If you’ve recently found out that a loved one is taking heroin, you probably have a lot of questions. Why would they do this? What are the side effects? What can I do to help them? How can I know that they’re safe?
One of your biggest concerns might be: how do they know what’s actually in the heroin they purchase? And you wouldn’t be the first person to ask that question.
Not knowing what is in the substance you’re consuming means not knowing how the two interact, which is extremely dangerous. This is a major part of why, in 2020, there were nearly 4,000 nonfatal heroin-related emergency department visits reported in California.
If your loved one is participating in heroin use, it is perfectly normal to be worried. At Pacific Sands, we understand that you want them to get the best care possible, which is why we are proud to have a small facility with private rooms and a six-client maximum that allows us to really get to know our clients and their individual needs. Today we’ll be discussing the things heroin might be hiding and we’ll answer the question: What is heroin cut with?
What Is Heroin Cut With?
Unfortunately, there is no one thing that heroin is cut with. It could be cut with a number of different agents with varying side effects. Some of these are relatively harmless, but others can seriously threaten the safety of anyone using the substance. The primary goal of using any cutting agent is to ensure that it has a similar look and texture to real heroin so that the cutting agent can add to the weight of the heroin.
A few common cutting agents used in heroin include:
- Quinine
- Lactose and other sugars
- Caffeine and other stimulants
- Fentanyl
- Talc
- Starch
Why Cutting Agents Are Used in Heroin: Getting A Better Understanding
Cutting agents are typically used to dilute heroin. While this often makes the effects of heroin less severe, it also makes the product much cheaper for dealers to produce.
Typically heroin is sold by the ounce, so adding a cutting agent adds to the weight and appearance of bulk when selling the product. Often, these cutting agents look nearly identical to heroin, and it is impossible to tell how much of any given cutting agent a drug is cut with. To know for sure, you would have to test the chemical makeup of the substance in a lab, although some people who are experienced with taking heroin may be able to tell based on the effects they experience after taking the drug.
Common Cutting Agents: What’s Really in Heroin?
There are a few different cutting agents that are commonly used to cut heroin. Most of these cutting agents are used to make heroin look bulkier and weigh more when it is being sold. However, they often have unintended side effects. We’ll cover a few of the most common cutting agents here.
Quinine
Quinine is a naturally occurring substance that is primarily used in low doses to flavor soda water. In larger doses, it can be used to treat malaria and even leg cramps, however, it has been used less frequently due to severe side effects. Unfortunately, it is still the most common cutting agent used in heroin.
Side effects of Quinine include:
- Back pain
- Unusual bruising
- New or unexplained bleeding
- Dizziness
- Irregular or fast heartbeat
- Headaches
- Vision issues
Lactose
Lactose is a sugar found in milk and other dairy products. It is often cut with heroin in the form of powdered milk because it is pretty inexpensive and easy to find. Luckily there are relatively few safety concerns from lactose specifically.
Caffeine
Caffeine is a common stimulant used perfectly safely in many products, like coffee and soda. However, when it is cut with heroin it is difficult to know the exact quantity of caffeine that is consumed, and it can cause heart problems in large doses.
Because caffeine is a stimulant and heroin is a depressant, it can be dangerous in high quantities. Stimulants can mask or make it difficult to register an overdose, which may lead to delayed efforts to receive treatment.
Fentanyl
Fentanyl is one of the most dangerous cutting agents found in heroin. It is an opioid that has similar effects to heroin, but it is much cheaper to produce. Fentanyl is used to cut heroin in the hopes that, because it is also an opioid, the people who consume it will not be able to tell the difference. However, fentanyl is an extremely potent opioid and we have seen a high number of overdoses in recent years, especially among people who did not know they were consuming fentanyl.
Lacing Vs. Cutting: What’s the Difference?
While cutting and lacing are similar practices, the intent behind them is different. Cutting is done in an attempt to dilute the heroin and make it cheaper to sell, allowing a dealer’s supply to spread further. These cutting agents often have little to no psychoactive effect when consumed. Lacing, on the other hand, is when an agent is used to mimic or enhance the effects of heroin.
Lacing can be a serious concern because it may make the likelihood of an overdose higher, especially if the person consuming the laced heroin is unaware that the product has been laced or is unfamiliar with the substance the heroin is laced with.
Lacing can also be a major legal concern. If someone is arrested for possession or intent to sell, they are likely to face charges for all of the drugs in the product they were arrested with, even if they only knew about the heroin.
Dangers of Cutting Agents In Heroin: What to Watch Out For
The unfortunate reality is that cutting agents can make heroin even more dangerous. One reason this is concerning is that you don’t really know what you’re getting when you buy heroin. While some cutting agents, like lactose and other sugars, are relatively harmless, other cutting agents can pose a serious threat, like fentanyl or high quantities of quinine. Additionally, stimulants like caffeine can have a negative interaction with heroin in high doses.
Cutting agents can also increase the likelihood of an overdose. Because cutting can dilute, or in some cases increase, the potency of heroin, it can make a person more likely to overdose. This can be especially concerning if a new cutting agent is introduced by the person who sells or when someone finds a new supplier who may use different cutting agents.
Alternatively, if someone is used to consuming cut heroin, and their tolerance is based on that, consuming pure heroin can be extremely dangerous. If the heroin they are used to is typically diluted by something like lactose, suddenly consuming uncut heroin, especially without realizing it, can pose a serious concern about overdose.
Whether someone has been participating in heroin use for a long time or has only started recently, cutting agents can be a serious concern.
Treating Heroin Addiction In Santa Ana, CA
If you are concerned that you or a loved one are experiencing a substance use disorder with regards to heroin, you may feel overwhelmed. It can be a really big change to leave heroin in the past and take the first steps towards recovery. Luckily, you don’t have to do it alone.
The best way to begin your treatment journey is to look into a heroin rehab program. A rehabilitation program would help you detox from heroin so you can get through withdrawal and cravings successfully without returning to use. During this time you may decide that medication-assisted treatment is right for you, to help manage withdrawal symptoms while they are at their worst.
Additionally, a good program should provide you with therapy options to get to the root of any underlying conditions that may be contributing to your SUD.
We know that recovery is a major commitment for you and your family. That’s why our clinical director and our primary therapist at Pacific Sands are both committed to being on-site 50 hours a week, making sure that everyone has the best chance at recovery. Get started today, and call us at 949-426-7962.
Pacific Sands – The first step towards a new life.
