Short & Long-Term Side-Effects of Snorting Drugs

Snorting is a common way to misuse certain substances.¹ While this method of use is popular, it can lead to a range of serious health risks, including damage to the nose and sinuses, an increased risk of overdose, and the development of dependence or addiction.²

Whether someone is snorting illicit drugs or crushed prescription medications, this route of administration carries its own set of dangers in addition to the effects of the drug itself.² Read on to learn more about the short- and long-term effects of snorting drugs and why this method of use can be so harmful. If you’re interested in starting your recovery journey in Kansas City, contact our drug and alcohol rehab in Kansas City for more information.

Why Do People Snort Drugs?

People snort drugs to feel a “high.”2 There are many ways people may take drugs, including smoking, injecting, snorting, and orally.1 Snorting allows many drugs to reach the brain more quickly than swallowing them, producing rapid effects that may increase their misuse potential.3 Studies suggest that snorting drugs is one of the most common routes of administration, along with taking drugs orally.1,2

This method of ingestion is common for certain substances, such as cocaine, heroin, meth, and prescription pills.1 These drugs often come in powder or crystal form.2 Others may come in pill form and are crushed into a powder and inhaled.4

How someone takes drugs impacts how effectively and rapidly they’re absorbed and metabolized in the body.1 Some choose to snort substances because the effects come on faster than ingesting drugs orally.5 Snorting is also common with prescription pills, such as hydrocodone.6 Snorting hydrocodone may produce rapid effects and increase the risk of misuse because the drug reaches the bloodstream more quickly than when taken orally.6

How Does Snorting Drugs Work?

When you snort a substance, it’s inhaled through the nostrils and absorbed into the bloodstream through the nasal tissues.2 Drugs taken orally undergo significant first-pass metabolism in the liver before reaching the bloodstream. Drugs absorbed through the nasal tissues bypass much of this first-pass metabolism, allowing effects to occur more quickly than ingesting substances orally.5,7

When a drug is taken orally, it’s absorbed through the digestive system and typically processed by the liver before fully entering the bloodstream.7 When you snort a substance, it bypasses the digestive stage and is absorbed directly into the bloodstream before traveling to the brain.5 This causes you to feel the effects of the drug very quickly.5

Short-Term Effects of Snorting Drugs

The side effects of snorting drugs can be both short-term and long-term. The act of snorting drugs produces its own set of effects, regardless of the substance. Still, the exact intended effects can vary based on the type of substance.1 For example, snorting cocaine can lead to increased body temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure, as well as dilated pupils.2 Here are some common short-term effects of snorting drugs:

• Intense euphoria or a “high”2
• Irritation of the nostrils, nasal passages, and sinuses2

Other short-term side effects include trapped air in the chest’s central compartment (pneumomediastinum) and trapped air in the skin’s subcutaneous tissue layer (subcutaneous emphysema). These effects of snorting drugs are rare, but possible.8

Long-Term Effects of Snorting Drugs

Snorting drugs can pose long-term effects on your physical health over time.2 The route of administration influences the types of harm and risk of developing dependence and addiction.2 Repeating this method of use can damage essential functions in several parts of the body. Many of these effects of snorting drugs are on the nose, lungs, and throat.2 The following are long-term effects of snorting drugs​:

• Erosion or destruction of the nasal septum, palate, and sinuses9
• Loss of sense of smell2
• Nosebleeds2
• Hoarseness2
• Lung inflammation6
• Nasal and/or facial pain10
• Nasal obstruction10
• Chronic runny nose2
• Irritation and perforation of the nasal septum10

Other reported, but less common, long-term effects of snorting drugs include invasive fungal sinus infections and a thick yellowish or greenish nasal discharge.10

Tolerance, dependence, and addiction are other long-term effects of snorting drugs and using them in general. Regardless of the method of administration, using any substance long-term can lead to dependence or addiction.

As you continue to snort a drug, you’ll need higher or more frequent doses to experience the same effects. Over time, you may become psychologically or physically dependent on the drug. In other words, your body may begin to rely on the substance to function normally, leading to withdrawal symptoms when use stops.3

Other Risks of Snorting Drugs

Overdose is another common danger of snorting drugs. An overdose can happen if you take more of a drug than your body can handle.2 Whether using illicit or prescription drugs, snorting these substances increases the risk of these harmful consequences.2,6

Because this route of administration causes drugs to enter the bloodstream quickly, the effects of the substance may begin faster than the body can process. These effects also wear off quicker, which may encourage repeated use and higher doses. This way of using drugs can increase the risk of overdose.2

An overdose can happen regardless of the route of administration.2 Illicit substances carry their own overdose risks, particularly because their contents are often unknown.11 Fentanyl is a highly potent synthetic opioid that is the primary driver of overdose deaths in the U.S. This drug has been increasingly found in much of the illicit drug supply.11 In 2024, synthetic opioids, primarily illicit fentanyl, were involved in about 60% of overdose deaths nationwide.12

Drugs That Are Commonly Snorted

The form a substance is available in often influences which routes of administration are most commonly used. Snorting is popular with drugs that are available in powder or crystal form.1,2 Some may also crush prescription pills into a powder before snorting.4

Here are some commonly snorted drugs:

• Cocaine1
• Meth1
• Heroin1
• Speed1
• Ketamine1
• MDMA1
• Prescription pills, such as hydrocodone and amphetamines4

Quitting Drugs and Getting Help in Kansas City

Getting treatment for a substance abuse disorder can create a pathway to a healthier, happier life. We’re here to help you achieve your recovery goals at Empowered Recovery Kansas City. We offer a wide range of flexible rehab programs in Kansas City, including partial hospitalization programs (PHPs), intensive outpatient programs (IOPs), and standard outpatient care. Integrated treatment for co-occurring disorders and medication-assisted treatment (MAT) are also available.

Our rehab admissions team can help you find the best program for your needs. Whether you have questions about the cost of rehab or want to learn more about your rehab insurance coverage, we’re here to support you every step of the way. Contact Empowered Recovery Kansas City to verify your insurance coverage and get started on your journey.

References

1. Estévez-Lamorte, N., Foster, S., Gmel, G., & Mohler-Kuo, M. (2021). Routes of Administration of Illicit Drugs among Young Swiss Men: Their Prevalence and Associated Socio-Demographic Characteristics and Adverse Outcomes.Retrieved on March 19, 2026, from https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8582869/#sec5-ijerph-18-11158
2. National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2016). Research Report Series: Cocaine. Retrieved on March 19, 2026, fromhttps://nida.nih.gov/sites/default/files/1141-cocaine.pdf
3. National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2018). Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A Research-Based Guide (Third Edition). Retrieved on March 19, 2026, from https://nida.nih.gov/sites/default/files/podat-3rdEd-508.pdf
4. National Drug Intelligence Center. (2003). Prescription Drugs Fast Facts. Retrieved on March 19, 2026, fromhttps://www.justice.gov/archive/ndic/pubs5/5140/index.htm#:~:text=Prescription%20drugs%20are%20abused%20in,and%20then%20inject%20the%20solution.
5. Lile, J., Babalonis, S., Emurian, C., Martin, C., et. al. (2011). Comparison of the behavioral and cardiovascular effects of intranasal and oral d-amphetamine in healthy human subjects. Retrieved on March 19, 2026, from https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3684273/#S25
6. Pathak, L., & Vijayaraghavan, V. (2016). Hydrocodone snorting leading to hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Retrieved on March 19, 2026, from https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4900771/pdf/bumc0029-0288.pdf
7. Susa, S., Hussain, A., & Preuss, C. (2023). Drug Metabolism. Retrieved on March 19, 2026, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK442023/
8. Soares, D., Ferdman, A., & Alli, R. (2015). Subcutaneous emphysema and pneumomediastinum following cocaine inhalation: a case report. Retrieved on March 19, 2026, from https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4568067/
9. Molteni, M., Saibene, A., Luciano, K., & Maccari, A. (2016). Snorting the clivus away: an extreme case of cocaine-induced midline destructive lesion. Retrieved on March 19, 2026, from https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5073690/
10. Yewell, J., Haydon, R., Archer, S., & Manaligod, J. (2002). Complications of intranasal prescription narcotic abuse. Retrieved on March 19, 2026, from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11860072/
11. United States Drug Enforcement Administration. (n.d.). Facts About Fentanyl. Retrieved on March 19, 2026, from https://www.dea.gov/resources/facts-about-fentanyl
12. U.S. Government Accountability Office. (2025). Fentanyl Continues to Be the Leading Cause of Overdose Deaths. What’s Being Done to Combat Trafficking into the United States? Retrieved on March 19, 2026, from https://www.gao.gov/blog/fentanyl-continues-be-leading-cause-overdose-deaths.-whats-being-done-combat-trafficking-united-states#:~:text=A%20hundred%20times%20more%20potent,That’s%20about%2048%2C000%20people.