Thread: US banknotes show cocaine traces

The largest study of banknotes has found that 95% of dollar bills in Washington DC bear traces of the illegal drug cocaine.

The figure for the US capital is up 20% over two years.
Researchers at the University of Massachusetts in Dartmouth tested notes from more than 30 cities worldwide.
They say the rise observed in the US may be due to increased drug use caused by higher stress levels linked to the global economic downturn.
Bank notes can pick up traces of cocaine directly from users snorting it through rolled up bills or when cash is stacked together.
Stress factor?
Besides Washington, other big US cities such as Baltimore, Boston and Detroit had the highest average cocaine levels on their dollar bills.
Dr Yuegang Zuo, who led the research, said: "To my surprise, we're finding more and more cocaine in banknotes.
"I'm not sure why we've seen this apparent increase, but it could be related to the economic downturn, with stressed people turning to cocaine."
Other countries where notes were tested were Canada, Brazil, China and Japan.
China had the lowest rates, with only 12% of its bills contaminated.
In the US the cleanest bills were collected from Salt Lake City, home of the religious group, the Mormons.






BBC NEWS | Americas | US banknotes show cocaine traces

That stat has been floating around since the 80's.

the cocaine is holding the bank notes together here in colombia

Originally Posted by chitown

That stat has been floating around since the 80's.

I was going to post the same.

Was the previous stats only about 100 dollar bills though ?

only 95%

Originally Posted by Thetyim

Originally Posted by chitown

That stat has been floating around since the 80's.

I was going to post the same.

Was the previous stats only about 100 dollar bills though ?

I was always told it was all forms of currency.

Be a bit tough with coins.

Originally Posted by The Fresh Prince

Be a bit tough with coins.

Originally Posted by chitown

I was always told it was all forms of paper currency.

What do you mean?

He means it will not permeate coins I think.

What do you think?

Originally Posted by chitown

That stat has been floating around since the 80's.

Yeah, and last time I saw it it was apparently GBP notes.

Whiff of an urban legend to it, this one.

No wonder the Dollar was High for a while.

Big business. Working hand in hand to perpetuate each other....

Swiss Franc notes too, I have been told by a source unknow to me of course.

Originally Posted by AntRobertson

Whiff of an urban legend to it, this one.

The American show 60 Minutes did a study on it quite a few years back that I saw. Not an urban legend.

Originally Posted by pickel

Originally Posted by AntRobertson

Whiff of an urban legend to it, this one.

The American show 60 Minutes did a study on it quite a few years back that I saw. Not an urban legend.

Hmm, appears that me sense of smell's off then.

Must be the septum damage from all that blow I've been snorting.

I don't like cocaine, I only like the smell of it.

There was an article about how snorting coke and sharing bank notes can lead to spreading of things like Hep C.

From one bloody nose to another.

According to the OP, it seems like one "dirty" bill could contaminate at least one or two others if put back into a wallet or billfold after use. Regardless, 95% of bills in the nation's capital is still quite high.

And if people are turning to blow because they're stressed, is it not just going to make them even more stressed? I haven't known too many calm cokeheads.

Originally Posted by The Fresh Prince

Be a bit tough with coins.

But not impossible

Originally Posted by chitown

What do you mean?

Very difficult to roll up to form a straw.

All the banknotes should be cleaned every now and again. Imagine the amount of recycleable cocaine that could be re-blocked and sold again.

^That's disgusting.

i have seen cocaine being made, that isn't as disgusting as you would think

Ah, to powder ones nose!!! then again. This is a photo of Aliens of on coke..
or did their just cock up???

Originally Posted by flash

i have seen cocaine being made, that isn't as disgusting as you would think

Got to say it made me think (for about 5 minutes) when I watched this the other day: