Baby Safety / Compounds / Cocaine

Is Cocaine safe for babies and kids?

Extreme risk for kids

Infants are more vulnerable to Cocaine than children or adults due to immature hepatic/renal clearance, higher intake-to-body-weight ratio, rapid organ development, and increased gastrointestinal absorption.

What is cocaine?

The IUPAC name is methyl (1R,2R,3S,5S)-3-benzoyloxy-8-methyl-8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane-2-carboxylate.

Also known as: methyl (1R,2R,3S,5S)-3-benzoyloxy-8-methyl-8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane-2-carboxylate, Benzoylmethylecgonine, Neurocaine, L-Cocaine.

IUPAC name
methyl (1R,2R,3S,5S)-3-benzoyloxy-8-methyl-8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane-2-carboxylate
CAS number
50-36-2
Molecular formula
C17H21NO4
Molecular weight
303.35 g/mol
SMILES
CN1C2CCC1C(C(C2)OC(=O)C3=CC=CC=C3)C(=O)OC
PubChem CID
446220

Risk for babies

Extreme risk

Infants are more vulnerable to Cocaine than children or adults due to immature hepatic/renal clearance, higher intake-to-body-weight ratio, rapid organ development, and increased gastrointestinal absorption.

Neonates and infants up to 12 months have incomplete blood-brain barrier development, immature Phase I/II metabolic enzymes (particularly CYP3A4, UGT1A1), and higher gastrointestinal permeability. Equivalent doses produce higher internal concentrations and longer residence times.

What to do: Minimize infant exposure through source control. For breastfeeding mothers: reduce maternal exposure. For formula-fed infants: use certified low-migration bottles and verified water sources. Consult pediatrician regarding any concerns.

Risk for pregnant and nursing people

Context-dependent

Pregnancy alters the metabolism and distribution of Cocaine, potentially increasing fetal exposure. The developing embryo/fetus is vulnerable during organogenesis (weeks 3-8) and neurological development. Placental transfer should be assumed.

No specific reproductive toxicity data identified, but pregnancy-specific safety data is limited for most chemicals. Precautionary minimization of exposure is recommended.

What to do: Minimize exposure during pregnancy and lactation. Consult healthcare provider regarding specific risks. Consider alternative products with lower hazard profiles.

Regulatory consensus

1 regulatory bodyhas classified Cocaine.

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
DEA—Schedule IIAcknowledges cocaine's limited medical use while recognizing its high potential for abuse and physical and psychological dependence

Regulators apply different standards of evidence — animal-data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds — which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. The disagreement is the data.

Where kids encounter cocaine

  • Industrial Facilities — Manufacturing plants, Chemical storage areas, Waste treatment sites
  • Occupational Environments — Factories, Warehouses, Transportation vehicles

Safer alternatives

Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Cocaine:

  • Therapeutic alternatives (consult prescriber)
    Trade-offs: Drug-specific. Cannot substitute without medical guidance.
    Relative cost: 1.2-2×

Frequently asked questions

Is cocaine safe for kids?

Infants are more vulnerable to Cocaine than children or adults due to immature hepatic/renal clearance, higher intake-to-body-weight ratio, rapid organ development, and increased gastrointestinal absorption.

What products contain cocaine?

Cocaine appears in: Manufacturing plants (Industrial facilities); Chemical storage areas (Industrial facilities); Factories (Occupational environments); Warehouses (Occupational environments).

What should I do if my child is exposed to cocaine?

Minimize infant exposure through source control. For breastfeeding mothers: reduce maternal exposure. For formula-fed infants: use certified low-migration bottles and verified water sources. Consult pediatrician regarding any concerns.

See Cocaine in the baby app

Look up products containing cocaine, compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.

Open in baby View raw API data

Sources (3)
  1. US DEA: Cocaine — Schedule II Controlled Substance Classification, Legitimate Medical Use (Topical ENT Anesthesia), Abuse Potential, and Federal Scheduling History (21 USC 812; 2022) (2022) — regulatory
  2. Goldfrank's Toxicologic Emergencies: Cocaine — Mechanism of Action (Dopamine/NE/5HT Reuptake Inhibition), Cardiovascular Toxicity (MI, Vasospasm, Aortic Dissection), CNS Effects, Crack vs. Intranasal Routes, and Beta-Blocker Contraindication (11th Ed., 2019) (2019) — academic
  3. ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: Cocaine — Companion Animal Toxicosis, CNS and Cardiovascular Signs in Dogs, Emergency Management, and APCC Case Series (2022) (2022) — regulatory

Reference data, not professional advice. Aggregates publicly available regulatory and scientific data; not a substitute for veterinary, medical, legal, or regulatory advice. Why we built ALETHEIA →