Scholarlink

Background <p>What appears to be a&#xa0;clear-cut case of cocaine use can turn out to be an unexpected side effect of an apparently harmless tea break. The ingestion of coca leaf tea is an alternative to nasal or intravenous cocaine consumption and, in contrast to those more common forms of consumption, is more likely to occur without the knowledge of the user. Particularly in road traffic or professional legislation, the common conclusion that the detection of cocaine metabolites proves the (intentional) consumption of cocaine powder can have serious consequences for those affected.</p> Objectives <p>A&#xa0;case study illustrates how such an accidental ingestion of coca leaf tea by a&#xa0;48-year-old woman occurred and how the positive detection of cocaine (and its metabolites) in urine and serum was initially evaluated in the clinical setting.</p> Materials and methods <p>The patient’s urine and serum were examined in clinical and forensic toxicology labs and a&#xa0;sample of the consumed tea was also analyzed.</p> Results and conclusion <p>In addition to cocaine itself, cocaine metabolites were also detected in all samples, sometimes at surprisingly high concentrations. However, the results of the investigation in this case did not allow for an analytical distinction from nasal cocaine consumption. In forensic practice, expert assessments regarding cocaine consumption should also include the possibility of accidental ingestion of coca leaves.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Peruanische Teestunde

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

    开放获取

  • 发表日期：

    2025年10月15日

查看全文
  • Anja Gummesson,
  • Andreas Büttner,
  • Christiane Decker,
  • Anne Port

摘要

Background

What appears to be a clear-cut case of cocaine use can turn out to be an unexpected side effect of an apparently harmless tea break. The ingestion of coca leaf tea is an alternative to nasal or intravenous cocaine consumption and, in contrast to those more common forms of consumption, is more likely to occur without the knowledge of the user. Particularly in road traffic or professional legislation, the common conclusion that the detection of cocaine metabolites proves the (intentional) consumption of cocaine powder can have serious consequences for those affected.

Objectives

A case study illustrates how such an accidental ingestion of coca leaf tea by a 48-year-old woman occurred and how the positive detection of cocaine (and its metabolites) in urine and serum was initially evaluated in the clinical setting.

Materials and methods

The patient’s urine and serum were examined in clinical and forensic toxicology labs and a sample of the consumed tea was also analyzed.

Results and conclusion

In addition to cocaine itself, cocaine metabolites were also detected in all samples, sometimes at surprisingly high concentrations. However, the results of the investigation in this case did not allow for an analytical distinction from nasal cocaine consumption. In forensic practice, expert assessments regarding cocaine consumption should also include the possibility of accidental ingestion of coca leaves.