A forensic investigation led by Fermín Guerra from the University of Panama indicates that levamisol, an antiparasitic drug used in both veterinary and human medicine, is the most frequent adulterant identified in cocaine seized in Panama. The results showed that levamisol was found in 25% of the samples examined, followed by caffeine and lidocaine in smaller proportions. Guerra explained that the inclusion of levamisol in cocaine is not only due to 'filler' practices but also has direct effects on consumption. 'The interaction of levamisol with cocaine potentiates its addictive effect,' Guerra stated. Guerra conducted the study as part of the master's project in Analytical and Forensic Toxicology at the University of Panama. Another key point of Guerra's work highlights the lack of data on consumption and mortality associated with illicit drugs. Guerra used Gas Chromatography coupled to Mass Spectrometry, considered one of the most accurate methods in forensic drug analysis. The researcher analyzed cocaine samples submitted to the Controlled Substances Laboratory of the Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences (IMELCF) between January and May 2023. Levamisol, for its part, is a medication used to treat intestinal infections caused by parasites such as ascariasis and hookworm. Adulterants are physicochemical substances with effects similar to the substance being consumed and also seek to increase the profitability of the illegal business. 'The consumer feels the need to consume more and more, believing it is due to the drug itself, when in reality it is the combined action of these substances,' Guerra told the magazine Hacia la Luz. In this scenario, Guerra proposes three axes to strengthen the institutional response: the effective implementation of an Early Warning System to detect new substances and emerging risks; the transition from qualitative to quantitative analysis to determine levels of purity and real danger; and the strengthening of the technical capabilities of the IMELCF's toxicology laboratory. During the evaluated period, no ketamine was detected.
Levamisol is the Most Frequent Cocaine Adulterant in Panama
A study in Panama found that one in four street cocaine samples contains levamisol, a veterinary drug that intensifies addiction. A scientist calls for stricter control over drug purity.
