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	Analysis shows overall purity of cocaine and heroin available on the streets has increased in recent years</p>
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	Unsuspecting cocaine users are placing themselves at significant risk of overdose, with research showing a massive variation in the purity of the drug sold on the streets.</p>
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	And the cocaine is mixed with damaging adulterants, including a veterinary drug used to treat parasitic worm infections and painkillers that, if overused, have been linked to cancer.</p>
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	An analysis by Forensic Science Ireland shows the overall purity of cocaine and heroin available to buy on the streets has increased in recent years.</p>
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	Average Irish cocaine purity is below the European average, but the average purity of Irish heroin is significantly above.</p>
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	The research shows a noticeable difference in the purity of cocaine sold in Dublin compared to the rest of the country, while the purity for heroin is marginally higher outside Dublin.</p>
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	The analysis highlights the huge profits typically earned by cocaine traffickers &mdash; with the drug typically diluted by a factor of four after importation.</p>
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	For heroin traffickers, the drug is diluted by a factor of roughly two.</p>
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	The research shows that the average street purity of cocaine (packs between 0g and 25g) was 24% in 2015.</p>
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	But the purity ranged from 1% to as high as 90% (around the highest purity).</p>
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	Of the 18 samples tested, five were between 40% and just over 60% pure, while a further three were between 85% and 91% pure.</p>
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	Tom Hannigan, director of chemical sciences at FSI, said the purity of street cocaine &ldquo;jumps around&rdquo; and that higher purities could have &ldquo;adverse effects&rdquo; on street buyers not suspecting high purity.</p>
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	A previous study compiled by FSI showed that the average purity of street cocaine was 15% in 2010 and 19% in 2011 &mdash; indicating an increase since then (to 24%).</p>
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	&ldquo;Yes, it appears to have increased in purity, but it is relatively small and I would be reluctant to draw conclusions from that,&rdquo; said Mr Hannigan.</p>
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	He said adulterants are used to both &ldquo;bulk up&rdquo; and &ldquo;potentiate&rdquo; (increase the effects of) cocaine.</p>
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	He said a veterinary drug called levamisole was found in 70% of cocaine samples. This medication is used to treat parasitic worm infections in animals.</p>
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	Mr Hannigan said it is added to the cocaine in South America, noting that it is &ldquo;known to have undesirable effects&rdquo; and can affect a person&rsquo;s immune system.</p>
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	Other adulterants, benzocaine and lignocaine, are local anaesthetics commonly used by dentists in injections, and are not intended for oral use.</p>
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	Another adulterant, phenacetin, is a painkiller that is banned in a number of countries as overuse has been linked to cancers.</p>
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	&ldquo;These adulterants are either not good for you or are not intended for human consumption,&rdquo; said Mr Hannigan.</p>
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	The purity of bulk cocaine seizures show purity rates of 60% or higher, with most between 70% and 90%.</p>
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	Mr Hannigan said this cocaine can be diluted by a factor of four by the traffickers before it ends of the streets.</p>
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	The average street purity of heroin has also risen in recent years, from 30% in 2011 to 34%, but still well below 2010 levels of 47%.</p>
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	The purity of street doses can also vary, but no way as much as with cocaine, with most samples ranging between 20% and 45%.</p>
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	Mr Hannigan said heroin purity has been &ldquo;quite stable&rdquo; over the years. Adulterants are typically caffeine and paracetamol. The purity is diluted on importation, often by a factor of around two. Bulk seizures have an average purity of 52%, but can be as high as 80%.</p>
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	In relation to amphetamine, average purity was 9%, ranging from an average of 3% at street level to 28% at importation level, with caffeine the main adulterant.</p>
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	(Published by the Irish Examiner on the 28th October 2016)</p>
<p>
	<a href="https://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/overdose-fears-raised-due-to-huge-variations-in-cocaine-purity-427874.html">https://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/overdose-fears-raised-due-to-huge-variations-in-cocaine-purity-427874.html</a></p>
