California Cocaine Being Cut with Veterinary Drugs
In a strange and scary news story, that cocaine you purchased may not be exactly what you expected.
The San Francisco Chronicle reported this week that the vast majority of cocaine coming into the country and California is diluted with a drug typically used in large animals. Levamisole is a horse and cattle dewormer that is showing up in cocaine across the country.
In humans, Levamisole can have devastating effects and the people at San Francisco General Hospital have seen some of these effects first hand. Auto-immune problems and serious skin conditions were found there and later determined to be related to Levamisole poisoning.
Diluting cocaine is nothing new. Drug traffickers in foreign countries and domestic dealers use a variety of substances to “cut” cocaine and other drugs as a way of increasing the weight and their potential profit. The Chronicle reports the suspected reason for Levamisole use is its alleged ability to maximize the effects of cocaine, leaving users none the wiser.
San Francisco General claims that out of 200 patients who tested positive for cocaine recently, 90% of them also tested positive for the veterinary drug. However, most of them did not become ill. Scientists are now looking at why some of the users showed symptoms while others didn’t.
Levamisole is said to cause a reduction in white blood cells. Symptoms of the resulting auto-immune condition include fever, sores, swollen glands, and skin problems.
The things people go through when battling an addiction can be quite sobering. Sometimes admittance to the hospital or even an arrest can be a blessing in disguise. For people who have serious drug problems, there are options available when facing criminal charges.
The fact is: most drug crimes in California are felonies. However, depending on the circumstances of your case you could quality for Proposition 36 drug treatment or a diversion program.
If you are facing charges and fairly certain you will be found guilty, we may be able to work out a deal with the prosecution. Drug treatment is one avenue that often satisfies the court and the defendant. However, there are other options available as well.
If you are facing possession or even distribution charges, contact me today to discuss your case. I may be able to give you some free legal advice and get you on the right track for positive results on your day in court.
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