How Is Black Tar Heroin Made?

Black heroin is a product of morphine, which is a strong opioid painkiller. Its appearance is different from the ordinary brown powder form, which looks either white or brown.

As per the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), black tar heroin is a gummy, black drug. The substance’s dark shade results from rudimentary processing techniques that leave behind impurities.

So, this drug is a contaminated form of diamorphine. The substance is prepared by mixing morphine with acetyl chloride.

Most people mistakenly believe that black tar heroin has few adulterants. However, this isn’t the case, as the substance has a number of different adulterants, like lactose.

Lactose is added to black tar by dissolving the two substances in water and reheating. The mixture is then filtered and recrystallized.

Where Black Tar Heroin Is Made

Black tar heroin is also popularly known as Mexican black tar heroin. It’s a significant export in Mexico. Many other countries in Latin America and South America also produce this substance.

The drug is also found predominantly in the west of the Mississippi River in the United States. Afghanistan is also a well-known producer of powder heroin.

What Substances Are Used To Make Black Tar Heroin?

Black tar heroin is a substance derived from morphine, a mind-altering drug. Morphine originates from the opium poppy plant.

Heroin’s shade and appearance depend on the process of making it and its ingredients. Black tar heroin is dark because it is less refined or pure than white powder heroin or brown heroin.

It may contain more adulterants or impurities and less steps in the production process. Substances that make up black tar heroin include heroin byproducts (impure diamorphine) and lactose.

The Process Of Making Black Tar Heroin

Black tar heroin is made via a simple processing technique that leaves it with impurities. The drug appears black due to the impurities left after processing it.

For proper purification into powder form, heroin preparation undergoes various stages.

However, when making black tar heroin, the process ends at the first stage, acetylation. Due to this, the drug is impure.

Making black tar heroin simply requires acetylation, then adding an adulterant, like lactose, by dissolving both substances in a liquid, re-heating, and recrystallizing them into a solid form.

Risks And Side Effects Of Using Black Tar Heroin

Heroin users may see effects to their health in various ways. Around 70-75% of the substance comprises harmful contaminants and gums.

If injected, this tar can block your blood vessels, increasing the danger of kidney, brain, lungs, and liver destruction.

Here are some risks of using black tar heroin:

• venous sclerosis: People who inject heroin have a higher risk of developing narrow and hardened veins, making subsequent injections almost impossible.
• bacterial infections: Black tar heroin injection can lead to life-threatening bacterial infections, like necrotizing fasciitis.
• viral infections: It can also lead to viral diseases, like hepatitis, and cause heroin abscesses.
• bone and joint infections: Users of black tar heroin have an enhanced danger of bone and joint infections that spread from the bloodstream.
• wound botulism: People who inject illegal drugs are at risk of developing wound botulism, a serious illness that can be fatal.

Other long-term effects of heroin use (all types of heroin) include:

• heavy limbs
• impaired thinking
• dry mouth
• flushing of the skin
• constipation
• hormonal and neuronal imbalances

Treatment Programs For Heroin Abuse

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), substance abuse leads to addiction.

You can overcome a heroin addiction by joining a treatment program.

Here’s an exploration of what you may find in heroin addiction treatment programs at Bedrock Recovery Center:

• individual, group, and family therapy: Here, treatment can occur in a one-on-one session, a group setting, or a peer-supported environment.
• cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): CBT encourages people to discover and get rid of recurring negative thoughts. It also helps treat psychological and physical health issues.
• motivational interviewing (MI): This drug addiction treatment technique helps resolve contradictory thoughts that may linger in the minds of people in recovery.
• dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT): This behavioral health and mental health technique educates clients to control their thoughts to minimize dangerous habits.
• heroin detox programs: This form of support can help you address withdrawal symptoms.
• inpatient treatment for heroin use: The most intensive form of care, inpatient and residential programs provide 24-hour treatment plans to help you recover.
• medication-assisted treatment for heroin addiction: MAT employs both medications and therapy to help people manage an opioid addiction long-term.

Find Heroin Addiction Treatment At Bedrock Recovery Center

Looking for the best heroin treatment program for substance use issues for yourself or a loved one? Get in touch with Bedrock Recovery Center today.

Our experienced treatment professionals use multiple programs to deliver high-quality detox and treatment solutions. Call our helpline now for more information.