black tar heroin

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A form of heroin from Mexico that is dark, sticky, semisolid and difficult to ‘cut’—adulterate—because of its viscid nature. It is extremely potent—purity of up to 70%—and highly addictive

black tar heroin

A form of illicitly manufactured diacetylmorphine known for its tarry appearance and increased potency relative to “white” heroin.

See also: heroin

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References in periodicals archive ?

Mexican black tar heroin is the most commonly sold form of the drug in the Western United States and also one of the most impure.

The infections, so far, have appeared only in people who inject black tar heroin under their skin or into their muscles.

BLACK TAR HEROIN USERS HIT BY `FLESH-EATING'-TYPE DISEASE

California cases occurred in chronic drug abusers who turn to injecting black tar heroin, a dark, gummy, cheaper form of the narcotic, into their skin when their veins have given out.

BOTULISM ATTACKING DRUG USERS\Rare form of disease festers in punctures

At Buckley Center, a sobering and treatment facility in Eugene, Director Bob Richards said black tar heroin is no less prevalent now than it was five years ago.

Deaths from methamphetamine use rise

Unusual infections have been linked to subcutaneous or intramuscular drug use, including tetanus and wound botulism among heroin and black tar heroin users, respectively, in California [9,10], and group A streptococcal infections among cocaine users in Switzerland [11].

Unexplained Illness and Death Among Injecting-Drug Users -- Glasgow, Scotland; Dublin, Ireland; and England, April-June 2000

Most of the heroin supplied to the Southwest is available in the resinous form called "black tar" (27,28 ); the use of black tar heroin may be increasing in this region (29).

Tetanus Surveillance - United States, 1995-1997

In California, subcutaneous injection of Mexican black tar heroin has been associated with a recent increase of wound botulism caused by infection with C.

Tetanus among injecting-drug users - California, 1997

All cases except one since 1991 have occurred in injecting-drug users, and many involved subcutaneous injection or "skin popping" of black tar heroin.

On September 23, a 44-year-old male user of black tar heroin developed an abscess on his right arm, which was treated unsuccessfully with cephelexin and ciprofloxacin; on September 29, the abscess was incised and drained.

On September 25, a 30-year-old pregnant woman who reported last skin popping black tar heroin on September 24 sought care at an ED in Ventura County because of a sore throat and the sensation of "heavy eyelids.