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Why are some drugs adulterated? The truth behind this is shocking!
In drug culture, "adulteration" refers to the use of a substance (called an adulterant or cutting agent) to mix a drug, which can be done for a variety of purposes and reasons. The evolution of the drug market has made adulteration increasingly common, exposing consumers to greater danger and uncertainty.
Drug dealers use adulteration to increase the weight of their products or mix cheaper drugs into high-priced drugs, which not only affects the purity but also endangers the lives of users.
Reasons behind adulteration
Drug markets have undergone significant transformation since the 1980s, from a relatively structured market to a fragmented one. This has led to competition among drug dealers over the purity of their products. Many drugs are no longer adulterated multiple times when in circulation, but are mixed with other substances during the production process. This change has led to uneven quality of drugs on the market. The risks faced by consumers have also increased significantly.
Drug dealers seeking to evade legal responsibility may adulterate drugs with similar substances to conceal their true identity, often resulting in users being unable to predict the true composition of the drugs they are taking.
Different Types of Adulterants
Adulterants can be divided into non-psychoactive adulterants and psychoactive mimetics. Non-psychoactive adulterants often include common, harmless substances such as flour and dried herbs, however the legality of these substances can still result in criminal liability for traffickers. Psychoactive mimetics are mostly other controlled drugs or synthetic drugs, which often increase the risk of overdose due to uncertain ingredients.
How drugs are adulterated and what are their effects
In the illegal drug trade, many drugs are sold unknowingly to the end user. For example, adulteration of opioids such as heroin may include caffeine and other non-toxic substances to increase weight without affecting appearance. But this can expose users to unknown dosage and combination risks, leading to accidental overdose events.
In some cases, drugs are adulterated intentionally, such as by mixing a cheaper drug into a more expensive one to increase sales.
Death Cases and Public Safety
Deaths caused by adulteration have aroused social concern. For example, in a 2022 incident in the Netherlands, a bottle of champagne caused one death due to the presence of MDMA. More worryingly, polydrug use also significantly increases drug-related deaths. These transactions of unknown origin have undoubtedly exacerbated the public health crisis.
As the drug market becomes more complex, more and more consumers are forced to face unpredictable dangers. This is not only a matter of personal choice, but also a challenge facing society as a whole.
Real-world countermeasures
In response to the problem of adulterated drugs, many social groups have begun to promote drug testing measures to help consumers detect the ingredients of the drugs they use. These tests can provide useful information, promote safe use and even reduce accidental deaths. However, relying on self-testing still has risks and does not completely solve the problem.
Against this backdrop, calls for enhanced public education and provision of resources are critical, and countries should proactively establish legitimate detection mechanisms and user education systems. The continuous evolution and adulteration of drugs not only tests the pursuit of the law, but also challenges the moral and safety bottom line of society.
Behind the trend of drug adulteration, can we find an effective solution to protect our society?
