Cocaine evaluation 1st quarter 2025

The DIZ publishes quarterly evaluations of cocaine samples tested at the DIZ and at mobile outreach sites. This is to supplement the annual evaluations and to raise awareness of the specific risks associated with cocaine use. The results published here are not representative of the entire substance market in the city of Zurich.

Cocaine is a substance with a comparatively high potential for harm and dependence. In addition to the known risks, the frequent occurrence of pharmacologically active extenders poses an additional health risk that is difficult to assess, especially for regular users. These are rarely acute side effects, but primarily long-term effects. The evaluation shows that even samples with high cocaine content frequently contained pharmacologically active extenders. In addition, the highly fluctuating cocaine content represents an often underestimated consumption risk. The higher the cocaine content, the greater the risk of overdose. High-dose cocaine can also place a heavy burden on the cardiovascular system and, under certain circumstances and physical conditions, trigger a heart attack or stroke. Information and recommendations for low-risk consumption can be found here.

In the first quarter of 2025, 494 samples declared as cocaine were handed in for analysis at the Drug Information Center (DIZ) and at four mobile drug checkings. In this quarter, the average cocaine content of the samples analyzed was 87.8 %. Compared to the previous quarter of 2024, the average content rose again slightly. The cocaine content of the samples analyzed varied greatly, ranging from 27.5 % to 100 %. In the first quarter of 2025, 19.4 % of the cocaine samples analyzed were laced with at least one pharmacologically active substance. This once again represents a sharp decline in the number of diluted cocaine samples analyzed at the DIZ.

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• In the first quarter of 2025, 56 of the 494 cocaine samples contained the local anaesthetic procainewhich was used as an extender in cocaine samples with above-average frequency in 2024. On average, 7.9% procaine was contained in the samples in Q1 2025, which represents a sharp decline in procaine content. Procaine is a local anaesthetic agent from the group of local anaesthetics used in medicine. In addition to side effects in the central nervous system (e.g. restlessness, seizures, coma), in rare cases high doses of procaine can also cause cardiac arrhythmia, a drop in blood pressure and allergic reactions. The intravenous consumption of cocaine mixed with procaine is particularly risky.
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• There was a slight increase in cocaine samples containing the extender levamisole. 5.2 % of the cocaine samples handed in in Q1 2025 contained levamisole. Levamisole was originally used as an anthelmintic, but is now used in a wider range of medical applications. Common side effects include vomiting and diarrhea, allergic reactions (shortness of breath, skin rashes), disorders of the nervous system (numbness to unconsciousness) and problems with blood formation. On a psychological level, blackouts, severe fatigue and speech problems can occur. Regular consumption weakens the immune system, resulting in increased susceptibility to illness and inflammation.

• Two of the samples declared as cocaine contained only amphetamine or a mixture of amphetamine and caffeine. One sample contained 33.7 % benzoylecgonine, which has been detected more frequently in cocaine samples since 2024. Benzoylecgonine is the main metabolite (breakdown product) of cocaine and is produced by its metabolization in the liver. Cocaine samples may already contain benzoylecgonine before consumption, which may indicate improper storage, ageing or moisture. The substance itself has a significantly lower psychoactive effect than cocaine.

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Detailed information on cocaine extenders as well as SaferUse tips can be found on our website.