Snorting Ritalin: Risks and Side Effects | Can You Snort Ritalin? (2024)

Ritalin is snorted by people looking to get high quick, but this behavior can have severe consequences.

Ritalin aprescriptionmedication commonly used to treatattention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). People with ADHD often have difficulty focusing on one task or sitting still.Ritalinhelps people with ADHD to focus more and pay attention. In people who do not have ADHD, Ritalin will not have the same effects and may cause harmful side effects

Ritalin is also used recreationally by people who want to get high from it. Some people may take higher than normal doses orally to induce a state of euphoria, while many resort to snorting Ritalin to speed up the rate at which euphoria is achieved. However, misusing Ritalin in these ways poses serious health risks.

Why Do People Snort Ritalin?

Ritalin works by increasing the neurotransmitter dopamine in the brain, which can affect mood. Due to its effects on dopamine, Ritalin can cause a state of euphoria when a person uses it at doses higher thanprescribed for ADHD.

People snort Ritalin to speed up its effects and intensify the high associated with its use. Snorting Ritalinincreases the rate at which it enters the bloodstreamas compared to taking it orally, which requires time for the digestive system to break it down. While snorting Ritalin leads to a high more quickly than taking it in other ways, snorting Ritalin is very dangerous.

Another reason people might snort Ritalin is that they use or abuse otherillicit substancesand they do not have access to them or cannot afford to buyother drugs. Sometimes, getting access to Ritalin is easier and less expensive, which are two factors thatplay an important rolein the decision to use a drug.

How Ritalin Is Snorted?

Ritalin is snorted by grinding the pills into a fine powder and rapidly inhaling them through the nose. People who snort Ritalin may roll up a dollar bill or something similar and snort the powder that way.

Regardless of how to snort Ritalin, it’s risky behavior that usually ends badly and has several health-related consequences.

Dangers of Snorting Ritalin

Snorting Ritalin is dangerous because it increases the rate of absorption and usually leads to a higher dose than intended. The higher dose can lead to higher states of euphoria that can lead toaddiction.

Experiencing Ritalin-induced euphoria may lead to cravings for Ritalin. If Ritalin is used repetitively, it can cause a person to need larger doses to achieve the same state of euphoria. Both of these events aresigns of Ritalin addiction. Snorting Ritalin can also be a sign of addiction in itself, in that the person is trying to reach the state of euphoria faster.

Snorting Ritalin can cause a person to ingest more of the drug than intended, which can easily lead tooverdose. Additionally, some forms of Ritalin are designed to have ahigher dose of the active ingredientand be released slowly over time. Snorting this type of Ritalin can be especially dangerous because the entire dose is delivered all at once, rather than over time, as intended.

Side Effects of Snorting Ritalin

There are both short- and long-term side effects of snorting Ritalin. While the short term effects may resolve over time, the long-term effectscan be permanent. The side effects of snorting Ritalin are:

• Damage to the nasal membrane
• Nosebleeds
• Fever
• Vomiting
• Irregular or fast heart rate
• Heart failure
• Seizures
• Lightheadedness
• Restlessness
• Constipation

Long-Lasting Effects of Snorting Ritalin

Some serious, long-lasting effects of snorting Ritalin include:

• Depression
• Rise in blood pressure
• Heart problems
• Cardiovascular issues
• Heart palpitations
• Headaches
• Toxicity
• Changes in appetite
• Insomnia
• Psychosis
• Aggression
• Paranoia
• Death

If a person is regularly using Ritalin and then stops abruptly, it can lead toRitalin withdrawal symptoms, including:

• Depression
• Fatigue
• Sleep disturbances

If you or a loved one are struggling with a Ritalin addiction, The Recovery Village can help. To learn more about our comprehensive treatment plans,call The Recovery Villageto speak with a representative.