Is all coke really laced with levamisole?

[RegisteredStoneeer]

Ugh. So I bought an eightball. I don't do coke often at all, and would never use it regularly.
Anyhow I was happy to find my supply to not be entirely cut.(not like all baking soda) It is pretty strong, and I didn't have to do very much to feel the euphoria I'm guessing is so enjoyed. I looked at it, tasted it, and it is cut with something, but I was pretty sure it didn't have levamisole. Finding the articles state most of it in canada europe, and seattle or east coast US.

Now however after searching about it on bluelight more, it seems pretty close to 100% that all cocaine anywhere in the US has levamisole in it.

Is this true?

Is it overemphasized and not really true because the only way people know this is because of the DEA Reports. Can we really trust those?

I really wish I could find more on the actual details.
I stopped doing it because I don't want animal dewormer. Its just how can there be people doing coke in america taking this horrible dewormer.

I want to hear its just a myth, like dying from smoking weed.

 

[amapola]

This first article is okay with the effects, mainly agranulocytosis, of levamisole but isn't that good without access. Even then kinda short. The second has the prevalence in the states. I think just a summary of an article, I didn't see the whole thing.

NSFW:

Levamisole: A Dangerous New Cocaine Adulterant
A Chang, J Osterloh and J Thomas
Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2010) 88 3, 408–411. doi:10.1038/clpt.2010.156
http://www.nature.com/clpt/journal/v88/n3/full/clpt2010156a.html

Levamisole has increasingly been discovered in street cocaine as an adulterant. Recent reports have linked levamisole in street cocaine to agranulocytosis in cocaine users. It is well known that agranulocytosis is associated with therapeutic use of levamisole, and this may have led to the withdrawal of the drug from the US market. Levamisole was a US Food and Drug Administration–approved drug that has been used as an immunomodulator, a chemotherapy adjuvant, and anthelmintic medication. The purpose of adulterating street cocaine with levamisole is not known, but it has been speculated that it is added intentionally in order to potentiate the effects of cocaine. This may be supported by the recent report of metabolism of levamisole to aminorex in racehorses. Aminorex and related compounds, specifically 4-methylaminorex, or “ice,” have high abuse potential because of their amphetamine-like pharmacological activity. This metabolism has not been reported in humans, and therefore the intended role of levamisole in street cocaine remains an enigma.

NSFW:

Agranulocytosis associated with cocaine use—four states
Brackney M, Baumbach J, Ewers C, et al. (2009)
March 2008–November 2009. MMWR 58:1381–5
http://www.springerlink.com/content/kh7681434125l755/

Background: Levamisole is a veterinary antihelminthic drug and a known cause of agranulocytosis. The Drug Enforcement Administration recently reported that 69% of cocaine coming into the United States contained levamisole as an added agent. A report from Canada associated human agranulocytosis with levamisole-contaminated cocaine.

Research Question: Are unexplained cases of agranulocytosis in New Mexico and Washington State associated with cocaine contaminated with levamisole?

Results: Twenty-one cases of unexplained agranulocytosis were reported in four states: New Mexico (eight), Arizona (one), Colorado (two), and Washington (ten). Nineteen patients admitted to crack and/or powder cocaine use. Five of these 19 patients had blood or urine testing for levamisole and four were found to be positive. Outcome was available for 19 patients: one died and 18 made a full recovery. In seven cases, there was at least one recurrence of agranulocytosis with repeated cocaine use.

Critique: As a small, uncontrolled case series, a causal relationship between levamisole-contaminated cocaine and agranulocytosis has not been proved. The relatively short elimination half-life of levamisole may have limited the ability to confirm exposure, but the association between cocaine use and this rare condition is remarkable, especially in light of the DEA information.

Implication for Toxicologists: Levamisole has joined a long list of cocaine adulterants that may act as secondary toxins. Toxicologists need to be aware of the possible reaction to levamisole and serve an active role in their community regarding continued surveillance, detection, management, and patient counseling.

If you are really worried about the purity you can use an acetone wash and water recrystallization with filtering to remove a lot of the adulterants.

 

[Cane2theLeft]

Ugh. So I bought an eightball. I don't do coke often at all, and would never use it regularly.
Anyhow I was happy to find my supply to not be entirely cut.(not like all baking soda) It is pretty strong, and I didn't have to do very much to feel the euphoria I'm guessing is so enjoyed. I looked at it, tasted it, and it is cut with something, but I was pretty sure it didn't have levamisole. Finding the articles state most of it in canada europe, and seattle or east coast US.

Now however after searching about it on bluelight more, it seems pretty close to 100% that all cocaine anywhere in the US has levamisole in it.

Is this true?

Is it overemphasized and not really true because the only way people know this is because of the DEA Reports. Can we really trust those?

I really wish I could find more on the actual details.
I stopped doing it because I don't want animal dewormer. Its just how can there be people doing coke in america taking this horrible dewormer.

I want to hear its just a myth, like dying from smoking weed.

Since some of your questions can be answered here and its better to consolidate the discussion to one place, I merged your thread into here.

The best figure we have is that 70-90% of the cocaine in the US is cut with levamisole but I have not found any sources that indicate what percentage of the cocaine is comprised OF levamisole.

Oftentimes medical professionals are unaware of this potential problem so when people ARE presenting with agranulocytosis or neutropenia, many times the connection to cocaine use isn't made so accurate figures on how many cases are caused by levamisole-cut cocaine are not available.

What we do know is that given the prevalence of levamisole in cocaine, fewer medical cases are occurring than would be expected so either only a small percentage of what is sold as cocaine IS the levamisole cut and/or it takes a rather large amount to accumulate enough to cause these serious medical problems.

Take a look at the FAQ above for complications and medication interactions that will exacerbate the risks... absent one or more of those and rather heavy use, evidence suggests the risk is rather low. Healthy, casual/infrequent users who are not taking contraindicated medications probably are at a rather low risk of developing serious problems such as agranulocytosis or neutropenia.

Hopefully someone with more knowledge about levamisole and/or WBC production can chime in and address some of your other questions.

I also recommend reading dokomo's posts above on this topic as they are exceptionally informative.

EDIT:

Un-merged by OP's request.

 

[Cane2theLeft]

*Bump* for the OP post-unmerging.

 

[Love In Vein]

Ugh. So I bought an eightball. I don't do coke often at all, and would never use it regularly.
Anyhow I was happy to find my supply to not be entirely cut.(not like all baking soda) It is pretty strong, and I didn't have to do very much to feel the euphoria I'm guessing is so enjoyed. I looked at it, tasted it, and it is cut with something, but I was pretty sure it didn't have levamisole. Finding the articles state most of it in canada europe, and seattle or east coast US.

If you want to find out how much cut is in your cocaine, get a beaker and drop the cocaine in room temperature water. Cocaine hydrochloride dissolves quickly and easily. Everything else is cut.

Now however after searching about it on bluelight more, it seems pretty close to 100% that all cocaine anywhere in the US has levamisole in it.

Is this true?

I don't know. But I do know this. Don't buy cocaine off some guy that isn't even moving ounces. And it should NOT be powdery. The reason you want to buy off someone who is chopping off ounces from blocks and bricks is because they are not stepping on it (cutting it).

Is it overemphasized and not really true because the only way people know this is because of the DEA Reports. Can we really trust those?

I don't trust anything the DEA says. They always try to make themselves sound far more important and as if they're doing a far better job than they really are.

Here is what I can tell you. People who sell personal amounts of cocaine almost always step on it. In the US, dealers will generally put other numbing agents in the batch like lidocaine. Other dealers "re-rock" cocaine, which is when you cut it up and put a little Elmer's glue in and if you do it right, wah lah! Now it looks like you just cut that piece off of a brick.

I really wish I could find more on the actual details.
I stopped doing it because I don't want animal dewormer.

Eh, why? You eat meat, fruits, and vegetables, correct? You drink tap water, right? You don't think there are all sorts of impurities in them?

Do you really believe you're smoking organic marijuana?

Its just how can there be people doing coke in america taking this horrible dewormer.

America has the highest quality of retail cocaine in the world.... and just because CONFISCATED cocaine might carry a lot of something, that's just what gets confiscated.

 

[amapola]

If you want to find out how much cut is in your cocaine, get a beaker and drop the cocaine in room temperature water. Cocaine hydrochloride dissolves quickly and easily. Everything else is cut.

There are a lot of cuts that can be water soluble as well. An additional acetone wash can help remove some of the polar cut as coke won't dissolve in it.

I stopped doing it because I don't want animal dewormer.

Eh, why? You eat meat, fruits, and vegetables, correct? You drink tap water, right? You don't think there are all sorts of impurities in them?

Impurities which are regulated by government agencies. Unknown quantities of the parasitic worm remover levamisole suppressing your immune system is a bit of a different story. I suppose if you don't trust the DEA in reporting that 69% of seized contains it you probably also don't trust FDA with their recommendations on washing your fruit for pesticides and limiting heavy metals from dietary fish sources though.

America has the highest quality of retail cocaine in the world.... and just because CONFISCATED cocaine might carry a lot of something, that's just what gets confiscated.

So you believe your personal experience of the coke industry is a better sample group than all the coke confiscated by the US government? Do notice that the levamisole percentage is for coke "coming into the states" as well. In effect low level cutting won't make any difference on this topic.

 

[puke]

I can usually tell by how sticky my nostrils get.

 

[amapola]

^You can tell the percentage/existence of levamisole in your coke by how sticky your nostrils get?

 

[Cane2theLeft]

^how do you know that's an accurate measure of levamisole content?

edit:

amapola beat me to it.

 

[RegisteredStoneeer]

Do you really believe you're smoking organic marijuana?

If I grow it myself organically, you best believe I do.

I would do the acetone wash, but the horribleness of Levamisole will stick with the coke from what Ive read. There's no known way to seperate the two.

I don't even care that my coke is cut, I just wish it wasn't cut with something so harmful for my immune system.
I would stick to when I find a dealer that sells ounces, that is good advice. Mine is powdery. Its just I doubt I'll ever find that. You never can say never though.

 

[amapola]

I would do the acetone wash, but the horribleness of Levamisole will stick with the coke from what Ive read. There's no known way to seperate the two.

Is levamisole actually insoluble in acetone or does it just get caught up in the coke crystals? If soluble the water filtration and recrystallization before acetone rinse would help. Also what about salting out an acetone brine solution. Once again assuming the levamisole is soluble in acetone of course. I think some potassium salts are best for acetone if I remember correctly.

I would stick to when I find a dealer that sells ounces, that is good advice.

Not for levamisole unfortunately as it is cut before entering the country.

 

[RegisteredStoneeer]

Is levamisole actually insoluble in acetone or does it just get caught up in the coke crystals? If soluble the water filtration and recrystallization before acetone rinse would help. Also what about salting out an acetone brine solution. Once again assuming the levamisole is soluble in acetone of course. I think some potassium salts are best for acetone if I remember correctly.


Not for levamisole unfortunately as it is cut before entering the country.

It is actually insoluble in acetone unfortunately. I guess I should order dance safe's testing kit and test my coke.

 

[Love In Vein]

There are a lot of cuts that can be water soluble as well.

I'm quite aware of this.

Especially with levamisole. If you are more than a simple hobbyist with tropical fish, you would know that it was commonly used.

Impurities which are regulated by government agencies. Unknown quantities of the parasitic worm remover levamisole suppressing your immune system is a bit of a different story. I suppose if you don't trust the DEA in reporting that 69% of seized contains it you probably also don't trust FDA with their recommendations on washing your fruit for pesticides and limiting heavy metals from dietary fish sources though.

I trust the FDA assessment because studies were conducted by several independent agencies that had strict methods.

No, I don't trust the DEA. They are not an organization based on science or reason, but rather an enforcement agency that has a propaganda wing.

The DEA excludes a LOT of information. They are not a group of chemical experts, they just use them, and only publish the facts that work to further their agenda.

One only need talk to a figure head of the DEA or read the website to see what misinformation they are putting out there.

Other than both being government run agencies, I don't really see where you can compare the FDA to the DEA.

Also, I can tell you another story that has just been released by some wannabe environmentalist regarding some botched high school experiment. It was to prove that the radiation from microwaves is dangerous.

So here is how it was conducted:

Two batches of seeds. Who knows if they were even from the same plant, stored the same way, germinated at the same time, used the same soil, same temperature, same light, same amount of water, hardened off the same, et cetera. Even if the microwaved water was allowed to cool down to room temperature before being applied so as not to shock the plants.

But anyhow, the plants with the microwaved water just looked like a mess compared to the supposed control group.

I had actually started to replicate this experiment two weeks ago with 3 control groups and 3 groups using microwaved water.

Why? Because it was such a horribly done "experiment" and it had actually made news circles and I heard about it from some of my health nut friends.

So anyhow, I would heat the water to roughly the same temperature in both groups and let them both cool to room temperature. And actually, two of the groups with the microwaved water seem to be doing better.....

The experiment was actually debunked as a hoax a few days ago, anyhow. And it was inspired officials claiming the levels of radiation coming from the two damaged reactors in Japan was not harmful by the time it reached America. Which is absolutely false. It's very easy to take a meter that measures radioactivity and test water, plant and food sources, and it had been done. Just as it had been done with microwaved food over and over again.

As far as microwaves are concerned, what people should be concerned about is the amounts and types of preservatives used in TV dinners, as well as the plastics they are stored in.

So what is my point is telling that completely unrelated story?

Don't take the word of unqualified people with an agenda if you can test something out yourself.

So you believe your personal experience of the coke industry is a better sample group than all the coke confiscated by the US government?

The DEA is selective in what it confiscates. It's selective in what information it releases. And yes, I believe my personal experience is a better sample of what is making it into this country that what information the US government releases via statements by the FBI and DEA.

I'm sorry I cannot elaborate or give a more detailed explanation.

If you would like to get more detailed information, however, meet wholesalers.

Do notice that the levamisole percentage is for coke "coming into the states" as well.

Yes.

 

[BlueLightBeam]

I read an article on that at, of all places, the methadone clinic last year. Seemed to be scare tactics.

 

[Cane2theLeft]

Don't take the word of unqualified people with an agenda if you can test something out yourself.

You make some excellent points and raise valid reasons to be skeptical but I just want to highlight how essential this last piece is. Often we'll see drug users who dismiss many of the potential dangers of how or what they're consuming for these same reasons but they are NOT testing it themselves or taking precautionary measures.

The points you've made can represent a reasonable, rational outlook or conversely an addicted individual's rationalizations for behavior on some level they know they should be more concerned about.

I have no idea how accurate the DEA or anyone's claims about levamisole are but I would definitely encourage anyone who uses regularly to test their samples and take any steps they can to remove the levamisole or mitigate their risk factors such as knowing what medications they need to avoid, etc.

 

[Love In Vein]

The points you've made can represent a reasonable, rational outlook or conversely an addicted individual's rationalizations for behavior on some level they know they should be more concerned about.

Well, I'm definitely not saying there is no levamisole in US cocaine. But I'm going to dispute the claims of the low purity or how much of this cut, or even if this cut is in much of US supplies. Like I was saying, that was what they claimed, and only BASED on what they had confiscated.... and if you've heard some of their spokes people talk, the estimates of the percentage they actually confiscate are abysmal.

And I don't understand how they can make any sort of claims like that considering they themselves admit to having an abysmal record of actually confiscating drugs coming into the United States.

After my last post, I realized how petty the entire thing was. All I'm disputing is the amount of levamisole (not as if ALL cocaine has it) is in cocaine coming into the United States.

And levamisole has gone from being praised (when I was able to use it for aquariums) to the information out there now saying it not only has NO health benefits, but quite the opposite.

Also, the DEA doesn't mention that different cartels and traffickers use different suppliers. Not all of the cocaine in the United States comes from the same producers. What comes into the United States via Puerto Rico that or other Caribbean Islands is generally different than what comes in from Mexico.

As far as I know, the DEA hasn't even caught up to boat to boat methods or figured out how it's smuggled by fishing boats (NOT IN THE FISH OR INSIDE OF THE ACTUAL BOAT).

And as far as cocaine goes, the last thing I want to do is have ANYONE rationalize it being healthy by ANY means based upon ANYTHING I am saying.

It can be used safely as a topical anesthetic.

My views of it being used safely as a recreational drug, completely different. I think there are ways you can reduce harm from it and make it "safer" to use.

I don't use it. I don't like it. I absolutely hate what it does to people who become addicted to it. Especially if it's smoked or IVed. I personally find crack and cocaine IV users repulsive. Not that I haven't tried it myself, but it's not my scene. I don't like the people who spend their weekends locked in rooms in their homes not showering and not eating or sleeping. I find absolutely nothing redeemable about it. Different strokes for different folks.

I have no idea how accurate the DEA or anyone's claims about levamisole are but I would definitely encourage anyone who uses regularly to test their samples and take any steps they can to remove the levamisole or mitigate their risk factors such as knowing what medications they need to avoid, etc.

When I was involved with cocaine, I would use a non-street (the 2:1 is CRAP) method for creating freebase. The freebase would be unbelievably pure. Then I would convert it back into a hydrochloride. Which takes a bit more time and knowledge and is definitely something you need to plan ahead for, as the conversion from freebase to hydrochloride is time consuming.

That's the best way I know of how to remove the impurities.

 

[bullseyeTy]

Here is what I think. I am a white male 49 years old. I was in the early prime of my life in the eighties. ONE BIG SNOW STORM. Coke had/has it's place. It is out of my life, I'm just too old. Back to what I think. It would be genius to infiltrate a whole bunch of real bad cocaine into all states and all levels of society. It would be easy as hell for a clandestine service such FBI, CIA, NSA, and many others not mentioned, to spread out mountains worth of tainted coke. Even if it ended up to be 1 or 2 percent of the supply, if it were to show up everywhere it would definitely curb demand quite a bit. AND I DO NOT THINK THE UNTIED STATED GOVERNMENT IS ABOVE DOING IT. I don't want to spoil the party. I just want the young people in this country to realize that the rules have changed. What we tell them and the way it is are two different things. We grew up before wide spread corruption. That was just getting a foothold in the sixties and public in the eighties. Now we have been up to sneeky stuff forever, but, I'm talking about the U.S. government really willing to hurt us for "The Greater Good". That era has arrived. Trust me. I wish you luck in your parties. God knows I wish I was twenty again, it was 1984 and I was out there doing it again. But know I am just a little old man. CHEERS

 

[Bucklecroft Rudy]

Here is what I think. I am a white male 49 years old. I was in the early prime of my life in the eighties. ONE BIG SNOW STORM. Coke had/has it's place. It is out of my life, I'm just too old. Back to what I think. It would be genius to infiltrate a whole bunch of real bad cocaine into all states and all levels of society. It would be easy as hell for a clandestine service such FBI, CIA, NSA, and many others not mentioned, to spread out mountains worth of tainted coke. Even if it ended up to be 1 or 2 percent of the supply, if it were to show up everywhere it would definitely curb demand quite a bit. AND I DO NOT THINK THE UNTIED STATED GOVERNMENT IS ABOVE DOING IT. I don't want to spoil the party. I just want the young people in this country to realize that the rules have changed. What we tell them and the way it is are two different things. We grew up before wide spread corruption. That was just getting a foothold in the sixties and public in the eighties. Now we have been up to sneeky stuff forever, but, I'm talking about the U.S. government really willing to hurt us for "The Greater Good". That era has arrived. Trust me. I wish you luck in your parties. God knows I wish I was twenty again, it was 1984 and I was out there doing it again. But know I am just a little old man. CHEERS

Slightly conspiratorial I think. If it became public knowledge through leaks that would toll the governments doom. Too risky - they control supply via under the table dealings with major importers. This ensures coke is cut and contaminated along the line. There was a huge nationwide expose on it a while back called Iran Contra

 

[RavinRaphael]

I just assume ALL cocaine has it in it.
Then again you could always buy bullshit coke, you know the stuff that's acutually something like septocaine and ephedra or whatever. It does make me laugh, how lately soooo many drugs are being intentionally mislabled. heh

 

[jamesmartin]

^another thing you can fucking blame prohibition for.

Fuck the US government seriously .
No other government is like yours when it comes to drugs . Except for the UK and Australia possibly.
and the only reason drugs are what they're like is because of the US and the rest of the world being unable to stand up to them and tell them that they're so effindumb

only in the states could rick Perry be successful in running for president and have approval ratings above 10%