Drugs will have a different effect on your body, depending on whether you swallow, snort, inhale or inject them. Learning more about the impact drugs will have on your body can help you make an informed decision about drug use, so read on.

Oral
Taking a drug orally - by swallowing a pill, for example - is the easiest way to take a drug. The drug is absorbed into the bloodstream through the gastrointestinal tract. Since the drug has to go through the digestive system before going into the bloodstream, it provides some safety to the user. For example, the liver has a function called first-pass metabolism where the enzymes in the liver break down the molecular structure of certain drugs, reducing the amount of the drug going into the bloodstream. Since the drug has to go through the digestive system, the absorption time is slow; most of the absorption is finished between five and 30 minutes after ingestion, but absorption is not complete for six to eight hours.

Because orally injested drugs travel through the gastrointestinal tract, people swallowing drugs often raise the dose they are ingesting because much of it does not get absorbed. There is no definite answer as to how much a person has to compensate for the gastrointestinal tract because it is constantly changing. A person may overcompensate and cause an overdose of the drug they are taking. For example, drinking too much alcohol can lead to anything from vomiting to loss of consciousness.

For more information on oral drug-taking, read Drugs, Behavior & Modern Society: Seventh Edition by Charles F. Levinthal

Injection
Injection bypasses the digestive system by delivering the drugs straight into a vein with a needle or syringe. Since the drug bypasses the digestive system, the effect of the drug is usually rapid and intense. For example, heroin administered through injection in the forearm takes less than 15 seconds to get to the brain. Because an injected drug takes so little time to get to the brain, its effects are irreversible. The only way to stop the effects of the drug would be to inject another drug that that could counteract the previously injected drug.

Since injecting any drug requires a needle, there is a risk of a bacterial or viral infection if the needle is not sterile. For example, someone who shared their needle with another user has a high chance of contracting hepatitis C or HIV, as needle sharing promotes the spread of infection and disease. Hepatitis C is a chronic liver disease that scars and inflames the liver. According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, there is currently no vaccination for hepatitis C, but it can be treated with interferon and ribavirin. The treatment can take 24 to 72 weeks, and there is no guarantee that you will be hepatitis C-free by the end.

HIV is a chorionic disease that attacks a person's immune system, weakening it over time. This makes the individual vulnerable to opportunistic diseases such as tuberculosis or malaria, as well as various types of cancer. However, since opportunistic diseases thrive in a weakened immune system, their symptoms may occur years after the infection. HIV can also advance to AIDS, although not everyone diagnosed with HIV develops AIDS. There is currently no cure for HIV/AIDS.

Clearly there are major consequences for sharing needles. To counter this, Counterpoint Harm Reduction Services runs the Needle & Syringe Program here in London. Counterpoint provides people with clean needles to decrease the risk of transmitting HIV and other bloodborne diseases. Aside from clean needles, they offer alcohol swabs, fresh water, condoms and other supplies. Counterpoint is located at 186 King St. (Unit 30) and is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more information on HIV, visit phac-aspc.gc.ca. For more information on AIDS and the Counterpoint Needle & Syringe Program, visit aidslondon.com.

Inhalation
Inhalation is breathing in a drug in its vapor or gas state. An inhaled drug takes only five to eight seconds to go from the lungs to the brain. It takes such a short time because the body is dependent on the oxygen we breathe, and therefore, the lungs are very efficient when it comes to circulating oxygen through the bloodstream, even if the oxygen contains a drug.

A common way to inhale a drug is to burn it and breathe in the smoke particles. Many drugs can be inhaled, such as marijuana, paint thinners and glue. Paint thinners and glue are vapors and can easily travel through the air.

Inhalation has long-term negative effects on the lungs and throat as air being inhaled contains not only the drug but other particles from the burning process, such as tar. Emphysema, asthma and lung cancer can develop due to smoking cigarettes. Over time, the lining of the throat and lungs may also deteriorate due to inhalation.

Absorption
Absorption is one of the more creative ways to get a drug into the body. A common way is to snort a drug in powdered form up the nose - this is called intranasal administration. Once inside the nose, the drug sticks to the nose's mucus membranes and dissolves into the bloodstream through the membranes. Cocaine is commonly ingested this way. Taking a drug this way can lead to irritation of the nose's mucus membranes. With this, a user's blood and oxygen flow is decreased since snorted drugs constrict the blood vessels inside the nose. Not all of the snorted drug is absorbed through the membranes of the nose, so the user swallows the drug that is not absorbed.

Another way for the body to absorb a drug is through the membranes of the mouth, a process called sublingual administration. Different kinds of chewing tobacco and cocaine are commonly taken this way. Taking a drug this way can lead to many negative side effects to a person's teeth, jaw, tongue and lips. A user's teeth may decay quicker than non-users, which can lead to losing a tooth or several teeth. It may also difficult for a user to move their jaw and tongue around. The tongue may also develop a rash or have a burning sensation. A user's lips may also have a burning sensation, along with lip discolouring and the possibility of lip cancer. Aside from lip cancer, users also have a high risk of lung or oral cancer.

For more information on absorption read Drugs, Behavior & Modern Society: Seventh Edition by Charles F. Levinthal, Life Sciences Volume 67, Issue 12 by Nora D. Volkow or check out notosmoke.com.

Drugs can be dangerous, no matter how they enter your body. If you or someone you know is concerned about drug or alcohol use or abuse, look to the sidebar for resources that can help.

Where to go to get help

Alcohol

Alcoholics Anonymous
aalondon.org - 519-438-1122
AA offers the 12-step program for those seeking help with their alcohol problems. Members share their experiences with others at many different types of meetings. AA can also assist recovering alcoholics with staying on the right track.

Drugs

Counterpoint Needle & Syringe Program
aidslondon.com/needle-syringe-program
186 King St. Unit 30 - 519-434-1601
Counterpoint offers those who inject drugs a place to get sterile needles and alcohol swabs to cut down on the risk of HIV or blood-borne diseases. They are open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Counterpoint also offers education about needle sharing, assistance for those who are HIV positive and much more.

Various

Addiction Services of Thames Valley
adstv.on.ca - 519-673-3242
ADSTV gives Londoners help with any addiction battle they are facing. Programs include the Fresh Start Program, the Substance Abuse Program and more. ADSTV also offers housing as a part of their treatment plans. Those who meet the criteria can move into a helpful environment where they can attend the programs they need to get a fresh start.

Drug and Alcohol Helpline
drugandalcoholhelpline.ca - 1-800-565-8603 This helpline provides information about Ontario's drug and alcohol addiction services. This includes treatment service suggestions, basic information, and providing support.

Fanshawe College Counselling Services
fanshawec.ca, icopeu.com/fanshawe
Room F2010 in Fanshawe College - 519-452-4282
Fanshawe's counselling services are available to current or prospective students. Fanshawe offers free and confidential counselling for addictive behaviors as well as anything else a student would need advice with, such as academic issues, career counseling and more. Fanshawe also offers the online resource iCopeU, which is an instant, reliable resource for any issue a student may have.