Heroin

Injecting 4: Muscling

Intramuscular injection is called ‘muscling’. The heroin is not shot directly into a vein, but into muscle tissue. It is absorbed gradually into the surrounding blood vessels. It is then transported to the heart.

Intramuscular injection may occur accidentally, because the user could not find a vein. The user may also want the heroin to enter the bloodstream more slowly, instead of all at once. That reduces the chance of an overdose.