chase the dragon

Meaning

Verb

• To inhale the vapour from heated morphine, heroin, oxycodone or opium that has been placed on a piece of foil.
• To chase after the promise of a continually fulfilling high from an addictive substance.

Origin

• A slang phrase of Cantonese origin from Hong Kong. Traditional Chinese: 追龍, Simplified Chinese: 追龙. "Chasing" refers to the careful movement of the liquid in order to keep it from coalescing into a single, unmanageable mass.