A new illicit substance has arrived and the alarm bells are ringing. The stories don’t stop, and they are coming from every corner of the continent. Purple heroin, a relatively new and very deadly opiate cocktail is rearing its ugly head as a very unwelcome addition to the opioid epidemic wars. Knowing the enemy is vital to drawing up a winning battle plan to fight the purple crystal drug. Join Avenues Recovery, pioneers in addiction rehabilitation, as we discover the basics of purple dope.
Purple Heroin, also known as purple powder drug, purple rock drug, purple crystal drug, purple x drug, and purple dope, is a mixture of acetaminophen (the active ingredient found in Tylenol), heroin and a relatively new drug called Brorphine.
In early August 2021, the DEA released a report sounding the alarm on Brorphine. A synthetic opioid first reported in scientific literature in 2018, it has since made its presence felt in the drug markets, primarily in the midwestern United States. Due to its recent discovery, it is not yet on the United States’ list of controlled substances, although it has no approved medical use.
In some cases, Purple Heroin has been found to contain Carfentanil. Not to be confused with Fentanyl and in fact a 100 times more potent than its similarly sounding counterpart, it is used by veterinarians to treat elephants. It is so powerful that a dose the size of a grain of salt can be fatal to human beings.
Purple X is simply another name for Purple Heroin. Purple Heroin gets its name from its purple color, although it has also been reported to have a gray color. The purple color often indicates that the mixture contains more than heroin, and may contain no heroin at all.
The dangerous cocktail’s purplish coloring gave it its name, as well as the slang-shortened versions, “purp” and “purple”. Taste is difficult to discern. Carfentanil has no odor or taste and often people will have no idea they ingested it. This can lead to fatal overdoses.
The purple rock drug is commonly packaged as purple powder or crystals. A gray-ish color has been reported as well. Because it is still in the relatively early stages of proliferation, the picture hasn’t been clearly filled out, and more identifying characteristics will be sure to come in the near future.
Sadly, overdosing on purple heroin is becoming more common. Some signs of overdose include:
Like other opiates, quickly administering Narcan can be effective in overturning a purple heroin overdose. It is imperative for people caring for those struggling with addiction, as well as those in the substance treatment industry, to be knowledgeable about giving Narcan. Federal and local governments have made great strides in enabling the life-saving drug to be widespread and easily accessible. There are many resources available to learn about naloxone, where to procure it, and how to safely administer it. Below is a sampling.
Find out more information on how to use Narcan from Avenues Recovery.
Purple Heroin is slowly taking its place in the opioid epidemic. With more than 20 fatalities recorded nationwide and an untold number of overdoses, the purple rock drug has experts in the field legitimately concerned. It is vital to stay informed and vigilant about the dangers of Purple X.
If someone close to you is struggling with addiction to Purple X or any drug, don’t stay quiet! Show them you care, urge them to consider substance abuse treatment, and help them find an outpatient or residential treatment facility that can make a real difference. Contact us at Avenues Recovery to find out how we can help you with our personalized addiction treatment plans and our trademark empathy and compassion. There’s no need to live a life of addiction. Treatment works. See it work for you!