Pubdate: Sun, 07 Feb 2010 Source: Edmonton Sun (CN AB) Copyright: 2010 Canoe Limited Partnership. Contact: http://www.edmontonsun.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/135 Author: Nadia Moharib Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine) COCAINE LACED WITH VET DRUG OFFERS FATAL HIGH CALGARY - Cops say recent cases of people hospitalized after using cocaine tainted with a dangerous veterinary drug is another reminder illicit substances come with no quality-control. Winnipeg health officials blame cocaine tainted with levamisole, a chemical compound developed to treat intestinal worms, for sending two individuals to hospital with a potentially fatal illness over the past two weeks. Similar tainting of cocaine has also been found in Alberta in the last year. Calgary Drug Unit acting Staff Sgt. Collin Harris said cases of levamisole-tainted cocaine have been documented across Canada and the United States. While he hasn't heard of recent cases here, he said there is an ever-present risk to street-drug use because dealers use anything from baby power to Benzocaine (a local anaesthetic) as filler to boost profits despite the harm it might pose to users. "They don't care what they put into it as long as they get their money," he said. "The entire idea is to increase their profits." Last year, public health officials in Alberta put out a warning after seven people in the province developed agranulocytosis, a potentially deadly form of immune-system suppression. The cases were linked to cocaine contaminated with levamisole, which was likely used as a cutting agent. "In addition to the known health risks associated with illegal drug use, this highlights the kind of danger involved in street-drug use," Dr. Gerry Predy, Alberta's chief medical officer of health, said at the time. Harris said police are always watching for trends in other jurisdictions to hit here and the recent Winnipeg cases, albeit disturbing, are not shocking given realities of the drug realm. "It doesn't surprise me at all. They use whatever they can get their hands on to make product go further," Harris said of dealers. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D