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DRUG PURITY

المؤلف:  Max M. Houck، Jay A. Siegel

المصدر:  Fundamentals of Forensic Science

الجزء والصفحة:  344

2026-08-09

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DRUG PURITY

As mentioned previously, drugs are nearly always contaminated by impurities. These fall into two categories: excipients and diluents. Excipients are substances that may mimic the activity of the main illicit drug present in order to make it more difficult for the user to know just how much of the drug there really is in the exhibit. For example, a common excipient in cocaine exhibits is lidocaine. Lidocaine, like cocaine, is a topical anesthetic. When cocaine is snorted, it numbs the nasal mem branes, as does lidocaine. Thus, if lidocaine is present, the user cannot determine, at least by the numbing action, how much cocaine is present. Diluents, on the other hand, are chemicals that are used to dilute an illicit drug and to give it more bulk. This is done to cut the purity of the drug, and increase the amount and thus the profits. In most states, there is no requirement that cutting agents be identified in drug exhibits. In some areas including in some federal cases, it is necessary to identify and quantify all cutting agents present with an illicit drug. This is done chiefly for intelligence purposes so that the law enforcement agents can track a case up through the distribution chain and identify the possible origin of the drugs.