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When you think of heroin, what is the image that appears in your head? A majority of people will conjure up images of a white, tan, or brown powder. While you’d be correct in thinking of heroin as a drug that’s sold in powder form, a much more dangerous and potentially impure form of heroin is bought and sold on streets across the United States: black tar heroin.
While all forms of heroin are very dangerous to ingest, black tar heroin is especially concerning.
Heroin itself is an addictive opioid drug that is derived from morphine, a product of the opium poppy plant that is grown in dry climates such as certain areas of the Middle East. It is illegal to sell in the United States and, unlike many other powerful opioid drugs, has no legitimate medical uses.
Black tar heroin, as the name suggests, is a sticky, black, tar-like form of heroin that carries all of the potential health risks associated with powdered heroin and even more risks due to possible impurities. Like powdered heroin, black tar heroin is a highly addictive and illegal opioid drug with a high potential for a deadly heroin overdose.
Some names for black tar heroin, also known as “street names,” include:
Black tar heroin carries as much potential for addiction as any other form of heroin, and a large number of people will need specialized treatment for heroin addiction to quit the drug for good.
Because there are no legitimate medical uses for heroin, it is created in secrecy in unregulated facilities. Without federal regulations, heroin can be cut (mixed) with any number of active and inactive substances such as cornstarch, baking soda, and powdered sugar. All of these substances should never be introduced into the bloodstream. In many cases, substances that are even more toxic are used in the process of making heroin. These substances can be active (adding to the potency of the heroin) or inactive (adding to the weight or volume to increase profit).
In a particularly alarming practice, drug manufacturers will mix the dangerously potent synthetic opioid, fentanyl, in with heroin in order to increase its strength. This practice all too often leads to overdose as there is no way for the person to know whether the heroin has been spiked.
There are a few ways in which black tar heroin differs from powdered heroin. Black tar is generally believed to be of lower grade and made with even less care than the powdered variety.
Some other ways in which the two types of heroin differ include:
Appearance:
The most obvious difference between the two types of heroin is the form in which they are sold. Powdered heroin is sold en masse as blocks of white, tan, or brown powder. These blocks are later broken down further into grams or half grams of powder and sold in small bags or balloons. This powder can then be snorted, smoked, or dissolved in a liquid and injected directly into the veins.
Black tar heroin, on the other hand, is manufactured into a black or dark brown tar-like substance or solid bricks of black substance. This substance is sold on the street as chunks that resemble small pieces of coal. It is believed that the black or dark brown color is due to crude processing methods that leave behind impurities. It can also be smoked or dissolved into a form that is injectable.
Origin:
The majority of powdered heroin that is found on the streets of the U.S. is brought in from South America from countries such as Colombia. Black tar, on the other hand, is mainly produced in Mexico. From Mexico, black tar heroin is smuggled across the border and distributed in the United States.
Purity:
While it has been disputed, it’s believed there is a difference in purity between powdered heroin and black tar heroin. In either case, it is impossible for the consumer to tell what compounds are actually inside the powder or sticky tar they are consuming. Despite this controversy, black tar heroin is found to be 25% to 30% pure, which is lower than typical powdered heroin samples.
Availability in the United States:
In the past, powdered heroin has mainly been found in the Eastern part of the United States, while black tar heroin has historically been found in the Western part of the U.S. due to its proximity to the Mexican border.
Technology and other aspects have made the distribution of heroin and other drugs much easier in recent years. In the past, the Mississippi River was thought to be the dividing line between where powdered heroin was found and where black tar heroin was found. That is not necessarily the case anymore as the availability of black tar heroin continues to trickle east of the Mississippi.
Heroin, in general, can cause some intense physical effects on the body. Black tar heroin can cause all of the same side effects and more, depending on the purity and preparation. Some of these can even be identified from an outsider’s perspective.
These effects range from mild to severe and may include:
Some of the more severe side effects of heroin can be life-threatening and include:
Many of these dangers are compounded when black tar heroin is injected directly into the veins. Because it is a tar-like substance, if it is not properly dissolved into a solution before being injected, it can cause complications such as collapsed veins, infection of the heart lining and valves, abscesses, and liver or kidney disease.
Heroin is what is known as a “short-acting” opioid. This means it both takes effect quickly and leaves the system quickly. The National Institutes of Health has determined withdrawal symptoms for short-acting opioids begin within eight to 24 hours after final use and last anywhere from four to 10 days.
Serenity Lane is proud to be one of the top-quality addiction treatment programs in the Northwestern United States. We currently provide a cutting-edge, medically supported withdrawal program, also known as detox, at our inpatient care facility in Coburg, Oregon.
We’re proud to offer a wide range of treatment services for people suffering from heroin addiction. Detox is the first step in your journey toward living a life free of harmful substances.
Our team of medical professionals uses a standardized process designed to be the most effective way to achieve long-term recovery from dependence on heroin. They are prepared and qualified to handle all aspects of detox, including withdrawal symptoms and mental health issues that may be present.
It’s important to remember that even if withdrawal symptoms aren’t life-threatening, the process is known to be painful, scary, and it can make it harder to want to stop taking heroin. In order to be sure safety is the top priority of medical detox, we embrace the benefits of having qualified, compassionate professionals who can handle the withdrawal process with ease.
The discomfort and pain that are associated with heroin withdrawal can make it crucial that those going through detox get a medical intervention that addresses both their emotional and medical needs. This is why a medical detox program is so important.
The end result of a successful medical detox is that the individual is no longer at high risk for complications related to their substance use disorder. The cravings may still exist, but detox at Serenity Lane helps make them manageable by giving the person all the skills they need to find long-term success in recovery.
Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is the use of certain medications, in combination with counseling and behavioral therapies, to provide a unique approach to the treatment of substance use disorders.
Some of the medications approved by the FDA for MAT are naltrexone, buprenorphine, and methadone. These work best in combination with clinical therapies for the treatment of substance use disorders — which is why MAT exists.
Medications used in MAT work by normalizing brain chemistry, relieving physiological cravings, and normalizing body functions without the negative withdrawal symptoms of opioids like heroin.
It’s important to understand medication alone is not a cure-all solution for opioid addiction. MAT at Serenity Lane is used as just one piece of our comprehensive treatment programs.
Serenity Lane has been a trailblazer in the addiction treatment space and has served the Oregon community since 1973. We offer individualized, effective, and innovative solutions for our clients, neighbors, colleagues, friends, acquaintances, and family members struggling with heroin dependency or any other addiction. Our residential treatment center in Coburg, Oregon, can help you or a loved one today.
Don’t wait another day to get the help you or a loved one needs. Call to speak to a recovery specialist now: (800) 543-9905
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