“Boofing” is a slang term that has gained notoriety, especially after its mention in the 2018 Senate confirmation hearing of Justice Brett Kavanaugh. While Kavanaugh insisted it meant flatulence, the more common understanding of boofing is the practice of inserting drugs or alcohol into the anus. This method, also known as “booty bumping” or “plugging,” is done to achieve a quicker and more intense high, or to avoid the perceived harms associated with snorting or injecting substances. However, it’s crucial to understand that boofing carries significant risks of its own.
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Boofing: More Than Just a Slang Term
The term “boofing” entered the public lexicon when Brett Kavanaugh was questioned about its meaning in his yearbook during his Supreme Court confirmation hearings. Despite his explanation, common usage, supported by sources like Urban Dictionary, defines boofing primarily in two ways: inserting drugs or alcohol rectally, or as a term for anal sex.[1][2][3] In the context of substance use, boofing refers to the rectal administration of various intoxicating substances, from stimulants like cocaine and methamphetamine to depressants like alcohol and heroin. Other terms for this practice include “booty bumps,” “plugging,” and, specifically for alcohol, “butt chugging.” In medical contexts, it might be referred to as “trans-rectal abuse.”[4] Boofing is practiced with a range of substances including methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, MDMA (ecstasy), and alcohol.[5][6]
How Boofing Works: The Science of Rectal Absorption
Boofing works because the anus and rectum are lined with mucous membranes that are thin and richly supplied with blood vessels. When a substance is inserted into the anus, it is rapidly absorbed through these membranes directly into the bloodstream. This route of administration allows the drug to largely bypass the first-pass metabolism in the liver, where drugs are typically broken down after oral ingestion. As a result, the substance reaches the brain more quickly and in a higher concentration, leading to a faster and more potent effect.[5][6]
This rapid absorption is well-documented in medical science, where rectal administration is a legitimate route for certain medications to achieve faster onset and higher bioavailability compared to oral administration.[7] For illicit drugs, the effect is similar. Studies have shown that methamphetamine users report feeling the effects of rectal administration within 3 to 5 minutes, which is comparable to snorting and faster than oral ingestion. While not as instantaneous as smoking or intravenous injection, boofing still provides a significantly quicker high.[4]
The methods of boofing vary. “Dabbing” involves rubbing powdered drugs directly onto the anal lining. Sometimes, users employ straws to blow powdered drugs into the rectum. Another common method is to dissolve powdered drugs in water and then inject the solution into the rectum using needleless syringes, enema bulbs, or lube shooters.[8] “Stuffing” is another technique where substances are wrapped in cigarette paper before being inserted rectally.[5] However, inserting substances directly, especially crystalline drugs like crystal meth or crack cocaine, without dissolving them or using a wrapping, can cause cuts and tears in the delicate anal tissue, increasing the risk of bleeding and infection.[9]
Why People Boof: Seeking Intensity and Perceived Safety
The primary reasons people choose to boof are to achieve a faster, more intense high and out of a misconstrued belief that it is a safer alternative to other drug administration methods. The rapid onset and heightened effects are attractive to those seeking a stronger experience.
Harm reduction advocates sometimes suggest rectal administration as a way to minimize the harms associated with injecting and snorting drugs. Boofing avoids the vascular damage, skin and bloodstream infections, abscesses, and track marks linked to injection drug use.[10] It also circumvents the nasal damage from snorting and the respiratory issues associated with smoking drugs.[8] However, it’s critical to recognize that boofing presents its own distinct set of dangers, in addition to the inherent risks of drug and alcohol abuse.
For some individuals, boofing is also integrated into sexual practices, particularly anal sex, to enhance pleasure. Drugs might be added to lubricants, condoms, or sex toys for this purpose.
Butt Chugging or Boofing Alcohol: A Risky Practice
Alcohol can also be administered rectally, a practice known as an alcohol enema, butt chugging, or alcohol boofing. Common methods include using a tube and funnel to pour alcohol, typically beer or wine, directly into the anus, or inserting an alcohol-soaked tampon into the rectum.[11]
Dangers of Boofing: Beyond the Desired Effects
Despite the perceived benefits, boofing is far from safe and introduces a unique set of risks on top of the general dangers of substance abuse.
Firstly, boofing can cause significant irritation and damage to the anal lining. The delicate rectal tissues can become inflamed, leading to pain, bleeding, and infections. Methods like “dabbing” or “stuffing,” which involve inserting undissolved or unwrapped substances, are particularly damaging.
While some might choose boofing to avoid infections like HIV associated with intravenous drug use, boofing itself can be a route for transmitting infections. The tears and lesions caused by boofing can create entry points for viruses like HIV, hepatitis C and A, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as chlamydia.[9] Sharing boofing equipment, such as syringes, further elevates the risk of infection transmission.
Perhaps the most significant danger is the heightened risk of overdose. Similar to intravenous injection, boofing delivers a concentrated dose of the drug rapidly into the bloodstream. Unlike snorting or smoking, which allow for more gradual absorption and the ability to gauge the dose’s effect, boofing introduces a large, unpredictable amount of the substance all at once. This can easily overwhelm the body and lead to overdose.
This risk is especially pronounced with alcohol boofing. Rectally administered alcohol is absorbed directly into the bloodstream, leading to rapid and intense intoxication. Critically, it bypasses the initial metabolism that occurs in the stomach and liver. While the alcohol will eventually reach the liver for processing, the sudden and high concentration can overwhelm the organ. Furthermore, the body’s natural defense mechanism against alcohol poisoning – vomiting – is bypassed when alcohol is boofed. These factors combine to make alcohol boofing exceptionally dangerous, significantly increasing the likelihood of severe alcohol poisoning and unpredictable levels of intoxication.[12]
In conclusion, while boofing is sometimes perceived as a less harmful way to use drugs, it carries substantial risks, including tissue damage, infections, and a significantly increased risk of overdose, especially with alcohol. It is not a safe alternative to other routes of drug administration and introduces its own unique dangers.
References
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[12] Source 12 from original article
