Cocaine Analysis 2020
In 2020, 685 samples declared as cocaine were submitted for analysis at the Drug Information Center (DIZ) in Zurich. During a mobile drug-checking operation[1] conducted in the city of Zurich in 2020, six samples declared as cocaine were submitted and analyzed. The results published here are not representative of the entire drug market in the city of Zurich.
Risk assessment
In addition to the well-known side effects and high potential for psychological dependence, the frequent presence of pharmacologically active adulterants poses a significant and difficult-to-assess additional health risk, especially for regular users. These are rarely acute side effects, but rather primarily long-term consequences. The analysis shows that even samples with high cocaine content often contained pharmacologically active adulterants. Besides these adulterants, the highly variable cocaine content represents an often underestimated risk associated with cocaine use. The higher the cocaine content, the greater the risk of overdose. High doses of cocaine can place a severe strain on the cardiovascular system and, under certain circumstances and physical conditions, can trigger a heart attack or stroke. Information and recommendations for the safest possible cocaine use can be found at saferparty.ch under Cocaine Safer Use.
Cocaine content
In 2020, the average cocaine content of samples analyzed at the Drug Information Center (DIZ) and during mobile drug checking was 80% cocaine*HCl[2]. Compared to the previous year, there was hardly any change in the average active ingredient content, with a decrease of 0.2%. The cocaine content of the samples tested varied considerably, ranging from 1.6% to 98.2%.
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[1] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, only one mobile drug checking operation could be carried out in 2020.
[2] Cocaine is classically present in powder form as a salt (mostly hydrochloride).
Pharmacologically active adulterants 2020
Cocaine is often a mixture of cocaine and one or more cutting agents. Some of these cutting agents are pharmacologically inactive (e.g., lactose, starch, cellulose) and have no additional health effects. However, cutting agents are frequently chosen to create the illusion of a higher cocaine content and thus intensify and/or prolong the effects.
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In 2020, 34.9% (+3.4%) of all cocaine samples submitted for analysis at the Drug Information Center (DIZ) and mobile drug checking services were adulterated with at least one pharmacologically active substance. Levamisole was again the most frequently added adulterant (in 29.2% of samples). Other cutting agents included local anesthetics (4.2%), caffeine (3.8%), and phenacetin (3%).
In 2020, 34.9% (+3.4%) of all cocaine samples submitted for analysis at the Drug Information Center (DIZ) and mobile drug checking services were adulterated with at least one pharmacologically active substance.
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Levamisole
Phenacetin
Caffeine
Local anesthetics
Hydroxyzine
Other pharmacologically active extenders analyzed