Hazardous Substances
Paco / Basuco (Cocaine Paste)
Street names: Paco, Basuco, PBC (pasta base), Oxi
Overdose? Act now. Call emergency services — say "unresponsive, not breathing". Give naloxone for opioid-like signs. Hotlines
⚡What it does
- Crack-like instant high, even shorter (minutes)
- Savage compulsion to redose
⚠Key risks
- Residual solvents (kerosene, sulfuric acid) burn lungs and brain on top of the cocaine
- Devastated poor neighborhoods in Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil and Colombia
- Psychosis and violence come fast and cheap
✚Overdose signs
- Seizures
- Chest pain, collapse
- Extreme paranoia, aggression
Category comparison — Hazardous Substances
| Substance | Class | Top risks | Street price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paco / Basuco (Cocaine Paste) | Illegal — cocaine product | Residual solvents (kerosene, sulfuric acid) burn lungs and brain on top of the cocaine; Devastated poor neighborhoods in Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil and Colombia | ~$0.50–$2 per rock — deliberately priced below crack |
| Potassium Cyanide (KCN) | Not a drug — regulated toxic chemical | Lethal dose ~200–300 mg — death within minutes to an hour; No antidote available outside hospital; hydrogen cyanide gas from acid contact | N/A — sometimes sold fraudulently as 'peaceful exit' scams |
| Air Duster (Computer Duster / Canned Air) | Household product — not a drug; no age restriction on purchase | SUDDEN SNIFFING DEATH — the most deadly inhalant: difluoroethane sensitizes the heart to adrenaline; a sudden fright, chase, or exertion triggers fatal cardiac arrest. First-time users die; Frostbite to lungs and airway from direct spray | $3–$8 per can at any electronics/office store |
| Gasoline / Petrol Huffing | Not a drug — fuel product | Extremely toxic hydrocarbons (benzene, toluene, xylene); Sudden sniffing death — cardiac arrest | Effectively free — siphoned fuel |
| Glue / Solvent Sniffing | Not drugs — adhesives and solvents | The CLASSIC youth inhalant — peak use age 14–15; Sudden sniffing death from cardiac arrest | $1–$5 per tube/can — pocket money prices |
| Refrigerant / Freon Huffing | Not a drug — HVAC refrigerant | EXTREMELY dangerous — refrigerant gases (difluoroethane, tetrafluoroethane) cause sudden cardiac death at high rates; Frostbite to airways | Stolen/siphoned — no price, high death cost |
Street prices are regional estimates. Potency and cuts vary constantly.
?Frequently asked questions
What does Paco / Basuco (Cocaine Paste) look like?
Dirty off-white/yellow smokable chunks — crude intermediate from cocaine production, kerosene and solvent residues included
What are the signs of a Paco / Basuco (Cocaine Paste) overdose?
Seizures; Chest pain, collapse; Extreme paranoia, aggression Call emergency services immediately.
How addictive is it?
Residual solvents (kerosene, sulfuric acid) burn lungs and brain on top of the cocaine Dependence can develop with regular use.
🔗Sources & further reading
Facts on this page are compiled from these primary sources. External links open in a new tab.