Boofing Effects, Risks, Overdose & Treatment

What is Boofing? Boofing drugs, sometimes also referred to as plugging drugs. It is the process of inserting drugs or alcohol into your anus to get a more immediate high. The anal cavity has a high number of blood vessels and a thinner surface layer, substances inserted into this area are absorbed at a faster […]


What is Boofing?

Boofing drugs, sometimes also referred to as plugging drugs. It is the process of inserting drugs or alcohol into your anus to get a more immediate high. The anal cavity has a high number of blood vessels and a thinner surface layer, substances inserted into this area are absorbed at a faster rate than with oral consumption. People can ‘boof’ several different drugs, including cocaine, MDMA, and alcohol, but there are several dangers of Boofing drugs – it could even be fatal. [1] 

Boofing is slang and not a technical or scientific term. And like so many other drug-related activities, Boof also goes by some other names such as: 

  • Butt Chugging
  • Plugging Drugs
  • Alcohol Enema
  • Thumbing
  • Booty Bump

The reason someone ‘boofs’ is to get high or drunk faster and to experience a more intense high. If you’re an addict, you may want the quickest, most efficient way to get drugs into your system. This would ordinarily be intravenous. But if that’s not an option (dangerous, intimidating, leaves behind noticeable track marks), then the runner-up is boofing.

This particular entry point allows drugs or alcohol to bypass the digestive system. As a result, the body skips the process of ingesting and breaking down the substance (like when you eat food or drink a beverage) and instead enters the bloodstream much faster. Someone Boofing may use a syringe (without the needle), rubber tubing, a funnel, or even a tampon soaked in alcohol to absorb a drug or alcohol into their body.

Boofing
The reason someone practices Boofing is to get high or drunk faster and to experience a more intense high.

The effects usually come on within minutes and can last for hours, but this can vary, depending on the substance used. Keep in mind that there isn’t much quality research around this, so the exact time span isn’t clear. When it comes to the onset time for methamphetamine, some researchers defer to an estimate of 3 to 5 minutes by Tweaker, a harm reduction resource for queer men who use the drug. [2] 

Regardless of how you ingest it, meth’s effects generally last for hours. For heroin, an older 2004 clinical study suggested the onset time of Boof is comparable to that of injection, which is known to rapidly deliver effects.

Most Common Boof Drugs

Substances that are most common in boofing include the following: heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine.

Social Implications

Some people say the high from Boofing may be felt more in your torso or limbs, versus the head-rush often associated with smoking.

Others (including heterosexual, cisgender men) also experience arousal. Some — but not all, by any means — may feel shame due to widespread stigma around anal pleasure. The long history of demonizing what’s been called “sodomy” obscures the fact that the prostate lends itself towards this arousal.

Some particularly enjoy Boofing because of the unique arousal it can offer in the context of sex parties. This is the case for those in the ‘chemsex’ and so-called party ‘n’ play (PnP) scenes, spaces of mostly queer men or transgender women and their partners. Boof might also cause some discomfort, irritation, or pain if the syringe isn’t properly lubricated.

Effects and risks Of Boofing Drugs

Because the rate of absorption is faster with Boofing, the effects are more substantial.  That makes Boofing especially dangerous. It’s easy to take too much. Someone’s typical oral dose becomes more intense when taken from the anal. So, the possibility of overdose increases. And besides the potentially fatal outcome of an overdose, the effects of Boofing can lead to other medical conditions.   

Damage To The Rectum And Intestines

The tissue and membranes in and around the rectum are thin and delicate, making them susceptible to damage. Boofing can cause tears to the area, leaving a person vulnerable to infection, blocked blood flow to the intestines, cellular death, bloody stool, an inability to control their bowels, and an increased sensation of needing to go to the bathroom, and more. In severe cases, Boofing can also lead to requiring a colostomy. A colostomy is a surgical procedure that reroutes part of the colon to an artificial opening in the abdomen wall to bypass a damaged part of the colon.

Boofing
In severe cases, Boofing can also lead to requiring a colostomy.

Infection

Boofing, like any mode of administering drugs, bears the risk of damaging the orifice in question; here, the anus. You can accidentally tear the internal tissue of your anus, according to the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and Tweaker, which may be accompanied by pain and bleeding. As a result, there’s the risk of contracting an infection, like HIV, hepatitis C, and the chlamydia-related lymphogranuloma venereum. [3]

Increased Risk Of An STD/STI

Because the rectum and anus are such sensitive areas, Boofing can lead to an increased risk of contracting a sexually transmitted disease (STD) or sexually transmitted infection (STI). In addition, if the protective membranes and tissues are damaged, the body has less of a defense against contagious diseases contracted through sexual activity.

Greater Risk Of Overdose And Alcohol Poisoning

The most dangerous outcome from Boofing is overdosing. Someone who used to take a certain amount of a drug orally may not realize that the same amount absorbed through the anus could have a much more intense effect. As with any overdose, death becomes a genuine possibility.

And when it comes to Boofing alcohol, there are some additional concerns around alcohol poisoning. First, unlike the digestive system, the anus doesn’t have enzymes to break down alcohol. 

This means the effects of alcohol are felt all at once as it’s broken down in the intestines. Plus, the body has no defense against alcohol poisoning when absorbed in this way. So, if someone may begin to vomit if they’ve had too much to drink, with Boofing, the digestive system has been bypassed so that that natural bodily response doesn’t happen. 

Addiction Treatment 

There is an alternative to Boofing, though. It looks like not using drugs or alcohol at all can be a hard choice, but it is possible. Nearly every employee at We Level Up is also an alum, so we’ve been where you’ve been. And we can tell you with certainty; things are better on this side of things. So, if you’re thinking about quitting drugs and alcohol or are ready now, we can help. Our 30-Day Residential Program kickstarts a way of life that means total freedom from addiction. And no amount of Boofing can compete with that.

Boofing
If you’re thinking about quitting drugs and alcohol or are ready now, We Level Up CA can help.

Getting Help After Boofing Drugs Overdose

The dangers of Boofing drugs could be fatal. If you or someone you know has engaged in butt-chugging or boofed alcohol and is showing signs of overdose, it is essential to get immediate medical attention. This can be life-threatening, so get into the hospital or treatment as quickly as possible. Likewise, if your loved one has just started Boofing alcohol, our alcohol addiction treatment in California could save their life.

Alcohol Treatment Center in California

Boofing is a strong sign of alcohol use disorder, this practice can cause major health, social, and even economic problems that should not be taken lightly. We Level Up California Treatment Center can provide you, or someone you love, the tools to recover from drug addiction with professional and safe treatment. Feel free to call us to speak with one of our counselors. We can inform you about this practice by giving you relevant information. Our specialists know what you are going through. Please know that each call is private and confidential.

Sources

[1]  We Level Up Treatment Center‘Boofing Drugs’

[2] Gupta, M., Bailey, S., & Lovato, L. M. (2009). Bottoms up: methamphetamine toxicity from an unusual route. The western journal of emergency medicine, 10(1), 58–60. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

[3] San Francisco AIDS Foundation (www.sfaf.org)