Posts Tagged cocaine

DC Elementary Students Ingest Cocaine, Taken to Hospital

Posted by Drug Free in Drug Addiction on March 19th, 2011

Four students at a Washington elementary school ingested cocaine that was brought to school by a classmate. Some of the kids took the drugs orally while others inhaled it through their noses, but officials did not know how much each student consumed.

Along with a fifth student who did not ingest the drug, all were sent to the Children’s National Medical Center for examination as a precaution. The Center found that all students are fine, aside from sore throats.

cocaineThe student who brought the drug to school and shared it with classmates was charged with possession of a controlled substance. The case is  referred to the D.C. attorney general’s office, which handles juvenile crime.

The names and ages of the students have not been released, but the school runs from preschool to fifth grade. The student with the cocaine was believed to be a fourth-grader.

Principal Albert DuPont made several phone calls to parents informing them about the incident. School officials also sent letters for parents — in English, Spanish and Chinese, given the diversity of its students. Principal DuPont assured that the incident would be treated “very seriously” and asked parents to advise their children never to accept food or other substances from another child.

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Grammy Winner Buju Banton Convicted on Cocaine Case

Posted by Drug Free in Drug Addiction on February 23rd, 2011

Grammy winning reggae singer Buju Banton was convicted on charges of setting up a cocaine deal in 2009. It was a decision which solicited anguish among his followers and from other artists in his native Jamaica who were all present in the courtroom to show support.

Buju BantonLast week, Banton won the Grammy for best reggae album for his work entitled “Before the Dawn.” He was found guilty of at least three charges, and may be facing at least 15 years in prison. The federal jury deliberated on his case for 11 hours in two days, and finally came up with the decision.

Buju Banton was born Mark Myrie and is a 37-year-old native from Jamaica. When his verdict was read, the singer didn’t react and he stood and hugged his lawyers, blew kisses to his supporters and was then led away by marshals.

Prosecutors confirmed that Banton did not put any money in the drug deal nor did he profit from it. But much of the case was based on the meetings and phone calls that were video- and audiotaped by the informant who worked with the Drug Enforcement Administration and made $50,000 commission after the bust.

In one video, Banton could be seen in a Sarasota warehouse on December 8, 2009 tasting cocaine, but was not present in the actual drug deal the next day which led to the arrest of two men who pleaded guilty.

In court, Banton testified that he met the informant in a trans-Atlantic flight in July 2009 and was insisting to meet up with him for a cocaine purchase. The singer said he was uninterested after meeting the same informant twice. He did not answer phone calls from the same man for months.

Banton’s conviction marks “the saddest day for reggae and dancehall,” says rapper Michael “Power Man” Davy, adding he was “sad as a Rastaman and a Jamaican.”

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Is Coca Leaf a Drug or Not?

Posted by Drug Free in Drug Facts on January 27th, 2011

The coca leaf was utilized some 8000 years ago by the Quecha people of the Andes and their Inka ancestors. This shows that ancient people were extracting and using the medicinal properties of the coca leaf. Still, the United Nations has restricted and aims to eliminate the use of the coca plant as natural medicine by the indigenous Andean people. Why is this so?

coca leafThe main reason the UN is against the coca leaf is that the said plant has been listed alongside cocaine and opium as a dangerous controlled substance. The UN’s International Narcotics Control Board has suggested “to abolish and prohibit coca leaf chewing and the manufacture of coca tea” in Peru and in Bolivia in 2008. Peruvian Congresswoman Maria Sumire said, “The United Nations lacks respect for the indigenous people…who have used the coca leaf since forever…For indigenous people, coca is a sacred leaf that is part of their cultural identity.”

There are reports recently presented that the coca leaf and cocaine are not the same. Cocaine is to coca plant as paper is to pine tree; both are products created by humans through chemical processing. The difference between the coca leaf and processed cocaine comes in when humans “abuse the gifts that the plant has to offer.”

The coca leaf is therefore a plant in its natural form, and not the drug that most cartels and criminals produce. The leaf has medicinal properties and grows naturally. Like cannabis and other medicinal plants, it seems that the coca plant is being demonized by the West to promote dependence on drugs produced by big pharmaceutical companies.

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After Synthetic Marijuana, US Worries About Synthetic Cocaine

Posted by Drug Free in Drug Addiction, Drug Facts on December 29th, 2010

First, “Spice” and other forms of synthetic marijuana had to be dealt with, and those who are against it scored a small victory when spice, technically sold as incense, was banned for a period of one year. Now, however, there is another substance that has become a cause for concern: synthetic cocaine, being marketed as bath salts, insect repellant, or plant fertilizers.

cocaineA news release on PR Newswire warns against these products, which are reportedly resulting in abusers winding up in emergency rooms across the country. Mark Ryan, director of the Louisiana Poison Center, said: “We are incredibly concerned about the extreme paranoia being reported by people who are taking these drugs.”

The products have the ability to mimic the effects of methamphetamine abuse, according to the release. They are thought to contain a chemical called Methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MPDV), which does not have approval for medical use in the United States. Initially, these products were only being sold on the Internet; now, however, abusers are able to find them at gas stations and head shops as well. These “legal” cocaine-wannabes go by several aliases: “Red Dove,” “Blue Silk,” “Zoom,” “Bloom,” “Cloud Nine,” “Ocean Snow,” “Lunar Wave,” “Vanilla Sky,” “Ivory Wave,” “White Lightning,” “Scarface” and “Hurricane Charlie.”

Alvin C. Bronstein, medical director of the Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Center and the acting director of toxicosurveillance for the American Association of Poison Control Centers, shared that his office has observed a “definite increase” in reports about these substances, so much so that it has become  a health threat “that needs to be taken seriously.”

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Amphetamines versus Cocaine: Treatments

Posted by Drug Free in Drug Abuse Treatment, Drug Addiction on November 30th, 2010

In previous posts, we shared with you the symptoms and effects of abusing amphetamines and cocaine. This time around, we will be sharing the treatments that are available to help abusers kick their habits.

amphetamineAn article on Testcountry shared information regarding the management of amphetamine dependency, as written by Malcolm Bruce, consultant psychiatrist in Addiction at the Community Drug Problem Service, at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital. Bruce shared that management protocols are classified as follows: assessment, management of dependence, and relapse.

The treatment of amphetamine addiction fundamentally starts with assessment. At this level, the objective is to identify the experimental or recreational users of the drug. Once the level of amphetamine use is determined, psychiatrists are able to dispense appropriate advice.

There are three factors that are considered in the management of amphetamine dependence: the drug, the environment of the patient, and the patient himself or herself. If, for instance, the patient is still unable to stop using amphetamines completely, then management of dependence can be geared towards reducing the harmful effects of using the drugs. Concurrent to these efforts, though, is providing education regarding the dangers associated with amphetamine use, and what options are available for overcoming the habit.

At the relapse stage, treatment consists of raising awareness about what causes relapse, development of skills to anticipate, avoid and cope with high-risk situations that may lead to relapse, and changing one’s lifestyle.

Treatment of cocaine addiction, on the other hand, focuses on reducing cravings and managing depression. Lois White, in the book Foundations of Nursing, wrote that cocaine users experience an intense craving for the drug, and is in denial regarding its being addictive. Some patients who need to be treated for cocaine dependency may require in-patient care, while others can receive out-patient treatment.

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Unusual Number of Air Fresheners End Up in Cocaine Bust!

Posted by Drug Free in Drug Addiction on November 9th, 2010

Two men pulled over for driving too fast ended up being arrested for a different offense: cocaine trafficking and possession, according to a report from the telegram.com.

Joel M. Alicea and Alejandro Nunez Perez, both 28, were driving a Jeep Cherokee on Saturday afternoon, in the eastbound lane of Interstate 290. Trooper Dana Oliver noticed that they were going 15 mph over the speed limit in the area, and they were consequently pulled over.

cocaineAccording to a news release, “when Trooper Oliver walked up to the Jeep, he was met by an overwhelming odor of chemical air fresheners. Upon questioning, the two men inside seemed hesitant or unable to say who owned the Jeep until looking at the registration, and then were vague about from where they were coming.”

One of the things that Trooper Oliver noticed was the unusual number of air fresheners in the vehicle. There were reportedly 12 air fresheners; some were clip-on fresheners on the vents, while others were scented trees. There were also urinal deodorant pucks located under the seats.

State Trooper Matthew Moran and Trooper Raymond Jones also responded to the incident. Jones had with him state police dog Dakar.

Dakar sniffed out the air bag area, and when troopers opened the compartment, they discovered a block of cocaine, estimated to weigh about half a kilo. There were also 20 small bags of cocaine, and another bag that police thought contained crack cocaine. More than $33,000 in cash was found in the vehicle as well.

Both Alicea and Perez have been charged with cocaine trafficking, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute and conspiracy to violate drug laws.

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