Why some illicit drugs are becoming purer
- 5 years ago
These are high times for discerning drug users. For years they made do with poor quality drugs. But now the purity of cocaine, ecstasy and heroin is rising across Britain. Over the past five years the average purity of cocaine has gone up from 18% to 51%. In parts of the country police have seen cocaine that is 90% pure of late. Heroin is also purer at 33% last year, up from 18% in 2011. Why?
First, the quality of ingredients has improved. Ecstasy producers have overcome a shortage of safrole, an important ingredient, by using more readily accessible chemicals. Meanwhile the authorities have cracked down on benzocaine, a local anaesthetic long used to cut real cocaine.
Consumers and competition are also driving the change. Some users now turn up their noses at low-grade cocaine, preferring dealers who sell better stuff in smaller quantities and at higher prices. Suppliers may have realised that their market will shrivel if they do not supply a more reliable product.
The emergence of “legal highs”—synthetic, often quasi-legal means that users have options other than traditional drugs. Improving their products’ purity may allow dealers to recapture part of the market.
Finally technology is changing the market too. Lots of websites have popped up allowing customers to buy drugs and review their purchases. This can expose vendors who peddle dross. Bigger, more “reputable” dealers who buy there may be susceptible to such pressures
But while purer drugs may be a boon to demanding buyers, many drug users are not at all discerning. Some users may be overdosing on drugs that turned out to be far stronger than the stuff they have got used to consuming.
First, the quality of ingredients has improved. Ecstasy producers have overcome a shortage of safrole, an important ingredient, by using more readily accessible chemicals. Meanwhile the authorities have cracked down on benzocaine, a local anaesthetic long used to cut real cocaine.
Consumers and competition are also driving the change. Some users now turn up their noses at low-grade cocaine, preferring dealers who sell better stuff in smaller quantities and at higher prices. Suppliers may have realised that their market will shrivel if they do not supply a more reliable product.
The emergence of “legal highs”—synthetic, often quasi-legal means that users have options other than traditional drugs. Improving their products’ purity may allow dealers to recapture part of the market.
Finally technology is changing the market too. Lots of websites have popped up allowing customers to buy drugs and review their purchases. This can expose vendors who peddle dross. Bigger, more “reputable” dealers who buy there may be susceptible to such pressures
But while purer drugs may be a boon to demanding buyers, many drug users are not at all discerning. Some users may be overdosing on drugs that turned out to be far stronger than the stuff they have got used to consuming.