Cocaethylene, the in vivo product of cocaine and ethanol, is a narcotic more potent than its precursors.

The molecular conformation and supramolecular architecture of cocaethylene [systematic name: ethyl (1R,2R,3S,5S)-3-benzoyloxy-8-methyl-8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane-2-carboxylate], C18H23NO4, have been determined for the first time. Cocaethylene is a narcotic produced in vivo when cocaine and ethanol are administered concomitantly. The intra- and intermolecular features of cocaethylene and its less potent narcotic precursor cocaine are very similar. The only molecular difference is in the conformation of the methyl group of the ethoxycarbonyl group. Similar to cocaine, the carboxylate atoms and the α-C atom are coplanar in cocaethylene, but the methyl C atom of the ethyl group is bent by ca 90° away from this plane in the narcotic reported here. The main supramolecular motif is a one-dimensional chain stabilized by weak C-H...O contacts.

Essential/precursor chemicals and drug consumption: impacts of US sodium permanganate and Mexico pseudoephedrine controls on the numbers of US cocaine and methamphetamine users.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: In December 2006 the United States regulated sodium permanganate, a cocaine essential chemical. In March 2007 Mexico, the United States' primary source for methamphetamine, closed a chemical company accused of illicitly importing 60+ tons of pseudoephedrine, a methamphetamine precursor chemical. US cocaine availability and methamphetamine availability, respectively, decreased in association. This study tested whether the controls had impacts upon the numbers of US cocaine users and methamphetamine users. DESIGN: Auto-regressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) intervention time-series analysis. Comparison series-heroin and marijuana users-were used. SETTING: United States, 2002-14. PARTICIPANTS: The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (n = 723 283), a complex sample survey of the US civilian, non-institutionalized population. MEASUREMENTS: Estimates of the numbers of (1) past-year users and (2) past-month users were constructed for each calendar quarter from 2002 to 2014, providing each series with 52 time-periods. FINDINGS: Downward shifts in cocaine users started at the time of the cocaine regulation. Past-year and past-month cocaine users series levels decreased by approximately 1 946 271 (-32%) (P < 0.05) and 694 770 (-29%) (P < 0.01), respectively-no apparent recovery occurred through 2014. Downward shifts in methamphetamine users started at the time of the chemical company closure. Past-year and past-month methamphetamine series levels decreased by 494 440 (-35%) [P < 0.01; 95% confidence interval (CI) = -771 897, -216 982] and 277 380 (-45%) (P < 0.05; CI = -554 073, -686), respectively-partial recovery possibly occurred in 2013. The comparison series changed little at the intervention times. CONCLUSIONS: Essential/precursor chemical controls in the United States (2006) and Mexico (2007) were associated with large, extended (7+ years) reductions in cocaine users and methamphetamine users in the United States.

Headspace-gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric analysis of South American commercial solvents and their use in the illicit conversion of cocaine base to cocaine hydrochloride.

This study presents data that establish the makeup of solvents utilized in illicit cocaine hydrochloride production, as determined via the identification of the occluded solvents in the crystal matrix of the final product. The occluded solvent ratios can differ dramatically from the ratios of the original processing solvents. Additionally, the presented data suggest the diversion of commercial solvents to illicit cocaine hydrochloride laboratories. Thirty-five commercial solvents were obtained from five chemical manufacturing companies in South America. Each solvent was qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed using static headspace-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-GC-MS). After obtaining the chemical profile for each commercial solvent, solvents and/or solvent mixtures were prepared to be comparable in composition to several of the commercial products. Over 90 individual batches of cocaine hydrochloride were prepared from cocaine base using these solvents or solvent mixtures, which match those most commonly employed in clandestine laboratories. Additionally, a number of unique manufacturing by-products produced from processing solvents were identified, and their significance is discussed.

Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow! Estimating cocaine production using a novel dataset based on reported seizures of laboratories in Colombia.

BACKGROUND: Data on the cocaine market appear inconsistent, as they tend to show declining prices vis-a-vis steady or increasing demand and a declining supply. This paper proposes an explanation for this trend by providing evidence of an under-estimation of the supply of cocaine. METHODS: We propose a conservative estimate of cocaine production in Colombia for 2008, using data based on all reported seizures from 328 laboratories made by the counteracting organisations operating within the Colombian territory. RESULTS: Our conservative estimate of 935 tons from the seized laboratories is at least twice the estimate declared in official statistics of 295-450 tons. We are careful to keep all variables to their minimum boundary values. Our methodology could prove to be a useful tool, especially if used in parallel with the standard tools. Moreover, its characteristics (affordability, ease of use and potential for worldwide adoption) make it a powerful instrument to counteract cocaine production.

Detección de Benzoilecgonina en orina de consumidores de té de coca mediante métodos de inmunoensayo / Detection of Benzoilecgonine in urine of consumers of coca tea by immunoassay methods

Con el fin de detectar la presencia de benzoilecgonina en orina de consumidores de té de coca, se realizó un estudio piloto analizando muestras de orina a 10 voluntarios sanos, no consumidores de cocaína, antes de ingerir la infusión de té de coca (Nasa Esh´s Coca Nasa), y las recolectadas hasta las 48 horas después de la ingestión, de una toma única de 100 mL el mismo día. El análisis se realizó por métodos de inmunoensayo, cualitativo, mediante pruebas rápidas Acu-check, y semicuantitativo AxSYM Cocaine Metabolite, basado en In munoensayo de Fluorescencia Polarizada (FPIA). Antes de la ingestión de la infusión por los métodos cualitativos y semicuantitativos las muestras recolectadas resultaron negativas, después de haber ingerido la infusión, por ambos métodos se detectó concentraciones de benzoilecgonina desde la primera hasta las 48 horas con diversas variaciones entre las muestras, observándose excelente concordancia entre los métodos para la determinación de benzoilecgonina en orina. En este estudio, se concluyó que existe la presencia de benzoilecgonina en muestras de orina de consumidores de té de coca. Los métodos utilizados sólo proporcionan resultados preliminares, se recomienda utilizar unos más específicos a fin de encontrar parámetros que permitan discriminar individuos que hayan ingerido infusión de té de coca, de aquellos que son adictos a la cocaína. Además, es importante prevenir a los consumidores de té de coca sobre el riesgo de detección de benzoilecgonina en orina dentro de las primeras 24 a 48 horas y las implicaciones que trae consigo tales hallazgos de laboratorio.

In order to detect the presence of benzoylecgonine in urine of consumers of coca tea, a pilot study was conducted by analyzing urine samples from 10 volunteers not cocaine users, be fore drinking the coca tea infusion, and collected until 48 hours after ingestión of a single shot (100 mL) the same day, The analysis was performed by immunoassay qualitative methods, using fast Acu-check tests, and semi quantitative automated equipment Abbott Axsym System, based on fluorescence polarization immunoassay (FPIA). Before ingestion of the infusion for qualitative and semiquantitative methods for samples collected were negative, and after drinking the tea, for both methods, concentrations of benzoylecgonine was detected from the first to 48 hours with several variations between samples, observed excellent agreement between the methods for the determination of benzoilecgonine in urine. In this study, we concluded that there is the presence of benzoylecgonine in urine samples from consumers of coca tea. According to the methods used provide only preliminary results, we recommend using a more specific in order to find parameters to discriminate individuals who have ingested coca tea infusions of dose that are cocaine addicts, In turn, it is important to prevent cosumers coca tea on the risk of detection of benzoylecgonine in urine within the first 24 to 48 hours and the implications it brings such laboratory findings.