Cocaine, or coke, is sold exclusively on the black market without regulation or control. This means the vast majority of coke sold contains impurities or cutting agents that alter, intensify artificially replicate the effects of cocaine. 

This allows dealers to sell less of the actual cocaine for more profit. And it’s been done since coke was first introduced to the general public.

However, due to harsher penalties, the war on drugs, and the recent pandemic that impacted supply chains, today’s cocaine is a lot more synthetic than that sold in the 80s and 90s. 

Cutting agents are described and defined into three separate categories:

1. Contaminants – These substances have not been intentionally added but result from the drug's production, manufacturing, and transportation. Poor production methods, including using lower quality chemicals in the manufacturing process, can increase the contaminants present in the drug.  

2. Diluents – These are substances added to a drug that are inactive, do not change the chemical or the high, and are used to bulk out the product.  

3. Adulterants – These are chemicals added to the drug to either increase the high of the drug or mimic the drug's natural effect on the body.  

Cutting agents can change the texture and colour of cocaine. Pure cocaine comes in salt form. It’s then mixed with a solvent to turn it into powder. Cutting agents are introduced at this stage to help reduce the amount of actual cocaine needed to produce a sellable product. And, while some of these cutting agents aren’t particularly deadly, like caffeine or laxatives, others, like boric acid or Levamisole. 

These cutting agents can differ depending on where you live and how much you’re paying for your cocaine. And it seems every year there’s a new chemical introduced, so this list can and will change. But, at the time of writing, here are the five most common cocaine cutting agents.

 #1 Visual Additives

  • Aspirin
  • Laundry Detergent
  • Creatine
  • Flour
  • Laxatives

These substances are known as visual additivities or dilutants. The objective of these additives is to make it appear as if you, the buyer, are purchasing more cocaine than you are. These substances aren’t intended to change the drug's overall effects, but their addition can and will dilute the effects. Meaning dealers can try and compensate with other chemicals.

These substances aren’t always dangerous, but they can eventually be toxic over time and cause additional health problems beyond usual cocaine. For example, if you’re regularly snorting laundry detergent, it can build up in your arteries and cause blockages. 

Cutting Agents that are additives:

#2 Caffeine 

Central Nervous System stimulant 

Category: Adulterant 

Use: Diluent & Adulterant 

Risks: Caffeine is addictive. It can increase the heartbeat, cause anxiety, headaches, restlessness, and increased dehydration. 

#3 Levamisole

Medication used to treat parasitic worm infections

Category: Adulterant  

Use: Diluent & Adulterant 

Risks: Levamisole has been found in cocaine for over a decade now. At first, its inclusion in cocaine was unknown, but it was found in most cocaine that was seized. Initially, it was thought Levamisole was used as a diluent or bulking agent. Further research has shown that Levamisole can increase the high of cocaine and have an amphetamine-like high. At increased doses or long-term use, the side effects can include blood disorders, diarrhoea, headache, insomnia, nausea, and vasculitis (inflammation of the blood vessels.  

#4 Boric Acid 

Acid that is used as an insecticide and flame-retardant chemical

Category: Adulterant 

Use: Adulterant 

Boric Acid added to cocaine can heighten the aesthetic feelings of cocaine. Boric Acid has a very similar look to that of Cocaine crystals.  

#5 Benzocaine/Novocaine

Local Anaesthetic

Category: Adulterant

Use: Adulterant

Benzocaine, Lidocaine, and Novocaine are all synthetic versions of cocaine. They have been designed to remove the euphoria from cocaine and keep its aesthetic properties. Lidocaine can be found in Haemorrhoid and tattoo numbing cream. Benzocaine is a local anaesthetic usually applied to the mouth and gums to relieve toothaches and sore throats. Novocaine is another local anaesthetic primarily used in dentistry, usually when having a filling.

Risks: These are all contaminants. They are added to cocaine to give the user that numbness in the nose and the back of the throat, but more importantly when you rub that last bit on your gums. This will convince the user that what they have is of higher quality. Benzocaine and other local anaesthetics can cause methemoglobinemia, a severe condition in which the amount of oxygen carried through the blood is significantly reduced. 

No Cocaine is Ever Safe

The truth is even the purest cute coke is bad for you. Adding any cutting agent accelerates the danger, and it’s impossible to come across cocaine on the street that isn’t cut with something else. 

Your safest bet is always abstinence. But failing that, having your coke professionally tested can help. EZ Test’s are the first line of defence. The cocaine cuts test can identify some of the most dangerous and commonly used cutting agents in cocaine: Levamisole, Phenacentine and Ephedrine.

Click here to order one now, and keep it safe when you need it.