When does the cutting of cocaine and heroin occur? The first large-scale study based on the chemical analysis of cocaine and heroin seizures in Switzerland

Morelato, M; Franscella, D; Esseiva, P; Broséus, J

When does the cutting of cocaine and heroin occur? The first large-scale study based on the chemical analysis of cocaine and heroin seizures in Switzerland

Morelato, M

Franscella, D Esseiva, P Broséus, J

Permalink

Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: International Journal of Drug Policy, 2019, 73 pp. 7 - 15
Issue Date:: 2019-11-01

Closed Access

	Filename	Description	Size
	1-s2.0-S0955395919302038-main.pdf	Published Version	1.45 MB	Adobe PDF	View/Open

Copyright Clearance Process

Recently Added
In Progress
Closed Access

This item is closed access and not available.

Full metadata record

Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Morelato, M https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7616-0623	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Franscella, D	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Esseiva, P	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Broséus, J	en_US
dc.date.available	2019-07-12	en_US
dc.date.issued	2019-11-01	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	International Journal of Drug Policy, 2019, 73 pp. 7 - 15	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	0955-3959	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/136654
dc.description.abstract	© 2019 Elsevier B.V. Background: Illicit drug profiling can provide knowledge about illicit drug markets, informing on the level of distribution and its evolution in space and time. Illicit drug profiling is usually limited to impurities originally present in the illicit drug (e.g. alkaloids, co-extracted compounds or by-products). However, the benefit of a comprehensive analysis of cutting agents in drug seizures for law enforcement agencies, intelligence and health policy has not been thoroughly investigated in the literature and is the focus of this research. Aim: This research aims at assessing when and how cutting (i.e. adulteration and dilution) occurs in the supply chain by analysing cocaine and heroin seizures made between 2006 and 2015 in Switzerland. Methods: Cocaine and heroin seizures made along the supply chain by law enforcement agencies in the Western region of Switzerland were investigated for adulteration and dilution. A total number of 7841 cocaine and 3476 heroin specimens coming from 1341 and 721 seizures, respectively, were analysed. Results: The results show that, for both illicit drugs, adulteration and/or dilution occur before arrival into Switzerland as well as in Switzerland. While cocaine is adulterated and diluted, heroin is only adulterated. Interestingly, the same mixture of adulterants (i.e. caffeine-paracetamol) is used to cut heroin at each step in the supply chain. Conclusion: Gaining knowledge about adulteration and dilution at different stages in the supply chain enhances our understanding of drug markets. It also highlights differences along the supply chain and in the distribution of both drugs in Switzerland.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	International Journal of Drug Policy	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.drugpo.2019.07.025	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Substance Abuse	en_US
dc.title	When does the cutting of cocaine and heroin occur? The first large-scale study based on the chemical analysis of cocaine and heroin seizures in Switzerland	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	73	en_US
utslib.for	1115 Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences	en_US
utslib.for	1110 Nursing	en_US
utslib.for	1117 Public Health and Health Services	en_US
utslib.for	11 Medical and Health Sciences	en_US
utslib.for	16 Studies in Human Society	en_US
utslib.for	17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science/School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CFS - Centre for Forensic Science
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	73	en_US

Abstract:

© 2019 Elsevier B.V. Background: Illicit drug profiling can provide knowledge about illicit drug markets, informing on the level of distribution and its evolution in space and time. Illicit drug profiling is usually limited to impurities originally present in the illicit drug (e.g. alkaloids, co-extracted compounds or by-products). However, the benefit of a comprehensive analysis of cutting agents in drug seizures for law enforcement agencies, intelligence and health policy has not been thoroughly investigated in the literature and is the focus of this research. Aim: This research aims at assessing when and how cutting (i.e. adulteration and dilution) occurs in the supply chain by analysing cocaine and heroin seizures made between 2006 and 2015 in Switzerland. Methods: Cocaine and heroin seizures made along the supply chain by law enforcement agencies in the Western region of Switzerland were investigated for adulteration and dilution. A total number of 7841 cocaine and 3476 heroin specimens coming from 1341 and 721 seizures, respectively, were analysed. Results: The results show that, for both illicit drugs, adulteration and/or dilution occur before arrival into Switzerland as well as in Switzerland. While cocaine is adulterated and diluted, heroin is only adulterated. Interestingly, the same mixture of adulterants (i.e. caffeine-paracetamol) is used to cut heroin at each step in the supply chain. Conclusion: Gaining knowledge about adulteration and dilution at different stages in the supply chain enhances our understanding of drug markets. It also highlights differences along the supply chain and in the distribution of both drugs in Switzerland.

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:

http://hdl.handle.net/10453/136654