IV Drug Use
“Shooting up” is the street term for when someone partakes in IV drug use. IV, of course, stands for intravenous. So, shooting up drugs is when a person injects drugs directly into their bloodstream with a needle (or syringe). It’s a pretty intense way to get a high, and it carries quite a bit of risk. Track marks are the bruises or needle marks left on a person’s body where they inject the drug.
Shooting up in a way that will lead to track marks is typically not a route for beginners. Tolerance is key here. If a person has track marks, they most likely have a high tolerance for their drug of choice and have been using it for quite a while.
One of the main facets of drug addiction is the human’s ability to build up a tolerance for drugs. The first couple of times a person uses an illicit drug, the experience is quick and powerful.
However, once the brain and body are familiar with a drug, they begin to make changes to counteract them. Over time, the body adapts to the presence of the drug and requires more significant amounts of it to achieve the same effects.
Why Do People Shoot Up?
Not to state the obvious, but on the most surface level, people use drugs to get high. And drugs have to get to the bloodstream to deliver a high.
That’s where it can get to the brain the quickest. The brain is where it hits the neurotransmitters responsible for regulating mood, behavior, and other functions.
Shooting up (or IV drug use) is the most direct route to the bloodstream. The substance bypasses the digestive system and whatever other obstacles to get directly to the bloodstream. It delivers a quick, intense high.
Which drugs do people shoot up? People will try anything. But most commonly, you will see track marks when people shoot up heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, or prescription painkillers.
The Dangers of Track Marks
Track marks themselves are not inherently dangerous. However, shooting drugs directly into a person’s vein is high risk. The needle is possibly damaging the vein, or the repeated injection causes bruising; it can even cause the vein to collapse. Beyond that, here are some of the more common dangers of shooting up drugs.
Infection
Needles are not always easy to come by. So, they tend to get used and reused by individuals or even passed around. These “dirty needles” cause infections.
Blood-borne Diseases
Similar to the infection issue, when needles are shared, so are the many diseases affecting the various users. This has contributed to the spread of diseases such as Hepatitis B and C and HIV.
Overdose
A person with track marks could be in danger of overdose. Shooting up can quickly deliver a large quantity of drugs into a person’s bloodstream. Even a small dosage error or if the purity of the drug is not known (which it never really is) could lead to a lethal amount of drugs in a person’s system.
What Do Track Marks Look Like?
You will typically find track marks on a person’s arms or hands. The veins are easiest to find here. But some people choose other body parts that are better hidden. Track marks usually look like little dots. They are the holes where the person’s vein has been damaged. If the vein itself has been damaged, it can elongate and spread. If the mark is new, it will probably be pink, but it can be a small scar if the wound is older.
It’s common for someone with track marks to wear longer clothing or even get tattoos to keep their marks hidden.
Track Marks and Addiction
The bigger question for someone with track marks is whether there is a substance use disorder at play. Track marks themselves, the infections, the abscesses, the collapsed veins, these are all possible. But once a person has developed an addiction, there is more at risk.
Addiction is a disease that destroys a person’s life and the lives of those around them. If you see track marks on someone you love (or have them yourself), there is a good chance an addiction is already present. It is important to connect with someone who can offer an honest assessment and possibly put you in touch with a drug rehab that can help you find recovery.
If you are looking for an inpatient drug rehab for men in Austin, call Heartwood Recovery today. Our team is ready to answer your questions and help you find the tools you need to overcome your addiction and find hope for a future.
