Injecting with an acidifier

What is an acidifier? And why add it to your mix?

It’s chemistry! It’s hard to dissolve alkaline drugs like brown heroin, fentanyl or morphine patches in water alone. Adding an acidifier will balance the mix and help dissolve your drugs.

The safest acidifier to use is citric acid.

How do I use it?

Add a small pinch of citric acid to your mix and stir. If your drugs aren’t dissolving, gradually add more, a few grains at a time.

Less is more! Use the smallest amount that will do the job – just a pinch or two for each hit. You don’t need to use a full sachet of citric acid!

Useful tips ...

Using fentanyl patches? Try adding a little bit of citric acid to your sterile water ampule, give it a shake to dissolve then add it to your mix, drop by drop. You have added enough liquid when the patch isn’t sticking to the spoon.

Adding heat? Let your mix cool before you inject it so additives and binders can harden again in the spoon and not in your body. (Speed it up by rubbing an ice cube under the spoon).

What can happen if I use too much acidifier?

Using too much acidifier doesn’t make your drugs stronger – it’s just painful. It burns, wrecks your veins and can cause lung, heart and/or brain damage.

Can you use lemon or vinegar as an acidifier?

Not recommended. Not only can they give you some pretty scary dirty hits, they cause fungal infections in the blood stream. Lemon juice can cause eye infections leading to blindness.

Contact NUAA for citric acid sachets:

Phone: 1800 644 413 (free call)

Address: 354 Crown St, Surry Hills

Online: www.nuaa.org.au/nsp-equipment-1