Purple Heroin: A New Drug on the Scene

A new illicit substance has arrived and the alarm bells are ringing. The stories don’t stop 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 drugs. Join Avenues Recovery, pioneers in addiction rehabilitation, as we discover the basics of purple dope.

What Is Purple Heroin?

Purple heroin is a dangerous street drug that combines heroin with synthetic opioids like fentanyl or carfentanil. It appears purple due to additives or dyes. This drug is highly potent, increasing the risk of overdose and death. Law enforcement warns that even small amounts can be fatal.

Purple heroin is also known as:

• Purple powder drug
• Purple rock drug
• Purple crystal drug
• Purple X pill
• Purple dope

Lethal Substances in Purple Heroin

Purple heroin sometimes contains two potentially lethal substances - brorphine and carfentanil.

In early August 2021, the DEA released a report sounding the alarm on brorphine. A synthetic opioid first reported in scientific literature in 2018, brorphine 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 hundred times more potent than its similarly sounding counterpart, carfentanil 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 humans.

What Does Purple Heroin Look Like?

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 other substances aside from heroin, and may even contain no heroin at all. The purple rock drug is commonly packaged as purple powder or crystals.

What Does Purple Heroin Taste Like?

The taste of purple heroin is difficult to discern. Carfentanil (a common ingredient in purple heroin) has no odor or taste, and often, people will have no idea they ingested it. This can lead to fatal overdoses.

Signs of Overdose From Purple Heroin

Sadly, overdosing on purple heroin is becoming more common. Some signs of overdose include:

• Blue lips or nails
• Dizziness and confusion
• Difficulty being woken up
• Choking, gurgling, or snoring sounds
• Slow, weak, or no breathing
• Drowsiness or difficulty staying awake

Narcan (Naloxone) for Purple Heroin Overdose Reversal

Like other opiates, quickly administering Narcan can be effective in treating 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. 

Find out more information on how to use Narcan from Avenues Recovery.