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Substance use is not a new concern. It is something that people have been participating in and managing for many, many years. With mentions of various substances always popping up in the news, it’s easy to become desensitized to substance use and how it impacts people. It’s easy to hear about the “opioid epidemic” and think, “oh, well that doesn’t apply to me or anyone I know.”
In Oregon alone, over 1 million opioid prescriptions have been prescribed in 2022. In 2021, 67% of all overdose deaths in Oregon were related to opioids. These situations touch more lives than people realize, and continuing to bring awareness can help continue to lower casualty numbers. Here at Serenity Lane, we strive to raise awareness regarding substance use and continue to lower stigma so those managing this condition can better receive the help they need.
Today we’re going to talk about opioids, but specifically, we’re going to talk about synthetic heroin. What is synthetic heroin? What does it do? How is it different and how can it impact you?
Heroin is a semi-synthetic opioid. Opioids are depressants that impact the opioid receptors within your brain. They're commonly used for surgeries and pain relief and can be prescribed by a doctor.
Heroin, on the other hand, is not a legal substance. It normally comes in powder or pill form, though it can come in an injectable form, as well.
The term "synthetic heroin" is a bit misleading. Heroin is inherently already partially semi-synthetic. When looking into "fully synthetic" opioids, most sources will point towards fentanyl.
Heroin itself is rarely fully synthetic, due to how it's manufactured. It can, however, be laced or cut with other substances ranging from cornstarch to fentanyl, making it less "pure." The reason dealers will do this is to make more money off of the deal. Unfortunately, not knowing what heroin is laced with when consuming it can lead to additional health concerns. When things like cornstarch are introduced, this can be bad for the bloodstream of those who inject heroin. When fentanyl is involved, the high strength of it can lead to an increased risk of overdose.
While there is no easy way to tell if your heroin is laced with things like cornstarch or flour, here in the state of Oregon, you can get test strips to determine if your heroin has any fentanyl in it. Fentanyl is a fully synthetic opioid that is 50x stronger than heroin. Taking fentanyl without knowing can be dangerous due to its high potency. If you were to take your normal dosage, you would be more heavily impacted than you realize.
There is no difference between “synthetic” heroin and regular heroin when it comes to forms of consumption. Normally heroin comes in a white or brown powder form. It is generally either snorted, smoked, or injected. Occasionally it can come as a black, sticky substance. This is referred to as black tar heroin.
No level of illicit drug use is ever inherently safe. There are many ways that heroin can negatively impact you. When you add additional substances into the mix, especially without the consumer's knowledge, this can increase the risk of additional damage.
Take, for example, the addition of other powders like cornstarch or baking soda. Most people wouldn’t choose to add these into the bloodstream willingly and for good reason. They can lead to potential blockages.
Even when taking it normally, there are some heroin side effects that you should be aware of:
Finally, as we’ve mentioned earlier, taking heroin that is mixed with other substances like fentanyl can increase your risk of overdose. It can be very easy to take more than you realize, leading to your body being overwhelmed. This can be deadly if not treated in time, so let’s talk about the signs of overdose so you know what to look for.
An overdose occurs when too much of a substance is in the body at a time. The body has a system in place for processing substances and toxins that aren’t meant to be there, but this process can only handle so much at a time. If you continue to take a substance before your body has had time to process it, the substance can start to heavily impact other areas of the body. The most common ones impacted are your blood and your brain.
Substances like heroin aren’t naturally within the body. Therefore, having too much of it in there can cause your body to start to shut down. Some of the most common signs of an overdose involving heroin or fentanyl are:
When someone is overdosing on heroin, one of the biggest concerns comes from their slowed or stopped breathing, depriving the brain of oxygen. This can cause negative short or long-term effects on a person’s mental capacity and nervous system, and can sometimes lead to permanent brain damage or even a coma.
If you or a loved one is experiencing signs of an overdose, call for medical help. Here in the state of Oregon, the Good Samaritan Law prevents a person from getting into legal trouble for seeking medical help for a substance overdose.
When seeking treatment options for an opioid use disorder (OUD), knowing what you need in order to make a full recovery is important. Opioids are a unique beast in the way they affect the body during use and in the long run. In fact, the FDA has specifically approved medications that can assist those who are getting treatment for an OUD. This process is known as MAT or Medication Assisted Treatment, and it's something we offer here at Serenity Lane.
Having access to MAT during both the detox and recovery process can help clients safely wean off of substance use and better focus on their recovery. When the body becomes used to a substance that regularly alters systems inside the body, it can react when that substance is no longer present. This process is known as withdrawal and is the common reason many people will continue to use a substance.
Withdrawal can come with many side effects, ranging from annoying to uncomfortable or even life-threatening. When a person knows they can abate these symptoms by simply taking more of a substance, it can be harder for them to quit. This is where MAT and other medical support can come into play. Withdrawal management is a huge part of recovery and can give clients the time they need to learn tools and skills to better manage their recovery.
From there, we also offer a variety of outpatient programs to give clients continued support. This process allows them to keep connecting with fellow peers as well as therapists and healthcare professionals as they work toward finding their new normal.
If you have any questions about our treatment options, OUDs, MAT, or anything else, our team here at Serenity Lane is always happy to help. Feel free to give us a call at (800) 543-9905 and we’ll help you with any questions you may have.
What does synthetic heroin look like?
There isn’t a quick and easy way, visibly, to tell apart “synthetic” heroin and normal heroin. You can, however, use fentanyl testing strips to see if there’s fentanyl-laced into your heroin.
What is the difference between natural and synthetic heroin?
Heroin is already semi-synthetic on its own. While there aren’t known forms of “fully synthetic” heroin, when it's laced with things like fentanyl, which IS fully synthetic, this can alter the heroin’s potency.
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