Heroin Shelf Life?

[788.4]

Does anyone know how long stamped bags should be good for? Should any precautions be taken about leaving them in a hot place? A friend of mine wants to keep some bags around for a few weeks, maybe a few months. Will they still be good for him?

[CrookedEye]

Who the heck can keep em for more than a couple days?? Honestly, swim doesn't know, because he hasn't ever tried to save any, however, he is pretty sure it's relatively stable.. If stored properly, away from heat, light, and oxygen, swim believes it would last a very long time..

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good post, helpful information

[Fantasian]

Originally Posted by CrookedEye

Who the heck can keep em for more than a couple days?? Honestly, swim doesn't know, because he hasn't ever tried to save any, however, he is pretty sure it's relatively stable.. If stored properly, away from heat, light, and oxygen, swim believes it would last a very long time..

I agree with the above. SWIF has never tried to store opiates but he guesses if stored properly then they would last at least a year. SWIF has morphine legally and this is said to keep for 90 days once opened. Not sure if that helps at all but it might give you an idea.

[Citizen Kane]

Originally Posted by 788.4

Does anyone know how long stamped bags should be good for? Should any precautions be taken about leaving them in a hot place? A friend of mine wants to keep some bags around for a few weeks, maybe a few months. Will they still be good for him?

Heroin is subject to degradation by oxidation, photodegradation, as well as hydrolysis (whose products are monoacetylmorphine and morphine). In the case of heroin, oxidation is the prime cause of degradation, and oxidation can be reduced by removing the oxygen and decreasing the temperature. Photodegradation is reduced by removing the light. And hydrolisis is reduced by reducing the air humidity.

In a nutshell that means swiy should store it at a cool, dry, dark place, preferrably vaccum packed. If swiy does that, there might be a small loss in strength over the next year or two, but not much. Storing it a few weeks or months is really not a problem.

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	great information
	Great, helpful answer

[Forthesevenlakes]

http://www.erowid.org/experiences/exp.php?ID=30822

this erowid trip report deals with morphine that was kept in a dry, dark place for 60 years and still had potency! so, given that morphine and heroin are structurally similar, as long as it was kept in those conditions like citizen kane said, it should be fine. although judging by the date of the first post in the thread, that H is probably long gone.

swim would worry more if it were, say, percocet that was aged. because aspirin and (swim thinks) acetaminophen can in fact degrade and become a bit harmful over time.

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"although judging by the date of the first post in the thread, that H is probably long gone." :D -- I reckon. ...