Researchers are giving salmon cocaine. Don't worry, it's for science

Muzammil Hussain May 06, 2026

Three fish in front of a white background.

With cocaine and its metabolite, benzoylecgonine, being detected in waterways across the globe, Canadian researcher Erin McCallum and her team set out to understand the impact of these illicit drugs on fish in Sweden.

With cocaine and its metabolite, benzoylecgonine, being detected in waterways across the globe, Canadian researcher Erin McCallum and her team set out to understand the impact of these illicit drugs on fish in Sweden. Three fish in front of a white background.

With cocaine and its metabolite, benzoylecgonine, being detected in waterways across the globe, Canadian researcher Erin McCallum and her team set out to understand the impact of these illicit drugs on fish in Sweden.