Are ‘Cocaine Sharks’ A Real Threat to Texas Beaches?
July 26, 2024 – Researches are currently scrambling to explain a possible new threat on beaches around the world. That threat: sharks hopped up on cocaine.
Here are some facts:
- Sharks have been proven to ‘attack’ the white floating bundles of cocaine left floating in the ocean. These bundles are the result of smugglers dumping their cargo. Scientist theorize sharks might mistake the objects for birds. Much like the theory that surfers are attacked because they might appear similar to a basking sea lion.
- Aquatic species have tested positive for cocaine in addition to other pharmaceuticals. This has been proven in both rivers, lakes and oceans. These drugs are entering the aquatic food chain.
No one really knows what cocaine does to sharks. Will it transform them into a relentless killing machine like might be found in a Hollywood Summer Blockbuster? Probably not. There are theories ranging from an irritant effect on the gills, to bursts of speed, and erratic behavior.
Cocaine hydrochloride acts as a vasoconstrictor, meaning it narrows blood vessels. Healthcare professionals can use it in certain medical procedures to manage bleeding by reducing blood flow to the site.
The body can absorb cocaine systemically, which can affect the cardiovascular system. This can result in increased heart rate, blood pressure, and myocardial contractility (affecting the heart’s ability to contract), which may lead to higher demand for oxygen by the heart.
Cocaine interacts with various receptor types, including muscarinic acetylcholine, N-methyl-D-aspartate, sigma, and kappa-opioid receptors, contributing to its complex toxicity.
Currently the only evidence of sharks testing positive for cocaine have been specimens off the coast of Brazil. Researches are confident that as more regions are tested, additional positive sample will be found.
It is possible that sharks could come into contact with large amounts of high purity cocaine anywhere bundles of the product are dumped in the sea. Rivers that flow through metropolitan areas lacking proper sewer service and a high cocaine user population can also bring the drugs out into the ocean. Cocaine is mainly removed from the human body via the kidneys.
So far no correlation between the drug and attacks on beaches has been determined.
One thing experts all agree on is that the human demand for cocaine and other illegal narcotics is at the heart of this issue.
