Hazardous Substances
Phenacetin (Cocaine Cutting Agent)
Street names: Phenacetin, Supercut, Cocaine adulterant
Overdose? Act now. Call emergency services — say "unresponsive, not breathing". Give naloxone for opioid-like signs. Hotlines
⚡What it does
- No desired effect — it just bulks cocaine and adds a numbing illusion of quality
⚠Key risks
- Carcinogen (IARC Group 1) — banned for causing kidney cancer and failure
- Most cocaine users consume it unknowingly
- Long-term exposure is cumulative
✚Overdose signs
- No acute syndrome — harm is chronic (kidney damage, anemia)
- Blood in urine with heavy exposure
- Fatigue
Category comparison — Hazardous Substances
| Substance | Class | Top risks | Street price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phenacetin (Cocaine Cutting Agent) | Withdrawn pharmaceutical | Carcinogen (IARC Group 1) — banned for causing kidney cancer and failure; Most cocaine users consume it unknowingly | ~$500–$2,000/kg to traffickers |
| 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 Phenacetin (Cocaine Cutting Agent) look like?
White crystalline powder — the most common bulk cut in European and UK cocaine
What are the signs of a Phenacetin (Cocaine Cutting Agent) overdose?
No acute syndrome — harm is chronic (kidney damage, anemia); Blood in urine with heavy exposure; Fatigue Call emergency services immediately.
How addictive is it?
Carcinogen (IARC Group 1) — banned for causing kidney cancer and failure 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.