Heroin in brow- black and white: Structural factors and medical consequences in the US heroin market

• Street heroin is rarely pure: The drug sold on the street is often mixed or “cut” with other substances like sugars, starch, powdered milk, or quinine.
• The color can vary: While pure heroin is typically white, the color of powdered heroin can range from pure white to various shades of brown, depending on the level of impurities and additives.
• Purity levels impact risk: Highly pure heroin can be snorted or smoked, potentially appealing to new users due to the avoidance of injection. However, even in its pure form, white heroin carries significant health risks, especially when injected due to potential cutting agents.

Heroin in brow- black and white: Structural factors and medical consequences in the US heroin market

• Opioid drug: Heroin is an opioid drug derived from morphine, which comes from the opium poppy plant.
• Highly addictive: Heroin is highly addictive, and users can develop a tolerance, requiring increasing doses to achieve the same effect.
• Methods of use: Heroin can be injected, smoked, sniffed, or snorted.
• Health risks: Heroin use poses serious health risks, including:
  • Addiction and dependence
  • Overdose or death
  • Collapsed veins (especially with injection)
  • Infections (HIV, hepatitis B/C, bacterial infections)
  • Organ damage (heart, lungs, liver, kidneys)

• SAMHSA National Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357) provides confidential treatment referral and information.
• FindTreatment.gov: A confidential and anonymous resource for finding treatment facilities.
• Naloxone: A medicine that can rapidly reverse an opioid overdose.
• Medication-assisted treatment (MAT): Combines medications with counseling and behavioral therapies to treat substance use disorders.
• Behavioral therapies: Cognitive behavioral therapy, contingency management therapy.
• Support groups: Narcotics Anonymous, SMART Recovery.