Cocaine
{Coke, Charlie, Snow, Crack Rock}
Common substitutes and adulterants
Sometimes the drugs we think we are buying turn out to be something very different. Knowing of the common substitutes that dealers swap them for and adulterants they add in is an easy way to protect yourself and your friends. Here are some of the most common things other than cocaine found in recreational samples.
Levamisole
Levamisole is used to treat inflammatory conditions and cancer but in a small proportion of people it is extremely harmful, even at low doses. Over the past years, it’s been found in the majority of tested cocaine samples in Europe and the U.S, so be careful. Read more here.
Local anaesthetics (e.g. lidocaine)
Local anaesthetics are similar to cocaine and can trick you into thinking that the batch is very pure by increasing the numbing effect on your nose and mouth. Unfortunately they can also increase the toxic effects of cocaine, such as changes in heart rhythm or seizures.
Phenacetin
Phenacetin is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (or NSAID). It’s occasionally added because it makes the powder look shiny and tastes bitter (like cocaine → so the Tongue test can't help to detect this adulterant).In high doses it can damage your kidneys and increase your risk of cancer.
Caffeine
Caffeine pills are relatively cheap and white, so they’re commonly crushed and mixed into cocaine powder. Caffeine is also a stimulant so it will add strain on your heart and can slightly increase your risk of overstimulation/overdose.
How to test your cocaine
The absolute best way to test your cocaine is to get it tested by a proper agency with a spectrophotometer (like The Loop). Sadly, that’s quite rare. The next best thing is using a reagent testing kit. Although they aren’t perfect, they can give you a good idea of whether your cocaine is contaminated, but can’t tell you anything about strength. Get one here.
If you don’t have a reagent testing kit then there are still some ways to check your cocaine powder for some adulterant drugs. These are not ideal, but can still give you help a bit.
Tongue test – place a small amount of cocaine around your gum and lip. Pure cocaine should cause a numb feeling in that area, and should have a bitter taste.
Melting test – melt a small amount of cocaine. Pure cocaine will melt almost immediately. If it takes longer or some parts melt faster or slower than others, your cocaine may be mixed with other substances.
References: Kudlacek et al. 2017; Prieto, 2019; Larocque and Hoffman, 2012
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