"Shooting up" is slang for the act of injecting an addictive drug intravenously. This term specifically describes the method of administering a substance directly into a vein using a needle and syringe.
Understanding the Term "Shooting Up"
The phrase "shooting up" is widely used in informal contexts, particularly within communities affected by substance use. It precisely refers to the process where a drug, often in liquid form or dissolved from a solid, is drawn into a syringe and then injected into a person's vein. This method allows the drug to enter the bloodstream rapidly, leading to a quick and intense effect.
Drugs Commonly Associated
While any injectable drug could theoretically be "shot up," the term is most commonly associated with illicit substances known for their high potential for addiction and immediate euphoric effects.
Common drugs involved include:
- Heroin: A highly addictive opioid often dissolved and injected.
- Methamphetamine: A powerful stimulant that can be dissolved and injected.
- Cocaine: When prepared as "crack" or dissolved powder, it can be injected (often referred to as "speedballing" when mixed with an opioid).
- Prescription Opioids: Some pain medications, when abused, are crushed, dissolved, and injected.
Why Slang is Used
Slang terms like "shooting up" often emerge within specific subcultures for several reasons:
- Discretion: To discuss drug use in a way that is not immediately understood by outsiders.
- Identity: To foster a sense of shared experience and identity among users.
- Descriptiveness: To concisely describe a complex action within a specific context.
Associated Risks of Intravenous Drug Use
The practice of "shooting up" carries significant and severe health risks beyond the inherent dangers of drug addiction itself. These risks are due to both the drugs used and the method of administration.
Key dangers include:
- Overdose: Intravenous injection delivers drugs directly and rapidly to the brain, greatly increasing the risk of an immediate and potentially fatal overdose due to the drug's potency and quick onset.
- Infections: Unsterile needles or contaminated drugs can introduce bacteria, viruses, and fungi into the bloodstream, leading to serious infections such as abscesses at injection sites, cellulitis (skin infection), endocarditis (heart valve infection), and osteomyelitis (bone infection).
- Blood-Borne Diseases: Sharing needles, syringes, or other injection equipment is a primary route for transmitting blood-borne diseases like HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus), Hepatitis B (HBV), and Hepatitis C (HCV).
- Vein Damage: Repeated injections can cause veins to collapse, scar, or become infected, making future injections difficult and potentially leading to circulation problems.
Related Terminology
Various other slang terms are used interchangeably or in similar contexts to describe intravenous drug use.
| Slang Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Fix | An injection of a narcotic drug, or a dose of a drug |
| Hit | An injection of a drug, or a dose of a drug |
| Mainlining | Injecting a drug directly into a major vein |
| IV Drug Use | A more clinical term for intravenous drug use |
For more information on drug abuse and its consequences, resources are available from health organizations globally, such as the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
