If cocaine is for rich man’s addiction, paco is the poor man’s narcotic drug. Made from the chemicals discarded after the production of cocaine, paco smoking has assumed epidemic proportions in Argentine slums and in other parts of South America. Sulphuric acid, kerosene, rat poison and crushed glass are some of the ingredients of paco. To make matters worse, the children living in the Argentine slums are fast becoming addicted to the drug that doctors claim could cause brain damage within six months. According to conservative estimates, there are 85,000 paco addicts in Argentina. The United Nation says that paco addiction has tripled over the past two years.

To control paco addiction, the Argentine government had imposed strict import control policies to prevent ingredients that are needed to manufacture paco to cross borders to Argentina. However, drug traffickers have outwitted the Argentine government by moving their laboratories to Argentina. A dose of paco costs between one and two pesos. The kick is short but addiction to the drug is much longer. In the constant need to escape withdrawal symptom, a paco addict needs 50, 60 or even 70 doses of paco every day. In fact, it is seen that the requirement of large number of doses per day make paco addicts spend more money on the cheap drug than a cocaine consumer in an affluent circle would spend. Young addicts, in order to get money for the drug, often turn to drug peddling or even stealing from their own families and neighborhood.

via:Times Online227384