The cutting of cocaine and heroin: A critical review

Broséus, Julian; Gentile, Natacha; Esseiva, Pierre

doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2016.02.033

Cited by 133 publications

(110 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…1,[6][7][8][9] One pharmacological rationale for the addition of levamisole is that it may have cocaine-like action by inhibition of noradrenaline uptake. 1,[6][7][8][9] One pharmacological rationale for the addition of levamisole is that it may have cocaine-like action by inhibition of noradrenaline uptake.…”

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confidence: 99%

“…1,[6][7][8][9] One pharmacological rationale for the addition of levamisole is that it may have cocaine-like action by inhibition of noradrenaline uptake. 1,[6][7][8][9] However, a recent study from Austria, reports on a decreasing trend in 2017 compared to 2015 and 2016. 1,[6][7][8][9] However, a recent study from Austria, reports on a decreasing trend in 2017 compared to 2015 and 2016.…”

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confidence: 99%

“…11 A similar trend was observed from local evaluations at the drug testing center for drug users in Zurich, Switzerland. 6,9,15 From few recent studies using chiral analytical methods, it is evident, that not only levamisole but also tetramisole and non-racemic mixtures of PTHIT have been detected in seized cocaine samples from mid-2010 16, 17 and in urine samples of cocaine users. [12][13][14] Most importantly, the vast majority of studies presented in the literature testing for levamisole have been conducted by achiral analysis being unable to distinguish between levamisole and the racemate tetramisole (levamisole/ dexamisole).…”

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confidence: 99%

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Cocaine adulteration with the anthelminthic tetramisole (levamisole/dexamisole): Long‐term monitoring of its intake by chiral LC–MS/MS analysis of cocaine‐positive hair samples

Madry

Kræmer

Baumgartner

2018

Drug Testing and Analysis

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Recent studies indicate that not only the anthelminthic levamisole but also the racemate tetramisole (R-/S-phenyltetraimidazothiazole, PTHIT) was found as an adulterant for cocaine. We herein report on the investigation of the prevalence of PTHIT among cocaine-positive hair samples and the discrimination of the presence of its stereoisomers levamisole and dexamisole. Cocaine-positive hair samples were collected in a forensic context in 2015 and mainly 2017 (n = 724). Cocaine and PTHIT concentrations have been determined by achiral liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). For distinction of levamisole/dexamisole chiral LC-MS/MS was performed. Cocaine hair concentrations ranged from 500 (cut-off) to approximately 800 000 pg/mg. The study demonstrates a strong prevalence of PTHIT in cocaine users' hair (87%, n = 627). PTHIT hair concentrations ranged from below LLOQ 3.5 to approximately 61 000 pg/mg (median: 260 pg/mg). Surprisingly, enantiomeric ratios of levamisole/dexamisole ranged from 0.17 to 1.34 (median: 0.63). Therefore, PTHIT-adulterated street cocaine samples (n = 24) seized between 2013 and 2016 were tested. Samples mainly contained racemic tetramisole (87.5%), only one sample contained levamisole only and two samples contained non-racemic PTHIT.Our experiments suggest that the presence of tetramisole in biological samples may have hitherto been underestimated. Most probably higher dexamisole than levamisole concentrations in hair specimens arise from stereoselective metabolism and/or elimination. This is particularly important in light of the different pharmacological activities of the two enantiomers and potentially different adverse effects. Toxicological interpretations in intoxication cases with adulterated cocaine should not only consider levamisole but also tetramisole and terminology in scientific contributions should be used accordingly.

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confidence: 99%

“…1,[6][7][8][9] One pharmacological rationale for the addition of levamisole is that it may have cocaine-like action by inhibition of noradrenaline uptake. 1,[6][7][8][9] However, a recent study from Austria, reports on a decreasing trend in 2017 compared to 2015 and 2016. 1,[6][7][8][9] However, a recent study from Austria, reports on a decreasing trend in 2017 compared to 2015 and 2016.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Cocaine adulteration with the anthelminthic tetramisole (levamisole/dexamisole): Long‐term monitoring of its intake by chiral LC–MS/MS analysis of cocaine‐positive hair samples

Madry

Kræmer

Baumgartner

2018

Drug Testing and Analysis

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“…[1,2] For over two decades now, [3] French police forensic laboratories have issued a yearly report on their analyzed samples, in an effort to monitor the illicit drugs market in France. [1,2] For over two decades now, [3] French police forensic laboratories have issued a yearly report on their analyzed samples, in an effort to monitor the illicit drugs market in France.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

IRMS to study a common cocaine cutting agent: phenacetin

Ladroue

Dujourdy

Besacier

et al. 2017

Drug Testing and Analysis

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Phenacetin is a pharmaceutical closely related to acetaminophen that has been banned in France for a long time due to its nephritic and carcinogenic adverse effects. It frequently appears in cocaine seizures as a cutting agent. Following both sanitary and intelligence motivations, this molecule was chosen for this study, and stable isotopes seemed to be the most appropriate tool. A total of 228 seized samples were collected over a 6-year period, and 8 standards of known origin were purchased. They were submitted to gas chromatography (GC) or elemental analysis - isotope ratio mass spectrometry (EA-IRMS) measurements, depending on their complexity. Stable isotope ratios of carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen for a part of the sample set, were acquired. The isotopic values of phenacetin standards acquired from various providers located worldwide are quite spread, which indicates that stable isotopes could be used to discriminate manufacturers. However, the measured values of most of the seized samples are concentrated in a narrow range, tending to demonstrate that phenacetin is smuggled from a single source or similar ones. Consequently, stable isotopes could only be used to exclude that several samples come from a common source. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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“…[1,2] Powdery drugs, such as cocaine and heroin, are frequently adulterated predominantly to obtain more doses and to increase the drug dealer's profits, although a range of modifications of the drug effects may also be observed. [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12] In Italy, only limited and dated information is currently available on the presence of adulterants and on the purity of street heroin and cocaine samples, [10][11][12][13] which makes a systematic analysis desirable. In the second case, pharmacologically active substances have been identified, such as caffeine, paracetamol, methorphan in street heroin or caffeine, levamisole, lidocaine, and benzocaine in street cocaine.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%