Flesh-eating cocaine reported in New York, L.A.
What do zombies and cocaine have it common? Both can eat your flesh.
Have you heard about the flesh-eating cocaine? Though snorted, it can eat flesh anywhere on the body.
ABC News reports the snortable drug is responsible for an outbreak of a flesh-eating disease in New York and Los Angeles.
According to an April 2011 report by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, 82 percent of street cocaine is laced with the veterinary drug levamisole, which is used to deworm cattle, pigs and sheep.
Levamisole can also rot the skin off noses, ears and cheeks, doctors says. Multiple cases of rotted flesh have already been reported.
Dealers usually use baking soda as a filler, but may have turned to the veterinary drug because it may extend the cocaine high, experts say.
Some drug users appear immune to the tainted blow, but others are severely affected. One doctor reported seeing a man whose entire body was black with dying flesh.
There’s more bad news: Levamisole also prevents the body’s creation of infection-fighting white blood cells.
“It’s a little bit like having HIV,” said Dr. Noah Craft, a dermatologist with Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute in the ABC article. “About 10 percent of those patients will die from severe infections. They may be walking around like a time bomb.”
If you ever needed a reason to quit, here’s your sign.
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98 comments Add your comment
Just say no
July 7th, 2011
10:45 am
The only kind of Coke I like is brown and comes in a glass over ice.
Jennifer
July 7th, 2011
10:29 pm
Your ignorance, dear self-righteous ones, is astounding.
Two Pox
July 8th, 2011
4:39 am
coke heads are self righteous ? who knew ????
Bree
July 10th, 2011
8:45 pm
Can this happen to you if you only do it once? My friend did it a few nights ago, but only one line and now she’s freaking out. Can anyone help answer my question please?
Becca
August 11th, 2011
9:01 am
Good morning everyone! I will definitely be praying for the ones who are still using drugs! In my past, I have used drugs myself but now I am completely clean and have been for a while now and I WILL NOT ever go back to that life style at all! That is the absolute worse life ever that anyone could live, being hooked on drugs! It is a disease, a sickness, and until the people who are addicted want to quit, they WON’T quit! This article is very terrible and crazy that people are putting dewormer for animals in the drugs but people who are addicted to cocaine, even after reading this article, don’t care about their bodies or reading stuff like this, they will still just continue to use which is terrible and very unfortunate!! Like I said, I will be praying for those who still use drugs and there is such a better life away from that stuff! My husband and I both have a great and wonderful life now, God has blessed us so much! Until someone hits rock bottom or that place in their life that will make them open their eyes and realize that how their living is NOT a life and they are miserable and depressed, then they will stop using! It is sad to say but some may never stop!
Becca
August 11th, 2011
9:02 am
Good morning everyone! I will definitely be praying for the ones who are still using drugs! In my past, I have used drugs myself but now I am completely clean and have been for a while now and I WILL NOT ever go back to that life style at all! That is the absolute worse life ever that anyone could live, being hooked on drugs! It is a disease, a sickness, and until the people who are addicted want to quit, they WON’T quit! This article is very terrible and crazy that people are putting dewormer for animals in the drugs but people who are addicted to cocaine, even after reading this article, don’t care about their bodies or reading stuff like this, they will still just continue to use which is terrible and very unfortunate!! Like I said, I will be praying for those who still use drugs and there is such a better life away from that stuff! My husband and I both have a great and wonderful life now, God has blessed us so much! Until someone hits rock bottom or that place in their life that will make them open their eyes and realize that how their living is NOT a life and they are miserable and depressed, then they will stop using! It is sad to say but some may never stop!
Eric Moore
October 10th, 2011
3:20 pm
Ouch, sounds like people need to get Help A.S.A.P.
The problem is that this wouldn’t even scare the addict.
David
January 1st, 2012
2:12 pm
Are you guys for real? Most of these comments fall to sub-human levels of care and concern. Yes, street drugs are illegal and those who use them are kinda asking for what they get. But consider this, it’s just as easy to alter legal drugs and has been happening for years. Where’s the outrage? I’m a recovering addict(many years) and I know the heartbreak and struggles that those who are afflicted are experiencing. Those of you who are joking about this are simply uninvolved and/or oblivious. To make racial statements and unfounded observations concerning this topic proves this to be true. What if this was happening to someone you love? Wake up people and get involved with something positive that may bring relief to these people or anyone else who may be less well off than yourself.