Effects Of Cheese Heroin

Published on January 20, 2023

Cheese heroin is an adulterated form of heroin that is cut with over-the-counter medications and other substances. The unpredictable and, frankly, dangerous nature of cheese heroin increases the risk of a fatal overdose that may not respond to Narcan.

Home > Heroin > Types > Cheese

Cheese heroin is a form of heroin that compounds the sedative effect of the drug. The result of taking the drug can include euphoria and sleepiness in addition to other effects.

What Is Cheese Heroin?

Cheese heroin is a type of heroin that combines Mexican black tar heroin and over-the-counter (OTC) medication.

To make cheese heroin, the distributor may crush up OTC cold medication or pain relievers, like Tylenol PM tablets. This fine powder can then be combined with black tar heroin.

The resulting product is yellow-orange, which is where cheese heroin gets its name.

What Are The Effects Of Cheese Heroin?

The effects of cheese heroin are similar to the effects of pure heroin but have an increased danger of fatal overdose due to its enhanced sedative effects on the central nervous system.

Short-Term Effects

The high caused by cheese heroin is significantly shorter than the high associated with pure heroin. The abbreviated high can lead to repeated use and increased danger of overdose.

The short-term effects of cheese heroin use can include:

euphoria
dry mouth
warm flush
drowsiness
disorientation
lethargy
hunger

Long-Term Effects

Cheese heroin causes many of the same long-term mental and physical side effects that are associated with pure heroin and prescription opioid pain relievers.

These may include:

abscesses on the skin
insomnia
depression
lung complications such as pneumonia
anti-social behavior

What Does Cheese Heroin Look Like?

When Mexican black tar heroin and crushed medications are combined, Cheese heroin takes on the appearance of a tan powder.

It is often packaged in paper bindles or in plastic baggies.

What Is Cheese Heroin Made Of?

The opiate heroin forms the base of cheese heroin. Other common ingredients include acetaminophen and the antihistamine diphenhydramine.

How Is Cheese Heroin Abused?

Cheese heroin is typically snorted through a straw or a ballpoint pen. Its ease of use makes it attractive to adolescents.

Prevalence Of Cheese Heroin Use In The U.S.

According to Dallas county law enforcement, Cheese heroin drug use was prevalent among high school students in the Dallas area of north Texas for a time in the 2000s.

This resulted in 22 overdose deaths between 2005 and 2008.

The National Drug Intelligence Center reported that the use of cheese heroin was not likely to spread because of the restriction on the sale of cold medication.

How Much Does Cheese Heroin Cost?

In the 2000s, cheese heroin cost around 10 dollars a gram or about two dollars for a dose (called a “bump”). It is relatively cheap, which is another mark of attraction for young people.

Where Does Cheese Heroin Come From?

Black tar heroin comes from Mexico. As for Tylenol or cold medication, those can be purchased at any grocery store or pharmacy.

Cheese heroin is typically made by drug dealers but can also be made by the person using the drug.

Risks Of Abusing Cheese Heroin

Cheese heroin is a highly addictive drug. The drug has a shorter high, so it requires repeated use to keep the high going.

This builds up a tolerance to the drug, but it also creates a compounding sedative effect that is already amplified by the combination of two CNS and respiratory system depressants.

As a result, this form of substance abuse carries an increased risk of a fatal heroin overdose.