Chasing the dragon

"Chasing the dragon" (traditional Chinese:追龍; simplified Chinese:追龙; pinyin:zhuī lóng; Jyutping:zeoi1 lung4) is a slang phrase of Cantonese origin from Hong Kong referring to inhaling the vapor from heated morphine, heroin, oxycodone, opium, or ya ba (a pill containing caffeine and methamphetamine). The "chasing" occurs as the user gingerly keeps the liquid moving in order to keep it from overheating and burning up too quickly. The moving smoke is chased after with a tube through which the user inhales. Another more metaphorical use of the term "chasing the dragon" refers to the elusive pursuit of the ultimate high in the usage of some particular drug.