tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45991808850315789372024-02-06T19:49:05.712-08:00DRUGS, Marijuana, Cocaine, Xanax , Adderall, Ecstasy, Heroin, LSD, PCP, Magic Mushrooms, AlcoholUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger54125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599180885031578937.post-707825337842659502012-07-29T12:53:00.000-07:002012-07-29T12:53:18.607-07:00Heroin factsShortly:
Heroin is a <a href="http://bardrugs.blogspot.com/2012/06/stop-taking-drugs-how-to.html">drug<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLlskrsQvAvNd54sUhD072jJOe7TCaAsU1Q-OhVwRSwDrfo23TLAciWqr2i65EzohA-dk0K7nM1CnQPr4_f66bQ_QB16XSqCLAjRHHlspn7G4SFreOR3ynWVCD01YrOY9uP3mcEARgXqPu/s1600/heroin_facts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="263" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLlskrsQvAvNd54sUhD072jJOe7TCaAsU1Q-OhVwRSwDrfo23TLAciWqr2i65EzohA-dk0K7nM1CnQPr4_f66bQ_QB16XSqCLAjRHHlspn7G4SFreOR3ynWVCD01YrOY9uP3mcEARgXqPu/s320/heroin_facts.jpg" /></a></div>
</a>. It belongs to opiate or substances extracted from the poppy plant. Heroin mixed with all sorts of other substances. Heroin can be a form of coarse white powder or yellow-brown pieces, called Brown, STAFF, material, Hero and others.
Heroin is often smoked in the Chinese way, which is called smoking foil, or injected. Smoking on film involves placing heroin on foil and heating it with a lighter. Money that wind is inhaled through a pipe and enter the lungs directly.
Addictive? Yes, and usually happens very quickly and greatly, both physically and psychologically.
There is a need to increase the amount for the same effect? Yes.
Short-term effects: reduction of pain and feelings of anxiety, brief euphoria, dulled emotions, constipation. Duration of effect varies by type of opioid.
Long term effects: indifference to the outside world and to himself.
Note: there is a risk the user starts to suffer from malnutrition and to stop taking care of themselves, which increases the risk of infection. When injected, there is additional risk of overdose and / or infection (HIV, AIDS, hepatitis, etc.)..
What is heroin?
Heroin is a drug. It belongs to opiate or substances extracted from the poppy plant (Latin: papaver somniferum). By separating the unripe pod and drying of the milk that goes, you get raw opium.
From raw opium can be extracted morphine and heroin is made by chemical processing of morphine.
Pure heroin can be synthesized in the laboratory. Heroin with such force is not never sold in current practice. Before reaching the final consumer, successful dealers have it mixed with all sorts of other substances such as caffeine, aspirin, sugar, cocoa, flour and other <a href="http://bardrugs.blogspot.com/2012/06/stop-taking-drugs-how-to.html">drugs</a>. Sometimes mixing heroin and hazardous substances. In United States, the purity of street heroin varies from 3% to 60%. Form of heroin also varies - from coarsely ground white powder to yellow-brown pieces, called Brown, STAFF, material, Hero and others.
Where did it come from?
In 3000 BC plant opium poppy is cultivated in whose territory is now Switzerland. In 300 BC Greeks reported the preparation of opium. In the 18th century opium smoking was widespread custom in many Asian countries.
Opium is easy to supply in Europe, but it creates so many problems at that time. In the early 19th century it was discovered that morphine is the active ingredient in opium. Because of the addictive nature of morphine, however, from the early 20th century its use is limited to medical purposes - for example, to relieve pain.
For the first time heroin is produced in 1874 by Alder Wright, English chemist working in the medical school hospital Sv.Meri in London. Heroin became popular when in 1898, is synthesized by another chemist - Felix Hoffman. She started as a strong painkiller sold as a cure for tuberculosis, severe coughing or morphine dependence (!).
When I discovered that heroin is more addictive than morphine, the medical use of the substance was gradually removed in most countries.
First ban declared in 1914 and it makes an interesting subject of heroin trafficking. He quickly shifted opium and morphine from their positions. Internationally, the prohibition of heroin is clearly set in 1961 In 1972, heroin is a big industry in the American drug market.
How do you use?
The most popular uses of heroin in the nose, orally and intravenously. The effects depend on usage and individual characteristics of the user. The most popular method of heroin use in United States is by injection. Despite the risk of infection with AIDS and other infectious diseases due to the use of longer needles, heroin addicts are most often injected. In recent years, heroin snorting and smoking in films is becoming more popular.
Who uses?
According to statistics, the number of users in Sofia in 2005 was approximately 11,993 persons. In the total population between 15 and 64 - 888 123 people assessed the use in this country is that approximately 13 per 1000 persons of the population use heroin. Reported trend number of heroin users in recent years to decrease.
Heroin is attractive to people who have difficulties because they temporarily numbs and allows you to forget your problems for a while. Heroin use, however, can only lead to new problems. The market is criminal, which relatively increases the price of heroin. Getting what you need on a daily basis is no easy task and some users go to criminal means to obtain money. Statistics show that drug use is directly related to nuisance / vandalism and petty theft /. Most of the addicts reported that at least once in their life have carried theft, and every third of them was zalavyan by police as a result of theft.
Most users use heroin and other substances such as cocaine, alcohol, hashish or narcotic drugs that cause some euphoric feeling. The use of more substances called pollynarcotic use.
What does the user feel?
Heroin literally slows breathing and heart rate in humans. Body temperature drops slightly. Many pupils constrict. Opiates alter the functioning of the intestine and the sphincter muscles. Sexual drive can be reduced. At the beginning user may vomit, have headaches, forgetfulness, nausea, itching and strange feeling in head.
Indeed, the physical effects are nothing compared to what the user feels at psyche: fast relaxing effect, which comes as a "flash." This effect is usually tested on first use and still more after a few uses. Away the pain, fatigue, anxiety, hunger and cold. User enters a state of extreme relaxation, close to inner happiness and became totally indifferent: the surrounding world does not matter anymore.
Heroin acts on 4 to 6 hours. The effect depends on the condition of the user, the degree of experience with the substance, the quantity and the manner in which it is made.
Can you get <a href="http://bardrugs.blogspot.com/2012/06/stop-taking-drugs-how-to.html">addicted</a>?
Must be made between physical and psychological dependence.
We are talking about physical dependence, when the body protests after stopping use of the substance (occurs withdrawal symptoms of substance). Compared with other substances with heroin it happens very quickly. This does not mean it can become addictive after a reception. When heroin is used more frequently, physical dependence increases.
More intensive use is encouraged by another natural phenomenon - tolerance. Tolerance is a phenomenon in which the body quickly grows accustomed to heroin and needs more substance to obtain the same effect.
When a heroine is exhausted may be some of the symptoms of withdrawal: the user feels sick, sweating, happens it cold, goosebumps, his nose starts running, there are stomach cramps and felt pain in hands and feet. You may experience vomiting and diarrhea. These symptoms disappear when taking heroin again. So the user enters the vicious circle.
Psychological dependence means that the user increasingly craves the substance and not feeling well without it. Heroin makes people psychologically dependent, removing both physical and psychological pain. Therefore, people with serious problems (homeless, unemployed, victims of abuse and violence) are vulnerable to heroin use. Some people are "hung" very quickly, which makes experimentation with heroin very risky.
What are the risks?
In addition to physical and psychological addiction heroin brings the following risks:
Overdose, <a href="http://bardrugs.blogspot.com/2011/05/heroin.html">heroin</a>, physiological risks
Svarhdoza, not infrequently accompanied by death. Slowing of breathing caused by heroin can be fatal. One can take an overdose of a variety of reasons: taking a large dose at once using the same dose as before, but after a period of abstinence (inactivity), the surprising high level of purity.
Inflammation and infection due to indifference and unhygienic needles.
Heroin inhibit pain sensations. Therefore, the symptoms of various diseases can be blunt, the disease is not recognized or recognized too late.
Heroin use violates the menstrual cycle, menstruation sometimes disappears completely.
Newborn babies of mothers who use show withdrawal symptoms.
The combination of heroin and other sedatives is dangerous because different substances only mutually reinforce their effects. This can have deadly consequences.
Can you stop using?
o stop heroin is a huge task for people who are dependent. If you stop using the "cold turkey" (without the aid of medication), withdrawal symptoms may be severe and can last between 7 and 10 days.
Detoxification can be done under the supervision of a physician with a gradually decreasing doses of methadone. Methadone is a synthetic opioid, which acts longer than heroin (an average of 24 hours). The advantage of this substance that the body does so quickly need a new dose of substance. User can follow a normal day and night mode, instead of constantly looking for new supply of heroin. One mode of use can improve not only physical but also psychological and social conditions. Other advantages of methadone is that it is clean and taken orally. Nevertheless, the risks are the same as those of heroin: it is and remains the drug to which can be formed depending.
It is difficult to quit than heroin permanently. The biggest obstacle is the psychological dependence. The problems behind drug use, in most cases no longer exist, and building a new life is very difficult and tiring. Heroin continues to offer the easiest way out. The risk of relapse is high. However, the success of rehabilitation programs in United States, working with heroin addicts is 68%
How to help the user?
Heroin use leads to certain symptoms. The presence of these symptoms is not enough to determine whether any use or not. The only way is to talk openly with people.
In a candid conversation to discuss important issues about the extent of use, reasons for use and the problems facing the surface. It is the user to talk about these things and work on them with others, if possible, with the help of professionals.
Of problem and his environment, the following applies: do not be afraid to ask <a href="http://bardrugs.blogspot.com/2011/05/heroin.html"></a>advice or seek help.
Reed more...Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599180885031578937.post-80051756051909671472012-06-23T03:57:00.000-07:002012-07-29T13:06:52.821-07:00Stop Taking Drugs - How To<a href="http://bardrugs.blogspot.com/2011/05/heroin.html">Drugs</a> have a strong hold on one who is addicted. Often nothing else matters. However, it's important to remember that the only thing stronger than drug addiction is your willpower. If you make the decision to quit doing drugs you can, as long as you realize the process that needs to take place. Quitting drugs is a team effort weather it be a team of people you know or are just meeting for the first time. Making the decision to quit is the hardest part.
Instructions
1 Make the decision to quit doing drugs. The hardest yet most essential step is to make the decision on your own. Drug users never truly quit until they make a firm decision. Once you have realized that you will be better off without drugs in your life, support your decision by letting everyone know of the change your will be making. Tell family, friends and most important the people you associate with while doing drugs. Be ready for the support some will offer as well as the bad attitude some will surely give. Stay strong in your decision after talking with everyone.
2 Get professional help. The chances of someone successfully quitting drugs without <a href="http://bardrugs.blogspot.com/2011/05/heroin.html">rehab</a> or some sort of help is nearly nil. You may want to consider checking yourself into a drub rehabilitation clinic. To find more information about a clinic near you, call the Drug Rehab Hotline. In addition, you can attend a local 12-step program where you will attend meetings once a week with others going through the same life change as you. Often drug counselors can be helpful. They offer you one-on-one time with somebody who can help create changes in your life that will help you to achieve your goal.
3 Change your social environment. Almost every drug user associates with a group of friends that also do <a href="http://bardrugs.blogspot.com/2011/05/heroin.html">drugs</a>. These may be the only friends that you have. As hard as it may be, you need to realize how hazardous it is to your decision to quit to continual to hang around people that do drugs. Never expect yourself as a drug user to be strong enough to be in the presence of drugs. If they are real friends they will understand and support your decision, if they aren't then unfortunately new friends may be in order.
4 Create a follow-up system. It is important to stay on path even after you completed rehab or counseling. Once you are <a href="http://bardrugs.blogspot.com/2011/05/heroin.html">drug</a> user, the ability to use again is always in your system. Your will to stop doing drugs has to have a stronger hold on you than drugs do. Many times rehabilitation centers offer sober living environments after you successfully go through rehab. Sober living homes are basically a normal living environment with roommates except with a few more restrictions. You can live your life normally but you and the people living with your create a check system for each other. If sober living doesn't interest you, you can create a check system with somebody you trust. Let them help you create rules and boundaries. Allow them to question you and demand that you abide by the rules you both set.
5 Monitor your time. Keeping busy with little down time to falter will greatly increase your chances of staying sober. Work a steady job and maybe even join a few activities you enjoy. Do things that make you happy that don't disturb your sober living. Keep the change in your life real and make no excuses for yourself.
Read more: <a href="http://bardrugs.blogspot.com/2011/05/heroin.html">http://bardrugs.blogspot.com/2011/05/heroin.html</a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1fN3SuW1897QXYKO4b_FlkFOgMpBZpRsZ1jyxtzKwHPnaphuAMfom0J3OvupZHiAxbU0fqSXcsvBEbjajh0lAF9IPMipzYq-eiSKHklncXnm6oCAJYEDUypZlL7-9txqCMc-96HderH_S/s1600/drugs_addicted.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1fN3SuW1897QXYKO4b_FlkFOgMpBZpRsZ1jyxtzKwHPnaphuAMfom0J3OvupZHiAxbU0fqSXcsvBEbjajh0lAF9IPMipzYq-eiSKHklncXnm6oCAJYEDUypZlL7-9txqCMc-96HderH_S/s400/drugs_addicted.jpg" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599180885031578937.post-7428992802513548102011-09-01T06:47:00.000-07:002012-07-29T12:59:35.401-07:00Cocaine PowderDo you know what is in <a href="http://bardrugs.blogspot.com/2011/05/cocaine.html">cocaine</a>? It is a drug in a powder form or crystal form. There is a mixture of substances in the powder such as corn starch, talcum powder and/ or sugar. Cocaine has procaine which is a local anesthetic, and some amphetamines. A painkiller is what cocaine was first developed for. It was extracted from coca leaves. If you want it into the bloodstream through the nasal tissue you would sniff the powder. Some people like to rub it on their gums and take it into their body for digestion. Abusers of cocaine want to absorb the drug quickly so they inject it. Doing it this way increases the risk of overdosing. Another way to speed up the absorption is as smoke or vapor. This way has less health risk than injection. Any way you get it into your system, it is one of the most dangerous drugs known to man. It is nearly impossible to get free of the grip of cocaine. Physically it stimulates key receptors, which are nerve endings that sense changes in the body. These receptors are in the brain and euphoria is created when you take cocaine. The drawback is that a tolerance is developed quickly and you need more and more to get the same effect you want. Users of cocaine are of all ages, work groups and levels of economy. This is worldwide multibillion dollar criminal enterprise. You can get respiratory failure, stroke, cerebral hemorrhage or heart attack all from using cocaine. Did you know if you are carrying a child when it is born it will be addicted to cocaine and may have birth defects and other problems? Even though people in general know about the dangers of this drug its use continues to increase. Mostly because when you use it only once you have a hard time escaping from its effects and now you are on a long hard road of addiction. It is a drug in a powder form or crystal form. There is a mixture of substances in the powder such as corn starch, talcum powder and/ or sugar. Cocaine has procaine which is a local anesthetic, and some amphetamines.
<br />
<br />A painkiller is what cocaine was first developed for. It was extracted from coca leaves. If you want it into the bloodstream through the nasal tissue you would sniff the powder. Some people like to rub it on their gums and take it into their body for digestion.
<br />
<br />Abusers of cocaine want to absorb the drug quickly so they inject it. Doing it this way increases the risk of overdosing. Another way to speed up the absorption is as smoke or vapor. This way has less health risk than injection.
<br />
<br />Any way you get it into your system, it is one of the most dangerous drugs known to man. It is nearly impossible to get free of the grip of cocaine. Physically it stimulates key receptors, which are nerve endings that sense changes in the body. These receptors are in the brain and euphoria is created when you take cocaine. The drawback is that a tolerance is developed quickly and you need more and more to get the same effect you want.
<br />
<br />Users of cocaine are of all ages, work groups and levels of economy. This is worldwide multibillion dollar criminal enterprise.
<br />
<br />You can get respiratory failure, stroke, cerebral hemorrhage or heart attack all from using cocaine. Did you know if you are carrying a child when it is born it will be addicted to cocaine and may have birth defects and other problems?
<br />
<br />Even though people in general know about the dangers of this drug its use continues to increase. Mostly because when you use it only once you have a hard time escaping from its effects and now you are on a long hard road of <a href="http://bardrugs.blogspot.com/2011_05_17_archive.html">addiction</a>.
How to stop using drugs <a href="http://bardrugs.blogspot.com/2012/06/stop-taking-drugs-how-to.html">read here<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigtfYyyTzdYCslbSufelNP8XBE0qQA4eKz0WBbDm-n5QuAO0NAIYy3wZ6jcfFO8VTF6N-YwW3A-yc-WJdDF_pKW6S5Tz4jPB9KTZ1sehziGauB2RzozgFpMFX9bhNHXm8zpSCews4oC5nm/s1600/cocaine.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="217" width="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigtfYyyTzdYCslbSufelNP8XBE0qQA4eKz0WBbDm-n5QuAO0NAIYy3wZ6jcfFO8VTF6N-YwW3A-yc-WJdDF_pKW6S5Tz4jPB9KTZ1sehziGauB2RzozgFpMFX9bhNHXm8zpSCews4oC5nm/s400/cocaine.png" /></a></div>
</a>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599180885031578937.post-39920035775489956882011-05-17T22:28:00.000-07:002012-07-29T13:08:01.298-07:00Signs and Symptoms of Drug Abuse<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaMySiJa2u_di3L2DBDzbhekZtoycLZuw4HfkWTdzbF5-WCqQNkPWltgws82zXQY-EGT036dYj1L-NEZNKSoJKURASAjLAKuwEx1fwxF9ryteym6gLjiCchyI3x7rmOWBQeo_mEZDWHKKa/s1600/signs-of-drug-abuse-small.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 120px; height: 120px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaMySiJa2u_di3L2DBDzbhekZtoycLZuw4HfkWTdzbF5-WCqQNkPWltgws82zXQY-EGT036dYj1L-NEZNKSoJKURASAjLAKuwEx1fwxF9ryteym6gLjiCchyI3x7rmOWBQeo_mEZDWHKKa/s320/signs-of-drug-abuse-small.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607924148879798274" /></a><br />Knowing the signs and symptoms of drug abuse is an important part of being able to help an individual struggling with addiction to get help and achieve sobriety. There are many different drugs of abuse, ranging from over-the-counter cold remedies to cocaine, heroin and methamphetamines. Depending on the substance, the symptoms of abuse vary widely between different drugs, but they all result in similar unmanageability in life when a user becomes addicted.<br /><br />The following article will describe some common signs and symptoms of drug abuse and what to look for if you suspect someone of being addicted to drugs.<br /><br />Drug addiction can effect anyone, and its onset can be gradual or immediate depending on multiple factors including the individual, the drug, and manner of abuse. When drug abuse is taking place, addiction is an inevitable next step, so being able to recognize the signs of an oncoming addiction can make the difference that saves a life. Although various substances create different effects in users, the disease of addiction is the same, no matter what the substance is.<br />Signs of Addiction<br /><br /> Withdrawal family and friends<br /> Justifying greater amounts or a higher frequency of use<br /> Hiding use of a substance/lying about use of a substance<br /> Change in friends, associates, and activities<br /> Problems with the law<br /> Significant problems at work<br /> Physical decay/bad hygiene<br /> Poor decision making - placing oneself in dangerous situations<br /> Lack of responsibility and trustworthiness<br /><br />While addiction signs can be blatantly obvious at first, some can struggle with addiction for multiple years before their problems become evident to themselves or others. Depending on the person and their own history with substance abuse and addiction, it may not been apparent that there is a problem. However, there are certain signs of drug or alcohol abuse that cannot be hidden and are almost always sure signs of abuse and addiction.<br />Signs of Substance Abuse and Addiction<br /><br /> Feeling a need to use in order to be normal<br /> Constantly thinking about getting more of the substance<br /> Spending more time, energy and money on obtaining more of the substance<br /> Engaging in irresponsible and dangerous activities while under the influence<br /> Performing dangerous and uncharacteristic acts to get money or resources for the substance<br /><br />Most addicts will say they never wanted to be the way they are, stealing, prostituting, scamming, and in constant pain over their dependence on a drug. Addicts are powerless over their addiction in every way and when an individual begins to do things they would never do under normal circumstances, far too often, addiction is holding them hostage. Aside from the internal changes a drug user experiences, there are physical signs that are very easy to recognize. The key to this recognition is knowing the effects of these various drugs on the brain and body, then looking for the outward signs of these effects.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599180885031578937.post-19497795596695728642011-05-06T14:22:00.000-07:002011-05-06T14:23:29.980-07:00Magic Mushrooms<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-tDOcPrwtaF_yFKVd-st2FQTi6UfWAiNOXnzNcAVmLbuQ6i9OJY6WYwB5DHZx9JkzjG0u1VGyRk50q3AxzN-6_PhgXFpe62r8nsK9b2Ytzne4butbz7CkXw4TBlwBHJXaTgPxGiSmsxN4/s1600/Psilocybe_Cubensis.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-tDOcPrwtaF_yFKVd-st2FQTi6UfWAiNOXnzNcAVmLbuQ6i9OJY6WYwB5DHZx9JkzjG0u1VGyRk50q3AxzN-6_PhgXFpe62r8nsK9b2Ytzne4butbz7CkXw4TBlwBHJXaTgPxGiSmsxN4/s320/Psilocybe_Cubensis.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603716860868775042" /></a><br />Magic mushrooms are like a natural LSD. They too send you off on “magical” trips, and have been used by many cultures as part of religious ceremonies. There are more than 200 different types of mushrooms with psychoactive effects, so the effects can be quite diverse and unexpected.<br /><br />While entirely natural, use of magic mushrooms has its own risks.<br /><br />Fun facts about Magic Mushrooms<br /><br />Some major religious works have been suggested to have been done or influenced by the use of magic mushrooms<br /><br />Magic mushrooms, along with marijuana, are legal in Amsterdam<br /><br />Magic mushrooms can be consumed in tea (which makes their use seem that much better than, say, an intravenous drug)Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599180885031578937.post-77959432967216865332011-05-06T14:20:00.000-07:002011-05-06T14:22:00.160-07:00PCP<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRBl6jkZ_Xu9C34STTS41kkzvgUqKCgSKQqFayYiQ-GDmpL3k5fR1ktG2OOE_18tmz-69sGttqV5KtmKyp49myUsPabyXpV5sYkEj5TTleeX36xDjfOSF5qBlbaviTUye-cFf4j-_-LZEw/s1600/PCP.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 210px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRBl6jkZ_Xu9C34STTS41kkzvgUqKCgSKQqFayYiQ-GDmpL3k5fR1ktG2OOE_18tmz-69sGttqV5KtmKyp49myUsPabyXpV5sYkEj5TTleeX36xDjfOSF5qBlbaviTUye-cFf4j-_-LZEw/s320/PCP.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603716470942703346" /></a><br />PCP, or Phencyclidine, is a strange drug that can cause excitement and aggression. It is not the most popular recreational drug because it is unpredictable, but some of the better effects PCP has include intoxication and anesthesia.<br /><br />That said, it has quite high potential for causing brief periods of psychosis similar to schizophrenia, extreme aggression and cause unexpected and sudden violence.<br /><br />Fun Facts about PCP<br /><br />Street names for PCP include “Peter Pan,” “Happy sticks,” and “Black dust.” Despite not being so popular, it may have among the most nicknames<br /><br />PCP was used as an anesthetic originally with the unfortunate side effect of psychosisUnknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599180885031578937.post-65993780119266993192011-05-06T14:19:00.001-07:002011-05-06T14:20:07.369-07:00LSD<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUb5kudUL7EEn4bA71Rt_xT4GL4NNk8S_Zt2rGSKo1xLazNZImJtoxxPyWc53A9UxASyF60JMnwOrUWXXZbkXqHbv8bxriLqzPvDeUzIY-iVqSZfnazpHdLkghuk_iexdXgA95l4jo6fZj/s1600/strip_LSD.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 232px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUb5kudUL7EEn4bA71Rt_xT4GL4NNk8S_Zt2rGSKo1xLazNZImJtoxxPyWc53A9UxASyF60JMnwOrUWXXZbkXqHbv8bxriLqzPvDeUzIY-iVqSZfnazpHdLkghuk_iexdXgA95l4jo6fZj/s320/strip_LSD.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603715992527212082" /></a><br />A psychedelic that can make your life extremely interesting when you start seeing colors, shapes and have elaborate trances. The CIA drugged unsuspecting people with LSD to investigate its potential use as an interrogation tool, hoping that someone who was seeing floating, glowing giraffes might also be more willing to talk about what he knew.<br /><br />At least one person died as a result of that testing.<br /><br />LSD is a popular recreational drug because the strange experiences it causes can be quite enjoyable, and even life-changing according to some. That said, its potential for bad trips is not to be ignored – with some people even jumping out windows, thinking they can fly.<br /><br />Fun Facts about LSD<br /><br />The Beatles song “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” can be abbreviated to LSD and is said to capture what taking the drug feels like<br /><br />People who take LSD can later have unexpected and vivid flashbacks where they re-experience their “trip”<br /><br />Owning just one gram of LSD can send you to jail for 5 years. The government is serious about stopping use of this drug (except when they’re the ones doing it)Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599180885031578937.post-10556106430880207322011-05-06T14:17:00.000-07:002011-05-06T14:18:55.115-07:00Heroin<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzku8k9gGUoE-u4b0OJJWNilFNiMLgJbVNRWwW7Rrtede4_pIJMEPUULqwT5JndTkEwxIX2Wf4x9BHzZsGqEWgbIcRRGDBjO66D0GRDlCqS84BwS5uftZJbbmB0-98Qf4gsiUV7nZMDTAZ/s1600/BayerHeroin.png"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzku8k9gGUoE-u4b0OJJWNilFNiMLgJbVNRWwW7Rrtede4_pIJMEPUULqwT5JndTkEwxIX2Wf4x9BHzZsGqEWgbIcRRGDBjO66D0GRDlCqS84BwS5uftZJbbmB0-98Qf4gsiUV7nZMDTAZ/s320/BayerHeroin.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603715678869401282" /></a><br />A terribly seductive drug, use of Heroin mimics powerful painkiller chemicals natural to the body. This produces a feeling of deep calm and relaxation. Users feel like “everything is going to be all-right,” that life is wonderful.<br /><br />That is, until the effects run out. Withdrawal from heroin is a terrible, terrible thing, and can even be life threatening. An inmate in jail who was undergoing withdrawal, for instance, decided to break his own foot so that he would get painkillers to dull the agony.<br /><br />It’s that bad.<br /><br />Fun Facts about Heroin:<br /><br />Bayer, the makers of aspirin, once sold heroin as a cough medicine. (They probably had high customer retention)<br /><br />The term “junky” comes from people who would sell pieces of junk metal to raise money to use heroin<br /><br />Up to 85% of people who become addicted to heroin will never kick the habit fullyUnknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599180885031578937.post-23770418824657607112011-05-06T14:16:00.001-07:002011-05-06T14:17:11.608-07:00Ecstasy<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgav2s_ldSSkGhdvZxGjNgWWPXmmXuqmDLcVlxq2faOA1a5HIBph7dfoB1ddgHixtlQJgX2DH6u2u8yDw4WHdiHVpRKikVHeRqF_9af0lc1WS_FxfixAUpSXcOCMCed38PUAIaLFnNsAvvA/s1600/Ecstacy_monogram.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 313px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgav2s_ldSSkGhdvZxGjNgWWPXmmXuqmDLcVlxq2faOA1a5HIBph7dfoB1ddgHixtlQJgX2DH6u2u8yDw4WHdiHVpRKikVHeRqF_9af0lc1WS_FxfixAUpSXcOCMCed38PUAIaLFnNsAvvA/s320/Ecstacy_monogram.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603715236402070114" /></a><br />Adderall is among the most effective appetite suppressant we know of<br /><br />Ecstasy<br /><br />Ecstasy makes you feel what its name implies – great feelings of pleasure and joy. It acts on all sorts of brain chemicals to work its magic, and is popular on the club scene to make parties that much more enjoyable.<br /><br />Someone who takes ecstasy may quickly fall in love with someone and share all the most intimate secrets, or quiver with joy at the feeling of the ground under their feet.<br /><br />Dancers who take ecstasy should be aware of its potential to cause dehydration. We’re talking about overheating to the point where your body organs sort of “melt.” Eww. Not to mention that use may be associated with significant brain damage.<br /><br />Fun Facts about Ecstasy<br /><br />Ecstasy has been investigated for its use in couples therapy<br /><br />Drug company giant Merck patented Ecstasy in 1914<br /><br />Because this drug can cause people’s jaws to clamp down shut really, really hard, users sometimes use pacifiers. (Stuff like that makes it pretty easy for critics to call drug use infantile)Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599180885031578937.post-70818655824149084822011-05-06T14:14:00.000-07:002011-05-06T14:16:08.692-07:00Adderall<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuYwWu07xOBs-IdTRmJbtAP40eIWDMw6WLKTdkONQlerBda2RPjUJCc5RwZYYSlifi1-OA0oZ_QAepCHep9kwUGtXQf4SJNYMAYVEKW_uniZBWpo1ehLg9H1mByxG0-NI0gomGiqD_yqhJ/s1600/AdderallXR-15mg.png"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px; height: 278px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuYwWu07xOBs-IdTRmJbtAP40eIWDMw6WLKTdkONQlerBda2RPjUJCc5RwZYYSlifi1-OA0oZ_QAepCHep9kwUGtXQf4SJNYMAYVEKW_uniZBWpo1ehLg9H1mByxG0-NI0gomGiqD_yqhJ/s320/AdderallXR-15mg.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603714813808302850" /></a><br />Adderall is a mix of amphetamines, and we’ve talked in great length about its use for ADHD. It promotes dopamine release and activity in brain cells, which leads to greater focus, motivation and attention.<br /><br />But there’s a darker side. In high doses, Adderall can cause euphoria and extreme amounts of energy, hence its street name “speed.” When used recreationally, Adderall is addictive and tolerance quickly develops, meaning greater and greater doses.<br /><br />Adderall has only been around since 1998, but is quite popular on college campuses. Students love its ability to help them study, pull all nighters, or party. Which is tragic, because such use only delegitimizes its use as a treatment for ADHD.<br /><br />Fun Facts about Adderall<br /><br />We produce and distribute legally more than 1,000kg per year of crystal meth, a close relative to Adderall<br /><br />Anyone whatsoever if given a high enough dose Adderall would become delusional and temporarily insaneUnknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599180885031578937.post-10841139144061244872011-05-06T14:12:00.000-07:002011-05-06T14:14:11.921-07:00Xanax and the benzodiazepines<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC0hIVpKGKONqzgMWYL4ve4ft07lO9TR4_CMfCbSnMBPn9O_jmBoRomdfYWTre3yB9Xnzqqc2nJichKGKhoqRAo5isE3voej7uuYV9EzECDP6Z93m3yt7QCv-hfcaXdS1r3tm-H8qkucbz/s1600/Xanax2mg.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 201px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC0hIVpKGKONqzgMWYL4ve4ft07lO9TR4_CMfCbSnMBPn9O_jmBoRomdfYWTre3yB9Xnzqqc2nJichKGKhoqRAo5isE3voej7uuYV9EzECDP6Z93m3yt7QCv-hfcaXdS1r3tm-H8qkucbz/s320/Xanax2mg.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603714463690647858" /></a><br />Xanax, and its family of drugs, the benzodiazepines (or “benzos”), are quite good at slowing the brain down. They do this by activating the GABA inhibitor pathways. This produces a feeling of calm, good will, and relaxation.<br /><br />As such, they are quite popular, both as prescription medication, and as drugs of abuse. This is unfortunate, as the benzos are both highly addictive and extremely difficult to quit. If you stop abruptly, withdrawal can be so bad as to send you into convulsions or make you go temporarily insane.<br /><br />Yowch.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599180885031578937.post-76441341379424223512011-05-06T14:11:00.000-07:002011-05-06T14:12:39.094-07:00Cocaine<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7w7AiTUhOWUOT7nzAdiMyI3deQT7vwfCIEucT6QLj1GqCdxeMp1lC7DiF-qooe7-KrA4EhbxqG0hpFC4OOa4EXGzLGxwHsbCiCzXYrJoZ6u7W-FdN4MZeZHWXv8eKHrQprh7tQbRHLjES/s1600/CocaineHydrochloridePowder.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 208px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7w7AiTUhOWUOT7nzAdiMyI3deQT7vwfCIEucT6QLj1GqCdxeMp1lC7DiF-qooe7-KrA4EhbxqG0hpFC4OOa4EXGzLGxwHsbCiCzXYrJoZ6u7W-FdN4MZeZHWXv8eKHrQprh7tQbRHLjES/s320/CocaineHydrochloridePowder.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603714066661503714" /></a><br />Cocaine is an extremely popular drug on the party circuit, and is well known for its association with the rich and famous (because only they could afford to maintain a habit). Unfortunately, a new form of cocaine, crack, is significantly more accessible and has ruined the lives of many.<br /><br />A stimulant that works on dopamine, cocaine produces feelings of euphoria, energy and excitement. The crash can be nasty, however, and potential side effects include paranoia and delusions that bugs are crawling over your skin. Not to mention its exceptionally high rates of addiction.<br /><br />Fun Facts about Cocaine:<br /><br />Cocaine was used heavily by the famous psychiatrist Freud and is still used in medicine today as a pain killer<br /><br />2,500 people try cocaine for the first time on any given day<br /><br />Coca cola originally contained cocaine. (Hence, the name)Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599180885031578937.post-37460413871040830312011-05-06T14:06:00.000-07:002011-05-06T14:08:15.774-07:00Marijuana or Weed<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgENib_pOScQeX53qvjdzV9L2J8RKiP0A2BdtTC8fbwvqtDVdGIOII2Dlxl9K9E3gLu8GnUCGBfQJnP0NmO3NFbZe6GiYNGjD5xN8YyDMMlph_7J4cHz_wHpATUjwWn2VIocVFNeAPnVcLW/s1600/cannabis_bud.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 290px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgENib_pOScQeX53qvjdzV9L2J8RKiP0A2BdtTC8fbwvqtDVdGIOII2Dlxl9K9E3gLu8GnUCGBfQJnP0NmO3NFbZe6GiYNGjD5xN8YyDMMlph_7J4cHz_wHpATUjwWn2VIocVFNeAPnVcLW/s320/cannabis_bud.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603712923748899266" /></a><br />Weed has been around for thousands of years and quite popular for its sedative and somewhat hallucinogenic effects. It can be use medically in cancer patients to increase appetite and/or as a pain killer.<br /><br />People who smoke weed become “stoned” – they become mellow, relaxed.<br /><br />While a mild drug, weed is illegal in the United States, most likely for political reasons. Use does decrease motivation and memory formation, and some heavy users report feeling chronically “doped.”<br /><br />Fun Facts about Weed:<br /><br />George Washington grew marijuana<br /><br />Hemp, which is a form of marijuana, was once accepted as money in the USA<br /><br />Hemp was also possibly the first fabric used by people –everUnknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599180885031578937.post-76940723428552097102008-08-21T12:03:00.000-07:002008-08-21T12:07:03.101-07:00Snorting cocaine<embed src="http://www.metacafe.com/fplayer/yt-cugVpK_VaLo/snorted_suger_part_2_0601072142_3g2.swf" width="400" height="345" wmode="transparent" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> </embed><br>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599180885031578937.post-46905533326515885822008-08-15T11:51:00.000-07:002008-08-15T11:52:47.932-07:00"Operation Blackjack" Dismantles Drug Pipeline from New York City to Central NY12 Pounds of Cocaine, 4 Guns, $26k Cash, 1 Pound of Marijuana, <br />Drug Paraphernalia, Ammunition and 2 Cars Seized<br /><br />New York Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent-In-Charge John P. Gilbride and Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo announced today the indictment of 15 individuals involved in an alleged narcotics distribution ring where cocaine was transported from the Bronx and sold throughout the Central New York region. <br /><br />The case involved the seizure of 12 pounds of cocaine worth $500,000, two revolvers, two shotguns, $26,000 in cash, drug paraphernalia, ammunition, and two vehicles. <br /><br />DEA Special Agent-In-Charge John P. Gilbride said, “DEA and our state and local law enforcement partners are committed to identifying and arresting those responsible for distributing illegal narcotics. The Lockhart duo led this cocaine and crack cocaine distributing organization which led to their arrests and the dismantling of those who worked for them. Syracuse and our surrounding counties in Central New York can be assured that due to these arrests there are less drugs and guns on the streets, making our community safer from the perils of drug abuse.” <br /><br />Today’s indictment is the result of a multi-agency investigation led by the Attorney General’s Organized Crime Task Force (OCTF) known as “Operation Blackjack.” The allegations included two main players of the drug ring who bought cocaine from suppliers in the Bronx and transported the drugs via car to Central New York to sell to mid-level dealers for distribution in Onondaga, Oswego, Oneida, and Madison counties. <br /><br />One of the key players in the alleged distribution network, Antwan Lockhart, of N. Jay Street, Rome, was arrested December 23, 2007 when his car was stopped on Route 81 in Tully as he was transporting cocaine from the Bronx. At the scene, 4.5 pounds of cocaine were seized. An additional 2 pounds were taken from Lockhart’s stash house on Midler Ave, Syracuse, and .67 ounces of cocaine were found in another vehicle registered in Lockhart’s name. Lockhart pleaded guilty to criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, for which he received a nine year prison sentence, three year post-release supervision, and forfeited two cars.<br /><br />The other alleged key leader in the drug distribution network is Edward N. Lockhart, 30, of Caughdenoy Road, Hastings (last known address). As part of the investigation, law enforcement seized 5 ounces of cocaine and a shotgun from Edward Lockhart. He was charged with 20 counts criminal possession and sale of a controlled substance, including six counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the second degree (class A-II felony), which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and lifetime probation for each sales count. <br /><br />Of the 15 indicted, 14 were charged with conspiracy in the second degree, a class B felony that carries the maximum penalty of 25 years in prison. Additionally, Marton Davis and Kamisha Rashad were each charged with criminal sale of a controlled substance in the second degree, and face the maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Luis Abreu was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree and Sirena Sharpe was charged with criminal sale of controlled substance in the third degree. Both face the maximum penalty of 9 years in prison. Osbie McClain and Titus Stewart were charged with varying levels of narcotics and weapons related offenses and both face maximum sentences of 12 years in prison.<br /><br />Onondaga District Attorney William J. Fitzpatrick said, “These arrests send a clear message that those of us who live and work in Central New York will not tolerate drug dealers and narcotics trafficking in our community. We are very appreciative of Attorney General Cuomo’s commitment to helping us rid Syracuse and Onondaga County of those who infuse poison and violence into our community. His office has worked diligently and combined forces with my office and our local enforcement to deliver a crippling blow to the illegal drug market. That kind of cooperative effort and his Upstate Guns, Gangs and Drugs Initiative has made Attorney General Cuomo one of the most effective and respected leaders in our state. I believe the success of Operation ‘Blackjack’ is evident of that.”<br /><br />Onondaga County Sheriff Kevin E. Walsh said, “Today’s multi-agency sweep has been a resounding success, thanks to a coordinated effort headed up by Attorney General Cuomo’s OCTF. The Sheriff’s office welcomes this collaborative effort, and it is initiatives like the Attorney General’s Upstate Guns, Gangs and Drugs Initiative that will go a long way toward making our County and region safer. The narcotics trade throughout New York has run rampant for too long, and it’s a welcome sign that Attorney General Cuomo continues to make curbing it a priority.”<br /><br />City of Syracuse Mayor Matthew J. Driscoll said, “Thanks to the hard work of various law enforcement agencies under the leadership of Attorney General Cuomo’s Organized Crime Task Force, another network of deadly narcotics in Central New York has been cut off. The scourge of drug trafficking from the New York City region to upstate communities continues to pose a threat to our neighborhoods and our children. However, it is a threat that we are eliminating by working together and pooling our resources.”<br /><br />New York State Police Superintendent Harry J. Corbitt said, “Drug trafficking operations originating in New York City have expanded into our upstate communities. However, New York law enforcement agencies on every level, led by Attorney General Cuomo’s Upstate Guns, Gangs and Drugs Initiative, have impacted these operations. Through an organized effort, we worked together to bring down these highly organized drug rings. The state police are committed to working with the Attorney General and other law enforcement colleagues to improve the quality of life in our communities.”<br /><br />“The impact of illegal drugs and guns on our communities is extensive and widespread,” said Attorney General Cuomo. “It is the goal of my Upstate Guns, Gangs, and Drugs Initiative to intercept the flow of drugs before they infect our neighborhoods. The recent takedown of several drug rings throughout Central and Upstate New York in past months proves that our formula of partnering with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies is a successful model.”<br /><br />Those indicted and their alleged roles include:<br />Luis Abreu, 33, of E. Spruce Ct., Altoona, PA, bought cocaine from A. Lockhart to resell (.6 ounces of cocaine seized at his residence). <br />Ralston Avery, 29, of E. 40th Street, Brooklyn, supplied cocaine to A. Lockhart, Feaggins and others. <br />Katy Campbell, a/k/a “Kate,” 20, of Pleasant Street, Canastota, sold cocaine she received from E. Lockhart and drove with E. Lockhart to the Bronx. <br />Faniel Denis, 28, of State Street, Canastota, bought cocaine from A. Lockhart and Stewart to resell. <br />Harmon Feaggins, 22, of Hoe Avenue, Bronx, transported cocaine to from the Bronx to Syracuse for A. Lockhart and sold cocaine he received from Avery. <br />Ronnie Golden, 28, of James Street, Syracuse, sold cocaine and allowed others indicted to store and sell cocaine at his residence. <br />Marton Davis, 29, of Presidential Plaza, Syracuse, sold cocaine to E. Lockhart, Golden, Poole, and Rashad for resale. <br />Edward N. Lockhart, Jr., 30, sold cocaine he received from A. Lockhart, Wade, Davis and others to Poole, Sarakby and others; drove to the Bronx (cocaine and shotgun seized during investigation). <br />Osbie McClain, 24, of Lillian Avenue, Syracuse, bought cocaine from A. Lockhart to resell (3.2 ounces of cocaine and a shotgun seized at residence). <br />Taurean Poole, 23, of Cairns Trail, Clay, bought cocaine from E. Lockhart and Davis to resell. <br />Kamisha Rashad, 22, of Presidential Plaza, Syracuse, sold cocaine she received from Davis and accompanied A. Lockhart when he drove to the Bronx. <br />Adib Sarakby, 53, of Gaskin Road, Baldwinsville, bought cocaine from E. Lockhart to resell. <br />Sirena Sharpe, 17, of Avery Avenue, Syracuse, sold cocaine for E. Lockhart. <br />Titus Stewart, 36, of Kirkpatrick Street, Syracuse, sold cocaine to Denis and others (2.5 ounces of cocaine and a revolver seized at his residence). <br />Robert Wade, 20, of Hoe Avenue, Bronx, bought and sold cocaine to E. Lockhart, A. Lockhart and others for resale.<br /><br />The charges against the defendants are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599180885031578937.post-85381330512891007282008-08-15T11:47:00.002-07:002008-08-15T11:49:10.767-07:00Modesto Football Coach Indicted for Cocaine TraffickingFederal Grand Jury indicts Armando Perez and three others connected in the investigation<br />SACRAMENTO, Calif.—United States Attorney McGregor W. Scott and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Javier F. Peña, announced today that ARMANDO VASQUEZ PEREZ, 28, of Modesto, California, and three others, were indicted today of five counts of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and distribution of cocaine. The five counts allege that PEREZ, a youth sports coach, was the cocaine supplier for a conspiracy that began in July 2007 and ended with his arrest on June 13, 2008. This case is the product of an extensive investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration.<br /><br />According to Assistant United States Attorney Jason Hitt, who is prosecuting the case, PEREZ was indicted along with JAIME FLORES, 25, NARCISCO MARTINEZ, 27, and GUADALUPE GUTIERREZ, 33, all of Modesto. According to the court documents, MARTINEZ sold large quantities of powder cocaine to a DEA undercover agent in September 2007 and May 2008. During the investigation, agents discovered that MARTINEZ was in frequent telephone contact with PEREZ before and after the cocaine deals. Law enforcement suspected PEREZ was supplying cocaine to MARTINEZ through his cousin FLORES. Subsequent investigation confirmed that suspicion. Specifically, on May 9, 2008, during an undercover drug transaction with MARTINEZ, agents watched and videotaped MARTINEZ meet with PEREZ and FLORES, at Los Compadres Auto Sales. According to the criminal complaint filed in the case, this meeting was consistent with MARTINEZ returning to his drug supplier, PEREZ, and providing him with some of the proceeds from the drug sale.<br /><br />The investigation culminated on June 12, 2008, when the undercover agent arranged to purchase 2½ kilograms of cocaine from MARTINEZ in Modesto. After a series of recorded calls, MARTINEZ arrived at a Rite Aid parking lot in Salida, at which time MARTINEZ was arrested. At the time of his arrest, law enforcement discovered that MARTINEZ was in possession of approximately two kilograms of cocaine. Agents seized approximately one pound of cocaine from MARTINEZ’s residence at 904 Countryside Lane, Modesto. After being placed under arrest, MARTINEZ admitted that his cocaine supplier in July 2007 was PEREZ and FLORES. Agents served a federal search warrant at 1010 Sylvan Meadows Drive, Modesto, a residence MARTINEZ had been earlier that day. From the location, law enforcement seized approximately one kilogram cocaine and arrested FLORES. Agents also discovered a “kilo press,” a device commonly used by drug traffickers to add adulterant to existing bricks of cocaine and then press the adulterated kilogram of cocaine back into the form of a kilogram brick. The street value of the seized cocaine is approximately $60,000.<br /><br />The defendants are scheduled to be arraigned on the indictment by Judge Kimberly J. Mueller at 2:00 p.m., on June 27, 2008. The maximum statutory penalty for conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute at least 500 grams of cocaine is 40 years in prison. The maximum statutory penalty for distribution of cocaine is 20 years in prison. In this case, each defendant faces a mandatory minimum of five years in prison on Counts 1 and 5 of the indictment based upon the amount cocaine alleged in those counts. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables and any applicable statutory sentencing factors. The charges are only allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599180885031578937.post-26107831812676692232008-08-13T04:31:00.000-07:002008-08-13T04:32:32.729-07:00$296 Million DOLLAR DRUG BUST<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/nfNOwd8Fsx0&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/nfNOwd8Fsx0&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599180885031578937.post-80950105957418360112008-08-13T04:23:00.000-07:002008-08-13T04:24:25.669-07:00What does 40,000 lbs of cocaine look like?<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/FXmASAPyT-E&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/FXmASAPyT-E&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599180885031578937.post-32275918129031114642008-08-13T04:21:00.000-07:002008-08-13T04:22:09.067-07:00Immortal Technique - Peruvian Cocaine<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/zrBRJVGLRPo&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/zrBRJVGLRPo&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599180885031578937.post-24966065676192903142008-06-12T13:47:00.000-07:002008-06-12T13:49:00.521-07:00CRACK COCAINE A once-in-a-lifetime experience?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgczsfavuDza3drzFv8v-kknh1lHqzc_rx7mjEfrrBVAqguu4XSyCFHMbzNY3Nu9CDhyphenhyphenb2xNBmyxcL3qzllnhnE-M_Y4Syd1CmtJ2BNcWkJFoX4B0sDShWlnmITZTP33xSQaJu2VrWthKLF/s1600-h/crack.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgczsfavuDza3drzFv8v-kknh1lHqzc_rx7mjEfrrBVAqguu4XSyCFHMbzNY3Nu9CDhyphenhyphenb2xNBmyxcL3qzllnhnE-M_Y4Syd1CmtJ2BNcWkJFoX4B0sDShWlnmITZTP33xSQaJu2VrWthKLF/s320/crack.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211099867992284930" /></a><br />HOW TO QUIT COCAINE<br />The high from crack cocaine is intensely rewarding. But the experience is short-lived. Such immense well-being is unsustainable because its mechanisms don't subvert the systems of homeostatic feedback inhibition of the brain. So it's reckless to try crack cocaine at all - at least until one's death-bed - because its euphoric effect is so extraordinarily hard to forget. If one succumbs to curiosity, and finds out what one is missing, then the rest of one's life may pall in comparison. For there is nothing in life that's naturally so enjoyable as crack. Tragically, the user's family and loved ones may suffer the price of pleasure almost as severely as the addict.<br /> So is a crackhead inescapably doomed to an early grave? Or are there ways (s)he can escape from the abyss?<br /><br /> Perhaps. Most of the GIs who got hooked on unmistakably physically addictive heroin in Vietnam kicked the habit when they returned to the USA. The veterans quit, often without undue difficulty, because most of the "conditioned cues and reinforcers" associated with narcotic drug-use in South-East Asia were missing back home.<br /><br /> Thus a complete change of environment, especially a holiday in the company of supportive family and (drug-free) friends, can help break a user's self-destructive cycle of coke-binges. The brain is given time to recover. Cue-elicited craving is a major cause of relapse in recovering coke-users. Indeed this cue-elicited craving may even increase during the first few months of withdrawal.<br /><br /> Good food, particularly an idealised stone-age diet [fruit, vegetables, nuts, seeds, wholemeal bread, pasta, rice etc] should help. Regular vigorous exercise is useful as well [and probably Faith In Jesus, though this isn't always a realistic goal]. Another option is joining Cocaine Anonymous.<br /><br /> More controversially, "cocaine vaccines" may soon be licensed. They are designed to induce drug-specific antibodies in the bloodstream. In theory, cocaine-specific antibodies which sequester the drug before its passage into the brain will prevent the relapsing user getting high. Perhaps children "at risk" will be vaccinated at an early age. The possible coercive use of "vaccines against pleasure" raises profound ethical problems.<br /><br /><br /> Cocaine addicts motivated to quit might consider a course of the antiepileptic drug vigabatrin (Sabril), though it isn't licensed in the USA. Vigabatrin is an irreversible inhibitor of gamma-aminobutyric acid transaminase (GABA-T). GABA-T the enzyme responsible for the catabolism of the inhibitory neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Feedback inhibition between the "feel good" dopaminergic and GABA-ergic neurotransmitter systems explains vigabatrin's therapeutic "antidopaminergic" action. Vigabatrin is a relatively safe drug. Even so, its use sometimes causes colour vision defects; the most common adverse side-effects reported are sleepiness and fatigue.<br /><br /> A future option for cocaine addicts who want to quit may be taking a dual dopamine/serotonin releaser. PAL-287 is a rationally-designed drug aimed at treating stimulant dependence while having minimal "abuse potential" of its own. Much more research will be needed before it ever gets a product license. <br /><br /> Another future option may be the benztropine analog JHW007. It serves as a functional antagonist to cocaine. JHW007 has a high affinity for the dopamine transporter with minimal cocaine-like subjective and behavioural effects. <br /><br /> Some drug-pundits recommend Total Abstinence from chemical assistance: "Just Say No." The ex-addict is encouraged to renounce "unnatural" chemical highs altogether. This course of action may indeed be prudent given our bug-ridden genome and current crop of misbegotten street drugs. Unfortunately, opting to embrace godliness, hard work and clean living isn't always the recipe for a happy life either. <br /><br /> For many cocaine-users have a pre-existing psychiatric disorder - even by the touchstone of today's impoverished conception of mental health. In effect, such users are self-medicating, even if they ostensibly take cocaine hedonistically "for kicks". Such users need more effective medicine to flourish. So in place of cocaine, the option of taking one or more clinically therapeutic mood-brighteners [e.g. desipramine (Norpramin), a noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor; venlafaxine (Effexor), milnacipran (Ixel) or duloxetine (Cymbalta), dual-action serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors; perhaps a glutamate-enhancing agent such as modafinil (Provigil); or more daringly, amineptine (Survector), a dopamine reuptake inhibitor; and/or anti-anxiety agents e.g. benzodiazepines] may be considered instead. <br /><br /> Alternatively, if the user wishes to Say No To Drugs completely, then a "natural", gentle mood-brightener and anti-anxiety agent, hypericum (St John's wort), may be taken indefinitely. Unfortunately, this traditional herbal medicine is not a dependable remedy for deep melancholic depression - coke-induced or otherwise. <br /><br /> S-Adenosyl-L-methionine (SAMe) is another natural antidepressant. But its efficacy in treating cocaine-induced depression is untested in controlled clinical trials.<br /><br /><br /> Inevitably, present-day mood-brighteners, whether herbal or clinical, won't stand comparison with tomorrow's revolutionary designer-drugs. Nor do they deliver the rapturous but addictive rush of a fast-acting euphoriant. Contemporary therapeutic mood-boosters yield desperately little joy compared to the lifetime of genetically pre-programmed superhealth on offer to our descendants. But our legacy DNA didn't design us to be happy. So for now, the dirty chemical stopgaps licensed for use in contemporary clinical medicine are often better than nothing at all.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599180885031578937.post-624607738052209002008-06-12T13:45:00.000-07:002008-06-12T13:46:23.706-07:00A Spoonful of Sugar?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrqn5ZGidMeCYtQe1mVVBzhC5ubZapldNHPT9_BK6jiIra28P7f5Mwuhu7tf9VxP59Fj5_-izkFwqJ4maehQdPR7DJY5w3H5J7dDV72lCwpVppmac8GwJZa6-L74fFvODpFu5phrqTj_an/s1600-h/cokespoon.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrqn5ZGidMeCYtQe1mVVBzhC5ubZapldNHPT9_BK6jiIra28P7f5Mwuhu7tf9VxP59Fj5_-izkFwqJ4maehQdPR7DJY5w3H5J7dDV72lCwpVppmac8GwJZa6-L74fFvODpFu5phrqTj_an/s320/cokespoon.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211099195148788162" /></a><br />The coca leaf doesn't travel well. By the time leaves sent by early colonists in South America reached Europe, they had lost much of their potency. So for centuries the plant remained litte more than a curiosity of interest only to obscure European botanists. The active alkaloid of the coca plant, cocaine, was first isolated from coca leaves by the German chemist Friedrich Gaedcke (1828-1890) in 1855. Gaedcke published his discovery in Archives de Pharmacie; he called it "Erythroxyline". <br /> An improved step-by-step purification process was described by Albert Niemann (1834-1861) of Gottingen University in 1859. Niemann called the compound "cocaine"; and the name stuck. He was awarded a PhD; his dissertation was published in March 1860 as a slim volume called On a New Organic Base in the Coca Leaves. Niemann writes of its "colourless transparent prisms...Its solutions have an alkaline reaction, a bitter taste, promote the flow of saliva and leave a peculiar numbness, followed by a a sense of cold when applied to the tongue." Niemann had discovered that cocaine acted as a local anaesthetic. He died a year or so later in mysterious circumstances. The exact molecular formula of cocaine (i.e. C17H21NO4 ) was elucidated in 1863 by Niemann's colleague Wilhelm Lossen (1838-1906). In 1894, German chemist Richard Willstaetter (1872-1942) was awarded his doctorate from the University of Munich for discovering the its structural formula. <br /><br /> The commercial production of purified cocaine gained momentum only in the mid-1880s. Its greatest medical value was in ophthalmology. Eye-surgery stood in desperate need of a good local anaesthetic. This was because in eye operations it is often essential for a conscious patient to move his eye as directed by the surgeon - without flinching. Viennese ophthalmologist Karl Koller (1857-1944) discovered that cocaine was ideal for the task. From 1884, news of his successful experiments travelled round the world. The military took an interest as well. In 1883, German physician Theodor Aschenbrandt administered cocaine to members of the Bavarian army. It was found that the drug enhanced their endurance on manoeurvres. <br /><br /> Aschenbrandt's study was published in a German medical journal. The report was read by a young Viennese neurologist, Sigmund Freud (1856-1939). Freud was to play a significant role in the development of the Western cocaine-industry. "I take very small doses of it regularly and against depression and against indigestion, and with the most brilliant success", he observed. Drug giants Merck and Parke Davies both paid Freud to endorse their rival brands. Freud wrote several enthusiastic papers on cocaine, notably Ьber Coca (1884). He talks of "the most gorgeous excitement" animals display after receieving injection of a cocaine "offering". And in humans, cocaine induces... <br /><br />"...exhilaration and lasting euphoria, which in no way differs from the normal euphoria of the healthy person...You perceive an increase of self-control and possess more vitality and capacity for work....In other words, you are simply normal, and it is soon hard to believe you are under the influence of any drug....Long intensive physical work is performed without any fatigue...This result is enjoyed without any of the unpleasant after-effects that follow exhilaration brought about by alcohol....Absolutely no craving for the further use of cocaine appears after the first, or even after repeated taking of the drug..." <br /> Freud concluded Ьber Coca by recommending seven conditions for which cocaine pharmacotherapy might prove valuable: <br /><br />as a mental stimulant <br />as a possible treatment for digestive disorders <br />as an appetite stimulant in case of wasting diseases <br />as a treatment for morphine and alcohol addiction <br />as a treatment for asthma <br />as an aphrodisiac <br />as a local anaesthetic <br /> It was Freud's fourth recommendation that caused the most controversy. Cocaine is no longer prescribed as an antidote to morphine addiction. <br /><br /> Taken in an oral solution as Freud had envisaged, cocaine was indeed less likely to be addictive than when administered by the intravenous route. The euphoria induced is delayed; and it may be less intense and even subtle. A lot of the cocaine is broken down in the liver before it reaches the brain. However, hypodermic needles were starting to become widely available in the 1880s. Morphine addicts soon discovered that subcutaneous injections of cocaine yielded a quick, potent and addictive high. Before long, many users became hooked on cocktails including both. Using cocaine to cure morphine addiction, Freud later ruefully admitted, was "like trying to cast out the Devil with Beelzebub."Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599180885031578937.post-13631109976643450472008-06-12T13:41:00.000-07:002008-06-12T13:44:16.432-07:00Vintage Wine<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc601Z7Ccl5bABX6KuJiRN_-rUlhojoEEMclSBK2lphyGP-nzag6-SU2cT4YeHRJkAD4ADyE4qzV9BlnsTkgvK2AUUf7l7JhdaV4WPszGsSqfuczqx6tDQcIbTutOygf6xnqIDAX2tJ255/s1600-h/cokewine.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc601Z7Ccl5bABX6KuJiRN_-rUlhojoEEMclSBK2lphyGP-nzag6-SU2cT4YeHRJkAD4ADyE4qzV9BlnsTkgvK2AUUf7l7JhdaV4WPszGsSqfuczqx6tDQcIbTutOygf6xnqIDAX2tJ255/s320/cokewine.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211098637122457954" /></a><br />According to the Sears, Roebuck and Co. Consumers' Guide (1900), their extraordinary Peruvian Wine of Coca...<br /><br />"...sustains and refreshes both the body and brain....It may be taken at any time with perfect safety...it has been effectually proven that in the same space of time more than double the amount of work could be undergone when Peruvian Wine of Coca was used, and positively no fatigue experienced....."<br /> Some 99% of contemporary Western users mix cocaine and ethyl alcohol. Cocaine and alcohol combine to form another hugely reinforcing compound, cocaethlyene. Coca-use only really took off in the West when it was blended with an alcoholic beverage. <br /><br /> The real soaraway success in Europe was Vin Mariani. Launched in 1863, it was an extremely palatable coca wine developed by the Corsican entrepreneur, Angelo Mariani (1838-1914). Mariani first tried his new tonic on a depressed actress. The results were spectacular. She soon told all her friends. Mariani himself wrote a book eulogising coca; and he gathered artefacts of, and material on, the coca-loving Incas. At home, he collected coke-taking paraphernalia. He also took up amateur horticulture and cultivated the coca plant in his garden. <br /><br /><br /> Coca wine made Mariani famous. Vin Mariani rapidly became the world's most popular prescription. Writers loved it. Anatole France, Henrik Ibsen, Йmile Zola, Jules Verne, Alexander Dumas, Robert Louis Stephenson, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and other literary luminaries all indulged freely. Composers such as Massenet, Gounod and Faurй gratefully honoured the Corsican druggist in their music. Vin Mariani was celebrated by royalty as well: by Queen Victoria; King George 1 of Greece; King Alphonse XIII of Spain; the Shah of Persia; and by William McKinley, President of the United States. <br /><br /> A devotion to Vin Mariani transcended petty differences of religious dogma. The Grand Rabbi of France, Zadoc Kahn, was moved to exclaim: "My conversion is complete. Praise be to Mariani's wine!" Pope Pius X was an enthusiast, as was Pope Leo XIII. He gave coca wine an official seal of approval by awarding Angelo Mariani a special gold medal. In recent years, however, the Vatican has felt unable to reiterate its original endorsement.<br /><br /><br /> John Pemberton (1832-1888), the Atlanta-born creator of Coca Cola, was a keen pharmacist and coca-lover. He sought to combine the ultimate medicine and perfect drink in one glorious cocktail. Pemberton based his original drink on Vin Mariani. It was said to be "a most wonderful invigorator of the sexual organs". "Pemberton's French wine coca" proved singularly popular with American consumers. Coke was soon touted as "an intellectual beverage"; though not on the basis of controlled clinical trials. <br /><br /> Atlanta introduced Prohibition in 1886. So Pemberton had to replace the wine in his recipe with sugar syrup. Thus 'Pemberton's French wine cola' became 'Coca-Cola: the temperance drink'. <br /><br /> Official approval of coca-based tonics began to wane towards the end of the century. Unfortunately, people who were prescribed cocaine to combat morphine dependence were becoming addicted to both. <br /><br /> In 1904, America's gathering moral panic about Drug Abuse led the manufacturers to remove the cocaine from Coca-Cola. It is now official Coca-Cola Company policy to deny the existence of cocaine in their orginal world-winning formula. The US Government later tried to compel the company to drop the name 'Coca-Cola' too. After protracted legal argument, the name was saved; but traditionalists claimed the drink itself never quite recaptured its original glory.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599180885031578937.post-36600684562036099242008-06-12T13:36:00.000-07:002008-06-12T13:40:24.235-07:00C17H21NO4<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSgFvmRyJPAL8p7Ip9CxNwaR6nR78NL1i9dEFSTX3YqKpOnr2IskdYlqRwINU8innmCUDPGOWtZ7aoy3Qv_1ee3f35S2Qy218aKv83xh3YJSAuoJ9CM76wRzysJpwpLEPsvLEHjraMNQcG/s1600-h/cokestrut.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSgFvmRyJPAL8p7Ip9CxNwaR6nR78NL1i9dEFSTX3YqKpOnr2IskdYlqRwINU8innmCUDPGOWtZ7aoy3Qv_1ee3f35S2Qy218aKv83xh3YJSAuoJ9CM76wRzysJpwpLEPsvLEHjraMNQcG/s320/cokestrut.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211097646317007218" /></a><br />Cocaine is habit-forming. It is potentially dangerous when indulged in to excess.<br /> If rats or monkeys are hooked up to an intravenous source of heroin, they will happily self-administer the drug indefinitely; but they still find time to sleep and eat.<br /><br /><br /> If rats or monkeys can freely self-administer cocaine, however, they will do virtually nothing else. Captive animals continue to press their drug-delivery lever for as long as they are physically capable of doing so. Their fate is similar to an intracranially self-stimulating laboratory rodent. Within weeks, if not days, they will lose a substantial portion of their body weight - up to 40%. Within a month, they will be dead. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Urinary Detection Times<br /> SUBSTANCE DETECTION PERIOD <br />in trace amounts DETECTION PERIOD<br />resulting in positive test <br />Cocaine <br />Benzoylecgonine 2-4 days 2-4 days <br />Chronic Use up to 3 weeks up to 3 weeks <br />Amphetamines <br />Amphetamine 2-5 days 1-3 days <br />Methamphetamine 2-5 days 1-3 days <br />Cannabis (THC) <br />Casual Use 2-7 days 1-5 days <br />Chronic Use up to one month up to six weeks <br />Phencyclidine (PCP) <br />Casual Use 2-7 days 2-7 days <br />Chronic Use up to 30 days up to 14 days <br />Opiates <br />Codeine 2-5 days 1-3 days <br />Morphine 2-4 days 1-2 days <br /><br /> <br /><br /> The world's first drug-testing scandal occurred in 1876. Competitive long-distance walking had become a popular sport. American Edward Weston challenged the English champion to a 24 hour race. The contest was held at the Agricultural Hall in the North London Borough of Islington. The effete Englishman gave up after a mere 14 hours and 66 miles. The American carried on walking for the full 24 hours and 110 miles. It later transpired that Weston had being chewing coca leaves - "Peruvian marching powder" - throughout the race. There was an outcry; but Weston kept his title.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599180885031578937.post-69667870036618730312008-06-12T13:35:00.000-07:002008-06-12T13:36:56.453-07:00Coca In Bloom<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLBN8uDzJ5QWnhrIUxvd80lMzODwKennV4fUjHe-okqD1F0m1m8A6ow_1zxUlIgDSL436SkmaO4oebiAis-LmiFKCDFvFOZp0juf7_74DrPdjvrTgdJ5BxIv1PrbZIizLKCXao5RPhsi0y/s1600-h/coca.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLBN8uDzJ5QWnhrIUxvd80lMzODwKennV4fUjHe-okqD1F0m1m8A6ow_1zxUlIgDSL436SkmaO4oebiAis-LmiFKCDFvFOZp0juf7_74DrPdjvrTgdJ5BxIv1PrbZIizLKCXao5RPhsi0y/s320/coca.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211096580513964082" /></a><br />There are around 250 species of erythroxylon plants. At least 20 produce cocaine. Only two of them, erythroxylon coca and erythroxylon novogranatense, typically yield enough cocaine to justify commercial cultivation. <br /> Chewing leaves of coca normally induces a pleasant and subtle sense of well-being. Other routes of administration may exert a more dramatic impact on the user; and pose substantially greater risks to health. <br /><br /> Yet sensitivity to coca-extract varies. Paola Mantegazza (1831-1910), an Italian physician working in northern Argentina in the 1850s, seems to have been unusually receptive to its properties: <br /><br />"...I sneered at the poor mortals condemned to live in this valley of tears while I, carried on the wings of two leaves of coca, went flying through the spaces of 77, 438 words, each more splendid than the one before...An hour later, I was sufficiently calm to write these words in a steady hand: God is unjust because he made man incapable of sustaining the effect of coca all life long. I would rather have a life span of ten years with coca than one of 10 000 000..(and here I has inserted a line of zeros) centuries without coca." <br /><br /> The capacity "of sustaining the effect of coca all life long" will indeed not come from God - nor from godliness. Nor will it come from wholesome living and clean thoughts. This is because we are born with a "hedonic-treadmill" of mood-regulating negative-feedback mechanisms in the CNS. The hedonic treadmill is vicious. It prevents us from subverting our gene-driven "set-point" of emotional well/ill-being by cosmetic lifestyle-adjustments. <br /> Fortunately, the application of designer-drugs, nanotechnology and gene-therapy promises eventually to get rid of suffering and malaise altogether. If we choose to abolish them, then the metabolic pathways of unpleasantness can be edited out of existence.<br /><br /> Better still, our genetically-enriched successors will be able to enjoy life-long bliss far richer than anything a drug or plant-extract can induce at present. The well-being of our descendants will be deeper, more diverse, more intense and (perhaps) more empathetic than anything physiologically accessible to drug-naïve mortals today. In the new reproductive era ahead, genetic disorders such as ageing and a capacity for aversive experience are destined to disappear into the evolutionary past. For tomorrow's paradise-engineers will rewrite the human genome to serve our own interests rather than selfish DNA.<br /><br /> But large-scale genetic-rewrites take time. The use of biotechnology to abolish suffering throughout the living world - and a possible Post-Darwinian Transition to paradise-engineering - will take many centuries, perhaps even millennia. And on the whole, we want to be happy right now. <br /><br /> Unfortunately, recreational drugs like cocaine offer only a deadly short-cut to nirvana.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599180885031578937.post-83989955498557868482008-06-12T13:33:00.000-07:002008-06-12T13:34:46.532-07:00Flower Erythroxylon Coca<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8s1qTS13y6A4ktujad1Eloe2yp_bejeq99aTdfOJXbmqfTgBGAn1tCN0Fbu-qiCTzSuPjBrDZsKjQRaFj9A3HrJQfCr0H_UU0RyGv6vezr3akQ7hEYBSgyTB2pAL6_P_h2NGGXsoyNjjm/s1600-h/cocaleaves.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8s1qTS13y6A4ktujad1Eloe2yp_bejeq99aTdfOJXbmqfTgBGAn1tCN0Fbu-qiCTzSuPjBrDZsKjQRaFj9A3HrJQfCr0H_UU0RyGv6vezr3akQ7hEYBSgyTB2pAL6_P_h2NGGXsoyNjjm/s320/cocaleaves.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211096194002042882" /></a><br />Coca leaves have been chewed by South American Indians for many thousands of years to induce a mild and long-lasting euphoria. Anthropologists have speculated that the word coca derives from the pre-Incan Tiwanaku word khoka - meaning "the plant". The Aymara word q'oka means "food for travellers and workers". <br /> The Incas in particular venerated coca. They used coca in magical ceremonies and initiation rites; for divination and fertility rituals; and to heal their physical and psychic woes. Two of the Inca emperors named their wives after the leaf - the honoured consorts were given the plant's sacred title, Mama Coca. The only object ever carried by the Inca emperor himself was a coca pouch. He wore it around his neck close to his heart. <br /><br /> In the Inca period, the elite regarded the sacred leaf as far too good for ordinary Indians. The invading Spanish conquistadores were more practical - and cynical. Intially coca use and cultivation was denounced, especially by the Catholic Church, for its destructive influence on the native populations. Coca was banned as an agent of idolatry and sorcery, "strengthening the wicked in their delusions, and asserted by every competent judge to possess no true virtues; but, on the contrary, to cause the deaths of innumerable Indians, while it ruins the health of the few who survive." <br /><br /><br /> But the invaders were impressed at coca's efficacy as a stimulant: "The herb is so nutritious and invigorating that the Indians labour whole days without anything else." The Spanish needed native labour in their silver-mines. Work in the mines was extremely arduous; and taking coca reduces appetite and increases physical stamina. Hence there was a great surge in coca-use and the number of coqueros (coca-chewers).<br /><br /><br /> Pope Paul III (r. Oct. 13, 1534 - Nov. 10, 1549) stated in his encyclical entitled "Sublimus Die" that Indians were not to be robbed of their freedom. He wrote "Notwithstanding whatever may have been or may be said to the contrary, the said Indians [of the New World] and all other people who may later be discovered by Christians, are by no means to be deprived of their liberty or the possession of their property, even though they be outside the faith of Jesus Christ; and that they may and should, freely and legitimately, enjoy their liberty and the possession of their property; nor should they be in any way enslaved..."Unknownnoreply@blogger.com