The illegal nature of the drugs means there are risks of bacterial / fungal contamination - anthrax, botulism, etc from the drug, but also from household products used to increase the potency. For example, if a heroin user goes to a clinic they'll be provided with clean vitamin C. If they're at home they may use lemon juice.
> In Glasgow 23 heroin users were diagnosed with Candida endophthalmitis (intraocular fungal infection), bio-typing analysis indicated that the lemon juice used to prepare heroin injections was the source of contamination (Shankland & Richardson, 1988). In Spain, contaminated lemon juice was also suspected as the cause of an outbreak of Candida albicans amongst injecting heroin users (Miro et al., 1987).
Probably most relevant:
> As discussed previously, the evidence detailed above suggests that adulterants are added to heroin typically either to (1) dilute the product with benign substances making it less pure and increasing profits, or (2) to enhance the heroin (i.e. to make it more efficient when smoked) (Huizer, 1987). The evidence does not concur with the mythology of the addition of gravel, brick dust, household cleaning products or poisons by unscrupulous drug dealers.
ryanlol|10 years ago
DanBC|10 years ago
The adulterants and bulking agents cover a wide range of substances.
At the cleaner end you have caffeine (reduces vapour point of heroin), Chloroquine (looks a bit like heroin), and paracetamol.
https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/frontpage/2009/June/afghanist...
At the dirtier / dangerous end you have lead (possibly a contaminant from "cooking" vessels, causes serious harm when injected)
http://www.cph.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/cut-a-guide...
The illegal nature of the drugs means there are risks of bacterial / fungal contamination - anthrax, botulism, etc from the drug, but also from household products used to increase the potency. For example, if a heroin user goes to a clinic they'll be provided with clean vitamin C. If they're at home they may use lemon juice.
> In Glasgow 23 heroin users were diagnosed with Candida endophthalmitis (intraocular fungal infection), bio-typing analysis indicated that the lemon juice used to prepare heroin injections was the source of contamination (Shankland & Richardson, 1988). In Spain, contaminated lemon juice was also suspected as the cause of an outbreak of Candida albicans amongst injecting heroin users (Miro et al., 1987).
Probably most relevant:
> As discussed previously, the evidence detailed above suggests that adulterants are added to heroin typically either to (1) dilute the product with benign substances making it less pure and increasing profits, or (2) to enhance the heroin (i.e. to make it more efficient when smoked) (Huizer, 1987). The evidence does not concur with the mythology of the addition of gravel, brick dust, household cleaning products or poisons by unscrupulous drug dealers.
bcook|10 years ago
blumkvist|10 years ago
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