Understanding how cheap smokable cocaine products are affecting vulnerable communities in Colombia.

Medellín has transformed dramatically over the past two decades, becoming one of Latin America’s most recognized cities for innovation, tourism, nightlife, and entrepreneurship. Yet behind the city’s rapid modernization remains an ongoing public health challenge tied to poverty, addiction, homelessness, and substance abuse. One of the most destructive drugs affecting vulnerable populations in Medellín is basuco, also known as bazuco, a smokable cocaine byproduct associated with severe addiction and social decline.

Basuco is not the same as powdered cocaine. According to international cocaine...

Basuco, also spelled bazuco, is a highly addictive smokable cocaine product found mainly in South America, especially Colombia. It is often called “trash cocaine” because it is made from crude coca paste and may contain toxic residues or filler substances left over from cocaine production.

Unlike powdered cocaine, basuco is usually smoked, often mixed with tobacco or cannabis. The effect can feel intense and immediate, but it usually fades very quickly. This short high is often followed by anxiety, paranoia, depression, and a strong urge to use again, creating a dangerous cycle of repeated...