): Focus on Opioids
- The Food and Drug Administration (FDA): Norco Label
- Taylor and Francis Online: Hydrocodone Snorting Leading to Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis
- Medline Plus: Hydrocodone and Acetaminophen Overdose