Parachuting is done with an oral drug of abuse. It consists of wrapping the drug in a wrapper which is expected to dissolve or open up like a parachute in the gastrointestinal tract.
The wrapper may consist of:
(1) toilet paper
(2) paper towel
(3) plastic wrap
(4) part of a plastic bag
(5) other material
The goal may be:
(1) to avoid the taste of the medication
(2) to provide a slow and sustained release of the drug
(3) to provide rapid absorption of a drug over the large surface area of the bowel wall
(4) to avoid injecting or snorting
Parachuting has to be distinguished from body packing and from body stuffing where the goal is not to abuse the drug.
Complications:
(1) overdose if the drug is released too quickly
(2) aspiration of the packet
(3) bowel obstruction
(4) bowel perforation
Alternative uses of the term "parachuting":
(1) mixing benzodiazepines with MDMA
(2) mixing heroin and crack cocaine
(3) mixing crack cocaine and phencyclidine
