Adulterants
Dangerous cuts
The idea that drugs such as heroin are commonly adulterated ('cut', 'stepped on') with dangerous substances such as scouring powders (Vim, Ajax), rat poison (strychnine, warfarin), ground glass, brick-dust etc. has no foundation in forensic evidence. Anecdotal evidence from drug workers, drug users, the police and the politicians means that reports of adulteration are common but its existence is unproven. There are many reasons why drug dealers would not want to cut the drugs they sell with dangerous substances.
Ecstasy with heroin
Rumours about Ecstasy pills being laced with heroin are common. There is a great deal of forensic evidence in this area through the testing of seized and volunteered ecstasy tablets and heroin has never been found to be present in ecstasy tablets. This belief is based on one of the many myths surrounding how people get addicted and on the practices of drug pushers.
Less cutting than thought
Recent research in the UK, the US and Australia shows that the purity of drugs such as heroin differs little at street level than it does at importation.
The actual agents used
Cutting agents most commonly found in illicit drugs in the UK are paracetamol (and related compounds), caffeine, lactose and other sugars. Other cutting agents are also found and the particular variation of cutting agents often helps determine (as a kind of 'fingerprint') the source area that the e.g. heroin has come from.
References:
Coomber, R. (1999) 'Cutting the crap: The reality of drug adulteration', Druglink, July/August, Vol. 14, Issue 4, pp. 19-21.
Coomber, R. (1999) 'The "Cutting" of Street Drugs in the USA in the 1990s', Journal of Drug Issues, Vol. 29, No. 1. pp. 17-36.
Coomber, R. (1997) 'How Often Does the Adulteration/Dilution of Heroin Actually Occur: An Analysis of 228 "Street" Samples Across the UK (1995-1996) and Discussion of Monitoring Policy', International Journal of Drug Policy, Vol. 8, No. 4. pp. 178-186.
Coomber, R. (1997) 'Vim in the Veins - Fantasy or Fact: The Adulteration of Illicit Drugs', Addiction Research, Vol 5, No. 3. pp. 195-212.
Coomber, R. (1997) 'The Adulteration of Drugs: What Dealers Do, What Dealers Think', Addiction Research, Vol. 5, No. 4. pp. 297-306.
Coomber, R. (1997) 'Adulteration of Drugs: The Discovery of a Myth', Contemporary Drug Problems, Vol. 24, No. 2. pp. 239-271.
