Scientists Gave Cocaine to Salmon and You Will Absolutely Believe What Happened Next

A field study in Sweden found that cocaine pollution can alter juvenile Atlantic salmon behavior in the wild.

Researchers tracked 105 salmon in Lake Vättern and compared controls with fish exposed to cocaine or its metabolite benzoylecgonine.

Fish exposed to benzoylecgonine swam farther and spread out more than untreated fish.

The study is the first wild evidence that cocaine-related contamination can affect fish movement and may have ecosystem impacts.

It also suggests environmental monitoring should look for metabolites, not just the parent drug.