Overview
Intramuscular (IM) injections are injections that aim to go deeper than intradermal (in the skin), intravenous (in the veins), and subcutaneous (fatty tissue under the skin) injections. Vaccines, hormones, steroids, and antibiotics are generally delivered at this depth which allows for rapid absorption of high quantities of a medication or drug.
With injection drug use, generally the goal is to hit the intravenous (IV) level that puts the entire dose into the vein and to the brain at once without the liver processing it. IM injections have a slower onset than IV injections, so if someone ends up injecting at the IM level, it’s usually because they either missed a vein or have ruined veins that can’t handle the needle. Every type of injection carries the risk of contaminating the body and lead to abscesses or infections.