Qualitative, quantitative and temporal study of cutting agents for cocaine and heroin over 9 years. (December 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Broséus, Julian; Gentile, Natacha; Bonadio Pont, Federica; Garcia Gongora, Juan Manuel; Gasté, Laëtitia; Esseiva, Pierre
• Is Part Of: Forensic science international. Volume 257(2015)
• Page Start: 307
• Page End: 313
• Publication Date: 2015-12
• Subjects: Illicit drug -- Adulterant -- Diluent -- Criminal market -- Drug profiling -- Strategic intelligence; Medical jurisprudence -- Periodicals; Chemistry, Forensic -- Periodicals; Forensic Medicine -- Periodicals; Médecine légale -- Périodiques; Chimie légale -- Périodiques; Gerechtelijke geneeskunde; Gerechtelijke chemie; Gerechtelijke psychiatrie; Chemistry, Forensic; Medical jurisprudence; Electronic journals; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 614.1
• DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2015.09.014
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0379-0738

Abstract

Highlights: An in-depth study of a crucial aspect of illicit drug market. Extensive empirical information on cocaine and heroin adulteration/dilution. Investigation of the evolution of cutting from 2006 to 2014 in western Switzerland. A comparison of the structure of cocaine and heroin markets. Abstract: Forensic laboratories mainly focus on the qualification and the quantitation of the illicit drug under analysis as both aspects are used for judiciary purposes. Therefore, information related to cutting agents (adulterants and diluents) detected in illicit drugs is limited in the forensic literature. This article discusses the type and frequency of adulterants and diluents detected in more than 6000 cocaine specimens and 3000 heroin specimens, confiscated in western Switzerland from 2006 to 2014. The results show a homogeneous and quite unchanging adulteration for heroin, while for cocaine it could be characterised as heterogeneous and relatively dynamic. Furthermore, the results indicate that dilution affects more cocaine than heroin. Therefore, the results provided by this study tend to reveal differences between the respective structures of production or distribution of cocaine and heroin. This research seeks to promote the systematic analysis of cutting agents by forensic laboratories. Collecting and processing data related to the presence of cutting agents in illicit drug specimens produces relevant information to understand and to compare the structure of illicit drug markets.