For Immediate Release: December 15, 2014
Contact: Nicole Stanfield , nstanfield@ochca.com, 714-834-2178
Three Cases of Wound Botulism Associated with Heroin Use Reported in Orange County
(Santa Ana) – Three cases of botulism associated with heroin use have been reported in Orange County adults in the last month. All were hospitalized and two required admission to the intensive care unit.
Most people with injection drug-associated botulism are users of so-called “black tar heroin”, a specific preparation of heroin. Risk is also higher for those who inject the drug directly into tissues, as opposed to veins (skin popping). California has experienced an epidemic of botulism associated with black tar heroin use in recent years, with more reports of botulism associated with heroin use than any state in the country. Continue reading