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Produced in places like Mexico and Afghanistan, Black tar heroin contributes mightily to the current epidemic. For individuals to have a real chance at lasting recovery, they need professional addiction treatment.

Origins of Black Tar Heroinblack tar heroin

Most black tar heroin comes from Mexico. Mexico once provided more brown heroin powder, the lowest quality version of the drug. Today, however, black tar is more common. Afghanistan’s higher-quality white powder heroin took over the U.S. market for heroin, causing the brown powder to lose its place on most streets.

The Mexican drug cartels began production of higher-quality black tar heroin in response to Afghanistan’s influx of the white powder. The purity of this type of heroin ranges between 25–30%. The low purity makes the tar much less expensive than white powder heroin. However, that doesn’t make it less dangerous.

Health Problems

The sticky, gooey version of heroin is as bad for your health as it sounds.

About 70–75% of the black tar heroin contains toxic contaminants and additives, giving the drug its sticky, tar-like consistency and appearance. The tar not only clogs injection needles but also your blood vessels. It increases the risk of damaging your kidneys, liver, brain, and lungs.

Other health risks specific to this type of heroin include:

The Effects of Black Tar Heroin

Abusing heroin in the black tar form means you must heat the drug, mix it with water, and inject it into your vein. This type of heroin works like other types, causing a euphoric rush of pleasure that keeps users coming back for more.

When the heroin enters your brain, it converts into morphine. The drug attaches to the opioid receptors responsible for feeling pain and reward. Some of these opioid receptors in your brain stem also control vital life functions such as breathing, alertness, and blood pressure.

After your injection, you may have a heavy feeling in your arms and legs, suffer cloudy thoughts, alternate between being awake and asleep, and experience severe itching. You may also have a dry mouth, constricted pupils and flushed skin. Many people vomit after using heroin due to nausea.

Tolerance quickly develops when using any form of heroin. You need more heroin to feel its effects, but the more you use the more quickly you suffer addiction. When you struggle with addiction, you can’t stop using the drug or you suffer negative effects of withdrawal like depression, nausea, vomiting, muscle aches, bone aches, diarrhea, fever and kicking movements. These symptoms start in as little as six hours after your last dose.

MD Treatment for Addiction

Ashley Addiction Treatment in Havre de Grace, Maryland provides treatment for people suffering heroin addiction. This treatment starts with supervised medical detox, a safe process of withdrawal during which you experience greater comfort, support, care, and guidance than when kicking heroin alone.

Our core substance abuse programs include:

If you or someone you love suffer addiction to heroin, other drugs or alcohol, Ashley Addiction Treatment provides licensed and accredited treatment you need for lasting recovery. Call Ashley Addiction Treatment now at 866-313-6307 for more information about available programs.