Sent on October 1, 2009

Nationwide Public Health Alert

Life-Threatening Risk Posed by Cocaine Laced with Veterinary Anti-Parasite Drug

SAMHSA is alerting medical professionals, substance abuse treatment centers, and other public health authorities about the risk that substantial levels of cocaine may be adulterated with levamisole—a veterinary anti-parasitic drug.

There have been approximately 20 confirmed or probable cases of agranulocytosis (a serious, sometimes fatal blood disorder), including two deaths, associated with cocaine adulterated with levamisole. The number of reported cases is expected to increase as information about cocaine adulterated with levamisole is disseminated.

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	For more information, contact SAMHSA’s Health Information Network or visit SAMHSA's Web site:


	1-877-SAMHSA-7 (English and Spanish/inglés y español)



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Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration
1 Choke Cherry Road | Rockville, MD 20857 | 1-877-SAMHSA-7 (1-877-726-4727) | http://www.samhsa.gov

SAMHSA is a public health agency within the Department of Health and Human Services. The agency is responsible for improving the accountability, capacity, and effectiveness of the Nation's substance abuse prevention, addictions treatment, and mental health services delivery system.

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