Uk Trend the US has been missing out on... Citric Acid for cleaner shots!

[KS365]

Heroin/Opioid User for 14yrs and my husband has about 20yrs... Harm Reduction/Prevention Activist, Associates in human services and amateur organic chemist...

There is something I have been noticing in the YT videos about safe consumption sites in other countries, specifically their use of CITRIC ACID in their Heroin shots for IV use...

As I have been on methadone for years to avoid to fentanyl crisis, I have gone back to my true love as of late called Heroin..
Heroin has always been my DOC ever since my first time smoking it off of foil in a Del Taco bathroom at 16yrs old...

I didn't start IV use until the meeting of my now husband, we have been together for almost 10yrs and have both had years under our belts on methadone which is as clean as it gets for us or on heroin and any other opioid we were able to get... Always been functional, owning a home, have all of our computers, manga collections, On the outside we look like your regular nerdy couple that's obsessed with video games, electronics and anime....But underneath that many wouldn't guess the need to escape into the corner of our basement to shoot up enough heroin to kill small elephants..

Enough about me and my small background, lets get into the meat of this post...

Citric acid, I have seen videos on it online but never seen it used in the opioid communities in the US specifically west coast US, and therefore have wondered why?
I decided to finally give it a try!

Recently we got a bag that was a bit more cut up than the last few and therefore it completely clogged our needles with dark thick syrup no matter how many times we filtered with a syringe filter(also something I don't see used in the US and had to find out about through research)... I believe the cut was a lot of instant coffee which is preferred for a cut IMO only because I drink a lot of espresso as it is...
This stuff was dam near impossible to shoot especially with the weak and small veins I am already plagued with, so I had to figure something out, I tried smoking, I tried snorting but nothing is like shooting for me...

So, I decided to finally look into this Citric Acid trick, I suggest per half gram to only use about a quarter to a half teaspoon as most, you do NOT want too much Citric!!!
Once you add the citric, you will see a reaction occur between the solvents already used in the making of di-acetyl morphine, it'll be a slight bubbling reaction and as it does this it will be dissolving your heroin to make it much easier to shoot and if your like me with bad veins and get a lot of what I like to call "false flags" the citric also helps to keep your shots from clogging and your blood coagulating with the heroin...

You may want to heat it up a little bit after adding the citric just to a slight simmer for a few seconds, you never want to overheat your heroin as you will burn it... I also suggest double filtering with your cotton and even better a syringe filter... Yes I understand when sick it may be difficult to do these extra steps but please consider smoking a little or something to bring the shakes down and always drinking plenty of water to keep your veins from hiding on you!
I have inserted some photos below to show the citric reaction as well as the type of Heroin that you may get where these extra steps are very needed for IV use!

These extra steps could very well prevent things like embolisms, blood clots and more by just taking a little extra care when preparing your H for shooting!
NEVER SKIP ON THE ALCOHOL PADS, STERILE OR FILTERED WATER & MOST IMPORTANTLY OF ALL A CLEAN UNUSED SYRINGE!!


Now the filtering tips go for any kind of heroin you get, even the purest of the pure... There are posts on the forum of purifying your H but it includes the use of a couple of chemicals that the average person is going to have a very difficult time obtaining and the process is hazardous without proper safety precaution which again is impossible to have when in withdrawals and needing that get well shot now!

Please take care, be safe out there! It has never been a more dangerous time to be a opioid/heroin addict then now...

Always keep BB in your back pocket, save this post and the many others like it!
There is so much information to be had here and it's all about making drug use safe, effective and enjoyable like it should be!



PS: If you need to know where to buy a cheap box of needles, syringe filters, citric acid and even good spoons(look up measuring spoons) for safe and enjoyable using, any other Harm reduction or safety tips then feel free to reach out to me anytime this sleep owl is always willing to help! DM's ARE ALWAYS OPEN!

Thanks for reading I hope this helps someone who may have encountered a difficult bag to use and maybe was also wondering about this "citric acid" thing they do over on the other side of the world!

 

[Osmosis Vanderwaal]

A copy paste that seemed relevant; This salt (diamorphine hydrochloride) is 1000 times more soluble than heroin free base and does not need pH adjustment as it will readily dissolve in water (600 mg/mL) [].Heroin salts such as Heroin·HCl or Heroin·Citrate and Heroin·Ascorbate will self-buffer the solution to a pH at which the active compound is soluble.

 

[KS365]

Hey thank you for this copy paste, I was thinking thats what was going on, Just happy to have some confirmation on it!

 

[letsgethigh]

I could really use some good information on how to separate or purify fentanyl from cutter. And don't give me any bullshit about how dangerous that is. In a grown ass man.. take your opinion and stick it up your ass. Im tired of this poison garbage they have been using to cut it down. Can't smoke it tastes like a homeless hoebo's unwashed asshole and makes me sick to my stomach. I have already ruined 4grams trying to figure this out

 

[KS365]

That has nothing to do with this post go ask somewhere else dude

 

[rotovap5002]

The reason they don't use citric acid in north America as much as in Europe because in north America you can get what we call heroin #4 and in Europe its mostly #3. The difference is that #4 is much much cleaner and fully dissolves in water, the European heroin is cut to shit and diry hence the citric acid.

 

[KS365]

Ok well I'm on the West Coast and as much as that's the case on the east it doesn't come around here much unless I take the time to purify it my fucking self and oh yeah I have made it to so how about you take your comment and shove it up your ass as well, I'm just trying to share good information for those of us that don't always get the pure shit or maybe or in too much withdrawal to go through the whole process of purifying when your trying to get well.. so please next time remember not the entire country has access to the pure shit even though I get it here it's inconsistent as fuck and I buy online and in person... if it's been consistent for you your whole life then count your lucky fucking stars buddy!

 

[rotovap5002]

Your post is inaccurate. If you buy heroin then you should know what you are getting, #3 or #4 and the prices are reflected. If you too damn stupid to know the difference between good heroin and shitty mexican cut crap then thats on you.

 

[KS365]

people are not always honest with their marketplace listings and I know that is a number 3 and I know the difference, Please stop talking down to me... This was my post as harm reduction information... IM In the US and again the west coast most of the time gets number 3! It sucks but it is what it is...

 

[KS365]

AGAIN people are NOT honest and there are many times that you will have no idea until it shows in the mail... The stuff in those pics i bought on this forum and it was listed as a #4 and the bags they had sent before were but this one was not and i figured i wasnt the only one that has experienced these issues so i made the post... The price was not reflected it was a 100 per gram.... The post isnt inaccurate... I think your just being an asshole to be one...

 

[KS365]

I really dont understand how my post is inaccurate its just suggesting citric to Ph adjust when you get a number 3 even though it was listed as number 4 as shit happens... How is that inaccurate?

 

[mycelium]

@lets get high, I doubt you have the skills to purify a very dangerous chemical, just by how you wrote that post. Especially since you "already wasted 4g"
And roto, prices and quality is always different from area to area, and not everyone has multiple sources for shit.

@lets get high , I don't know if you are just young and stupid, and maybe it's TOR that makes people brave, but you cannot talk to people like that online if you wouldn't talk like that in person which you would not. At least not after the first time. Be nice

 

[KS365]

Thanks... I was really just trying to share information that could help others that run into number 3s a lot even when a seller claims number 4 which is what happened in the post originally

 

[KS365]

For those calling my post inaccurate and I am assuming because they misread the part about always filtering any h you get no matter quality and maybe think I said you always need to add citric.. That isn't the case.. You only need to use citric if you got a dirty bag hence a number 3 as a #4 will readily dissolve and wont leave the same residue and nastiness displayed above... I guess I wasn't clear that I knew this because I didnt talk about all the chemistry behind it as I meant this post for the average user and didn't want to confuse those that maybe don't feel like learning that much about it.. Doesn't mean I don't know and it Doesn't mean that I am stupid.. Thanks

I meant this post for the average H junkie... That might have been sick and dealing with a bad bag as lord knows I can't think when I am throwing up every 5 minutes and shaking like a fucking leaf... I would appreciate a quick explainer post on the topic just to let me know how it was and that it would make a more cut up bag easier on my veins... Especially if I was newer and didn't know the difference between a #3 and #4 either way there was no need for the amount of rudeness I got from a specific user

Anyone new reading this, please don't let this discourage from sharing information you believe could be helpful to your fellow user and stick up for yourself... Even if you end up looking dumb it's ok to ask questions and learn everything you can... Message me anytime about any Harm prevention questions, I will NEVER call you stupid or treat you as a lesser just because you didnt make it clear or even didnt know its ok!

 

[rotovap5002]

Actually you are the one that started being rude if you re read the comments carefully, i just said your post was inaccurate and you told me "shove it up your ass".
So to reiterate, yes your post is inaccurate because citric acid does not "purify" dirty heroin it just helps it dissolve in water better, the impurities remain in the water.
So not only is it inaccurate it is also misleading.

 

[KS365]

I didn't say it purified it... I said for those who may not be able to purify their product.. like dude look I'm sorry I wasn't extremely specific and meticulous my entire post.. give it a rest and you said lol this is stupid literally how you started your first sentence to me so please if that's not rude idk what is...

 

[KS365]

Your first comment was literally laughing at me and anyone that reads my post knows I never said that citric purifies it.. so if the first sentence of your first comment wasn't rude then maybe I misread it??... Either way when I talk about purifying in my post I was speaking about actual purification and how that is very difficult for the average and that the citric changing the pH can at least help with making a number 3 more do able as again real purification. Involves chemicals that not everyone has or has the knowledge to properly handle and doing that dope sick is a pipe dream anyways... please actually read my whole post.. I think your hung up on the title and maybe it's not the best title and I'll admit that but my post itself is accurate and was written with good intentions... thanks roto and please just move on..

 

[rotovap5002]

I think you have lots of difficulties reading, i never said "lol" in my first reply. You just got buthurt and started hurling insults. Next time take the time to read and actually comprehend before you start crying.

 

[Paracelsus]

For our readers and to ease the tension, I will write my opinion and a short summary.

KS365 detailed experience is a profound insight into harm reduction, reflecting dedication to safety in an incredibly high-risk area.

Citric Acid in Heroin Use
In Europe and other regions, heroin (often brown heroin base) is less water-soluble compared to white heroin hydrochloride (more common in the US). Brown heroin often requires an acid to help dissolve it effectively for injection. Citric acid is the most commonly used acid, followed by ascorbic acid (vitamin C). Both are available in harm reduction kits in countries like the UK.

How It Works: Citric acid reacts with heroin base, converting it into a soluble salt form (e.g., heroin citrate). This facilitates preparation for IV use and prevents the formation of clogs during injection.

Risks of Overuse: Excessive citric acid can irritate veins, leading to vein damage, phlebitis, and increased risk of abscesses or other infections. Using just enough to dissolve the heroin is critical—KS365 suggested amounts are a good starting point, but precision is key.

Why It’s Rare in the US
The US, particularly the West Coast, historically has a prevalence of white heroin hydrochloride, which dissolves readily in water without additional acids. The shift toward fentanyl contamination has made this less predictable, but the tradition persists.

Harm reduction approaches, such as safe consumption sites and acidifying agents, are less accessible in the US. Syringe filters, for example, are still not mainstream in most US opioid-using communities.

Harm Reduction Best Practices

• Syringe Filters: These are lifesaving tools, especially with heavily adulterated heroin or when cuts like coffee or talc are present. They filter out particulate matter that cotton alone cannot handle, reducing the risk of embolisms and other complications.
• Avoiding Overheating: As KS365 noted, overheating heroin can degrade its potency. Gentle heating (if necessary) helps ensure the final solution remains effective without introducing harmful breakdown products.
• Sterile Practices: Maintaining sterile equipment and preparation areas is crucial to prevent infections such as endocarditis, sepsis, and abscesses.
• Vein Care: Staying hydrated, using vein-healthy practices, and rotating injection sites can prolong vein health. For those struggling with access, topical vasodilators or warm compresses might help.
• The growing prevalence of fentanyl and its analogs in the drug supply has escalated overdose risks exponentially. KS365 decision to educate on meticulous preparation is an important countermeasure. Testing for fentanyl contamination (e.g., using fentanyl test strips) can add another layer of safety.

 

[KS365]

Also benzo test strips I have been seeing a lot cut with designer benzos.. thanks I really appreciate you reading my post and also it's the east coast that gets number 4 a lot or diacetylmorphine hydrochloride and the west coast is more typically tar and gun powder which is typically a number 3 and at times a number 4.. I have been buying and using H in oregon for a long time and this is just based on my own experiences as I am not positive of the statistics.. I Want to say thank you again for your expertise and taking notice of my post and apologize for the tension.. I will admit i didn't react the best to the criticism and promise for the good of the platform to do better with that... After all I do tend to over react...

Thanks so much and again I really appreciate it... I hope to be making more post like this in the future about harm reduction and prevention through my and my husband's experience as H addicts on the West Coast and what we notice from outreach through our volunteer work in syringe exchanges and more...