Acid powder in sachet for the dissolution of certain drugs such as brown heroin or crack cocaine.

Citric or ascorbic acid?

Citric acid is a stronger acid than ascorbic.
Therefore, it allows less "margin for error” as smaller amounts compared to ascorbic acid produce similar pH changes.

Harms related to a surplus of acid differ as well:

• Citric acid tends to render the solution more acid and thus more irritating for the vein wall

• Ascorbic acid risk to disrupt the balance of salts in the blood and destroy some of the blood cells

For those reasons, the use of ascorbic could be preferred because it is easier to dose.