Figure.

Number of pharmacologically active components identified in street drug samples from Vermont (n = 311) and Kentucky (n = 120), 2017.²⁰ Illicitly manufactured drugs commonly contain additional pharmacologically active components that are added during the manufacturing process, some of which are known as adulterants or cutting agents. Colombo Plan Secretariat scientists, in conjunction with NMS Labs (Horsham, PA), used quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry to test opioid and cocaine samples for adulterants and other pharmacologically active components and found that all street drug samples contained ≥1 additional toxic adulterant, fentanyl, another controlled drug, or an impurity from the heroin-manufacturing process. Of the 311 samples collected in Vermont, 301 (97%) contained >1 additional pharmacologically active component, 259 (83%) contained ≥5 additional components, and 47 (15%) contained ≥9 additional components. Of the 120 samples collected in Kentucky, 107 (89%) contained >1 additional pharmacologically active component, 38 (32%) contained ≥5 additional components, and 17 (14%) contained ≥9 additional components.