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Cocaine Found on Most Dollar Bills Circulating in U.S., Canada

Nine out of ten banknotes circulating in cities in the U.S. and Canada are tainted with cocaine, according to a news report published by National Geographic News. “What’s more, researchers were surprised to find hints that more Americans are using the illegal drug,” writes our staff editor, Christine Dell’Amore. University of Massachusetts in Dartmouth researchers collected banknotes...

Nine out of ten banknotes circulating in cities in the U.S. and Canada are tainted with cocaine, according to a news report published by National Geographic News.

“What’s more, researchers were surprised to find hints that more Americans are using the illegal drug,” writes our staff editor, Christine Dell’Amore.

University of Massachusetts in Dartmouth researchers collected banknotes in Brazil, Canada, the U.S., China, and Japan. A higher percentage of notes circulating in the U.S. and Canada were found to be tainted with cocaine than in the other countries sampled.

Dell’Amore was interviewed yesterday about her story by RT (Russia Today). Watch the clip below. Read the full National Geographic News story here: Cocaine on Money: Drug Found on 90% of U.S. Bills.

Video broadcast by RT

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Meet the Author

Author Photo David Max Braun
More than forty years in U.S., UK, and South African media gives David Max Braun global perspective and experience across multiple storytelling platforms. His coverage of science, nature, politics, and technology has been published/broadcast by the BBC, CNN, NPR, AP, UPI, National Geographic, TechWeb, De Telegraaf, Travel World, and Argus South African Newspapers. He has published two books and won several journalism awards. In his 22-year career at National Geographic he was VP and editor in chief of National Geographic Digital Media, and the founding editor of the National Geographic Society blog, hosting a global discussion on issues resonating with the Society's mission and initiatives. He also directed the Society side of the Fulbright-National Geographic Digital Storytelling Fellowship, awarded to Americans seeking the opportunity to spend nine months abroad, engaging local communities and sharing stories from the field with a global audience. A regular expert on National Geographic Expeditions, David also lectures on storytelling for impact. He has 120,000 followers on social media: Facebook  Twitter  LinkedIn