Heroin

Injecting 5: Skin popping

A third way to inject heroin is called ‘skin popping’. Small doses of the drug are injected in several places just under the skin (subcutaneously).

Absorption into the blood is even more gradual than in intramuscular injection, and the heroin takes longer to reach the brain. The concentration of drug molecules in the brain will also be lower. This reduces the risk of overdosing.

Subcutaneous injection carries the greatest risk of abscess formation and other skin conditions.