Black Tar Heroin

Heroin is a potent and extremely dangerous illicit substance. As an opioid, it has great potential for addiction. Black tar heroin is a cheap and extremely nasty brand of this substance. Fortunately, our heroin rehab centers at Beaches Recovery can significantly improve the physical and mental health of the person using this substance. At Beaches Recovery, we’re committed to helping our clients overcome their heroin addiction. To learn about the treatment options available, please contact our team today at 866.605.0532 or use our helpful online form. 

What Is Black Tar Heroin?

Heroin is derived from morphine, which is a strong opioid painkiller. The most common forms of this drug are found in a white or brown powder form.  Black tar heroin is a distinct variety that is black and sticky. It gets its name because it looks like roofing tar.  This drug is primarily produced in Mexico, which means it is most often found in the Western United States.  Black tar heroin is very addictive and poses many health risks. Help is often required at a heroin addiction treatment center.

This drug is so dangerous because it is one of the least pure forms of heroin. Manufacturers cut the drug with other substances to cut costs. It is very difficult to know what those other substances are. This makes it all the more dangerous. Black tar heroin has a bad reputation, and for good reason. Those who use it are at a very high risk of infection and other problems.

How Is It Used?

Users primarily smoke or inject black tar heroin.  This particular substance cannot be used in its street form. It needs to be dissolved in a weak acid before it is used. This acid adds another unknown to the drug use and could lead to more negative reactions. Those who smoke heroin will commonly use a lighter to burn the material that has been placed on aluminum foil. They will then inhale through a small funnel.  Here are a few items to look for if you are concerned a loved one is using heroin:

• Spoons
• Aluminum foil
• Lighters
• Syringes
• Cotton balls
• A belt or other items to tie on the arm to make veins more prominent

Unfortunately, many of these items are common in a household, so it isn’t always easy to determine whether someone is using them with ill intent. In such cases, it is best to look for other signs of heroin addiction.

What Are the Effects of Black Tar Heroin?

Heroin gets to the brain very quickly after entering the body. While in the brain, the substance changes back to morphine. The user then feels a sense of euphoria. This is why the drug is so popular and addictive. The user wants more and more, which makes heroin withdrawal symptoms severe and unpleasant. Besides euphoria, other short-term effects include clouded thinking and nodding off, dry mouth and flushed skin, and limbs that feel heavy.

Dangers of Black Tar Heroin Use

The dangers of heroin use do not end with addiction. Injections can lead to venous sclerosis. This occurs when veins become narrow or hard. Using improperly sterilized needles can lead to a variety of infections. Skin popping is a popular way to inject the drug. This practice deposits the drug under the skin instead of into the muscle. This gets it into the blood supply sooner and is linked to serious bacterial infections. As noted by a study appearing in the US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, those who use skin popping techniques instead of intravenous injection are five times more likely to suffer from abscess or cellulitis.  A few other infections that are common in black tar heroin users include wound botulism, necrotizing fasciitis, candida folliculitis, and tetanus.

For those who struggle with black tar heroin addiction, there’s a substance abuse treatment center in Florida that can help.

Getting Help at Beaches Recovery

If you or someone you know in Jacksonville is struggling with a heroin addiction, reach out to a quality drug rehab center.  Beaches Recovery offers many options to overcome black tar heroin abuse Jacksonville residents struggle with, including:

• Residential addiction treatment program
• Intensive outpatient program
• Partial hospitalization program
• Referral to heroin detox programs

No one has to try to overcome addiction on their own.  With the right program and caring staff members, a clean life can be a reality.  Reach out to Beaches Recovery at 866.605.0532 for more information about overcoming a black tar heroin addiction.