Types of Heroin

The most common types of heroin found in the United States are white powder, brown powder and black tar heroin. China White, a deadly powder that contains fentanyl, has also flooded the streets in recent years.

Topics On this page
| | 9 sources

Heroin, which comes from the sap of the opium poppy plant, is an addictive street drug made from morphine. It comes in many forms, colors, textures and cuts, and the most popular type of heroin can vary by region.

Section Menu

Drug trafficking organizations from several countries smuggle heroin into the United States. As a result, different types of heroin are sold in different parts of the country.

All types of heroin can lead to heroin addiction and overdose. In 2016, more than 13,000 Americans died from a heroin-related overdose. Many of those overdoses resulted from heroin that was laced with fentanyl, a man-made opioid that is 30 to 50 times stronger than heroin.

White Powder Heroin

Most heroin sold east of the Mississippi River is a white to off-white powder that comes from Mexico and South America.

Although white powder heroin is more refined than other forms of the drug, heroin sold on the streets is never pure heroin. Dealers typically mix the drug with cutting agents to stretch their supply and increase profit.

“A lot of the heroin we have in the United States has at least six major impurities from the heroin manufacturing process.”

Thom Browne, President and CEO of Rubicon Global Enterprises, Honorary President of International Society of Substance Use Professionals

Common cutting agents include lactose, quinine, talc, sugar and caffeine. These additives can change what heroin looks like. They account for variations in color, which can range from white to beige to pink.

Because white powder heroin dissolves easily in water, most heroin users shoot the drug. Some people snort it. It’s not usually smoked because it burns at a much higher temperature than other forms of heroin.

White powder heroin sometimes smells like vinegar and has a bitter taste. The fine white powder can easily be mistaken for cocaine.

Black Tar Heroin

Black tar heroin is a dark-colored form of heroin that ranges from a gooey consistency to a hard, rock-like form.

Produced in Mexico, black tar heroin is the most common type of heroin available west of the Mississippi River. But recently it’s been turning up more frequently in the Midwest and on the East Coast.

Sometimes called chiva, Mexican tar or black, black tar is less refined than powder forms of heroin. The dark color, which can range from a deep red color to dark brown to black, comes from contaminants in the refinement process. This form tends to have a strong vinegar smell.

Black tar heroin is usually diluted and smoked or injected. It can also be snorted, but it has to be ground down first. Injecting black tar heroin can lead to numerous health problems, including serious skin infections.

Brown Powder

Brown powder heroin, which is produced in Mexico, is an increasingly common form of heroin. Brown powder used to be sold primarily in the western United States, but it is also showing up in cities in the Midwest and along the East Coast.

Often called Mexican brown, brown powder is more refined than black tar heroin but less expensive than white powder heroin. Some brown powder is created from black tar heroin that is crushed and cut with other additives to make it easier to snort.

Because it can be smoked or snorted and doesn’t have to be injected with a needle, brown powder has gained popularity among suburban teens and others who might never before have considered using heroin.

Brown powder can range in color from light beige to a dirty brown depending on its cutting agents.

Other Types of Heroin

Amid the ongoing opioid epidemic, other forms of heroin have also appeared on the streets. Some of these drugs contain a dangerous mix of heroin and other drugs, such as fentanyl or cocaine.

“Sometimes neither the dealer nor the buyer knows what’s in the product.”

Richard Baum, Former Acting Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy

China White

At one time, China White referred to a very pure form of white powder heroin from Southeast Asia. Today, people usually use the name as a slang term for powder heroin that contains heroin mixed with fentanyl or other designer versions of fentanyl. China White can also refer to fentanyl alone.

The drug has a lethal reputation, and fentanyl-laced heroin has been linked to the recent spike in opioid-related overdose deaths. Compared to heroin, fentanyl is 25 to 50 times stronger.

Speedball

A speedball is a mix of heroin and a stimulant, such as cocaine.

According to the National Institutes of Health, the two drugs in combination create a dangerous “push-pull” effect on the body. While the heroin acts on the central nervous system to slow breathing and cause drowsiness, the cocaine revs up the heart and blood pressure and causes anxiety.

Speedballing can lead to a stroke, heart attack, aneurysm or respiratory failure. Speedballs are also increasingly tainted with fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid that can cause overdose and death.

Gunpowder Heroin

A stickier and reportedly more potent version of black tar heroin called gunpowder heroin has been popping up on the West Coast. According to a 2016 study in the Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, gunpowder heroin is a crumbly substance resembling dried coffee.

Scramble

Scramble is a mixture of white or brown powder heroin and other substances packed into a gelatin capsule. It can contain a wide range of additives, including quinine, lactose, fentanyl, crushed opioid pills and benzodiazepines. Scramble is a popular form of heroin in Baltimore.

As heroin use in the United States rises, the nation’s heroin supply has become increasingly diverse and deadly. No form of heroin is safe to use. If you or someone you love is experiencing problems related to the drug, heroin treatment is the best option for achieving long-term sobriety.



Medical Disclaimer: DrugRehab.com aims to improve the quality of life for people struggling with a substance use or mental health disorder with fact-based content about the nature of behavioral health conditions, treatment options and their related outcomes. We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals. The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider.

Author
Amy Keller, RN, BSN
Content Writer, DrugRehab.com
As a former journalist and a registered nurse, Amy draws on her clinical experience, compassion and storytelling skills to provide insight into the disease of addiction and treatment options. Amy has completed the American Psychiatric Nurses Association’s course on Effective Treatments for Opioid Use Disorder and continuing education on Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT). Amy is an advocate for patient- and family-centered care. She previously participated in Moffitt Cancer Center’s patient and family advisory program and was a speaker at the Institute of Patient-and Family-Centered Care’s 2015 national conference.
@DrugRehabAmy
editor
,

View Sources

Ready to make a change?

Get cost-effective, quality addiction care that truly works.

Start Your Recovery
We're here to help you or your loved one.
Question mark symbol icon

Who am I calling?

Calls will be answered by a qualified admissions representative with Advanced Recovery Systems (ARS), the owners of DrugRehab.com. We look forward to helping you!

Question mark symbol icon

Who am I calling?

Phone calls to treatment center listings not associated with ARS will go directly to those centers. DrugRehab.com and ARS are not responsible for those calls.

-->