What substances are used to “cut” the illegal substances?
Dealers may use legal substances like inositol, dextrose, mannitol (all sugars), lactose (sugar in milk), baking soda, or caffeine to adulterate their supplies of illicit substances. But some turn to any type of white, powdered substance to complete the task. Are there any other examples like the Alberta case? In 1991, a hospital in Spain reported 5 cases of scopolamine poisoning after users sniffed adulterated cocaine. Scopolamine is a strong substance derived from plants. In miniscule doses, it may benefit people who suffer from motion sickness. However, overdoses (which can happen if the user exceeds a few hundred micrograms in a short time) can result in elevated body temperature, delusions, and even death. Another famous case occurred in 1979 when two fentanyl analogues were sold as substitutes for heroin to many unsuspecting users. Drug analogues are substances that result from chemical changes to the structure of a base drug; in these cases, the analogues were called “China Whit
