#TestIt Alert: Bag of white powder sold in Philadelphia, PA as cocaine but actually contains phenacetin, cocaine, benzocaine, levamisole, and others
By: Rachel Clark, Programs & Communications Coordinator A bag of soft white powder was sold in Philadelphia, PA as cocaine, but actually contains phenacetin, cocaine, benzocaine, levamisole, and others. The sample was submitted from Baltimore, MD to Erowid’s DrugsData Project. The sample did not react in the presence of the Marquis reagent, and turned yellow in the presence of the Mecke reagent and light grey-green in the presence of the Mandelin reagent. Phenacetin is an NSAID (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, i.e. ibuprofen) that was prominently used as an analgesic (pain-relieving drug) for almost a century prior to its discontinuation due to carcinogenic effects....