TOXIC COCAINE ON STREETS, HEALTH OFFICIALS WARN

Drug Laced With Worm Treatment

Alberta health officials are warning drug users that cocaine being
sold on the street could be laced with a toxic and potentially lethal
substance.

Seven people from communities across the province have developed a
condition known as agranulocytosis, which leaves patients unable to
fight off infections.

It's believed the cases are the result of exposure to levamisole, a
chemical compound used to treat intestinal worms in humans and animals.

The levamisole was likely added to the cocaine to increase the weight
of the drug --and its dollar value--when sold on the street to
unsuspecting buyers, said Dr. Gerry Predy, Alberta's acting chief
medical officer of health.

"Cocaine is not a legal product so there's no way we can do a trace to
find out where the contamination might have occurred," Predy said.

"But if you've used cocaine and have signs of an infection--a fever,
skin sores or a bad cough--you should get checked out immediately by
your doctor."

It's fairly common for drugs to be laced with various toxic
substances, Predy said, but this is the first time he's ever come
across levamisole being used for this purpose.

Agranulocytosis, if undiagnosed, can be fatal because it compromises
the ability of the immune system to fend off toxins.

At least one of the reported cases involves a patient from southern
Alberta.