Heroin Overdoses Become Growing Epidemic
April 15th, 2009 by Rick
It’s tragic, but it happens on a daily bassis anywhere around the world — someone dies of a heroin overdose. With the family from Massapequa, New York the mother had a chance to get her daughter the help she needed after her first overdose, but she dropped the ball by allowing her daughter tell her that she didn’t need rehab. Another overdose later and she died.
Her mother was oblivious to her drug activity yet all the typical tell-tale signs were seemingly there; she lost weight, began seeing less of her friends, stayed in her room writing lyrics and poetry, met a new boyfriend, began breaking curfews and began arguing with her parents. I say typical because these could easily be signs of a changing teenager meeting a boyfriend who began influencing her staying out and being rebelous towards her parents.
If her mother had been properly educated on the drug heroin then she would have seen the tell tale physical signs that not even the best heroin user could hide. Things like drowsiness, constricted pupils, lethargy amongst others. Depending on how it was used may have left physical marks as well. The fact that they couldn’t recognize their daughter’s drug abuse is lost on me, there are plenty of families and friends out there that recognize drug abuse, try to put an end to it, then just pray they can curtail it and get the abuser to rebab — and yet they still die.
According to the National Drug Intelligence Center, it’s because the heroin of today is much stronger than the heroin of the past. The statistics of it being 10 percent pure back then and 70 percent pure now is what they want you to believe. In reality, it is the exact opposite. The truth as to why people are dying of overdoses is because when the drug comes off the street, it’s cut once or twice over thus losing it’s purity, depending on how many channels the drug goes through depends on the cut. Too many channels, too much cut and a greater chance for an overdose because they are doing larger quantities chasing that dragon.
The National Drug Intelligence Center knows that experiments like in Switzerland and the recent Portugal have been a success with curbing overdoses by distributing heroin in a pure form. What statistics do you believe? Their words and disinformation on a mainstream media outlet that puts a heroin story under an ironically named AM Fix, or statistics tracked from studies done in two separate countries?
Obviously there are many factors to consider on how drugs of this nature actually can be legalized, aside from just doing it. Politics have a tendency to wrap the issue in red tape, much as it has been done over the decades. When heroin can be cheaper than a six pack of beer, people can obtain it without IDs and organized crime profits immensely off of it; then it’s time to cut the tape and figure out another avenue of approach.
The Justice Department’s National Drug Threat Assessment reports that more than half the heroin arrests in the nation are in mid-Atlantic and Northeast states; Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Maryland, West Virginia and Virginia. In 2006 the Department of Health reported that more heroin users sought treatment in the Northeastern states than anywhere else. With many of these states now pushing bills for decriminilization of marijuana and bills seeking laws for medical marijuana, one wonders if heroin use will decrease in those states in the coming years.
Swiss Cops Use Google Maps for Bust
January 29th, 2009 by Alex
To most, Google Maps is a blessing. It let’s me know if the 405 or 101 is absolutely jammed, I can use it for directions to a new burger joint or for checking out what my old neighborhood in NJ looks like.
To a choice few, though, Google Maps can really fuck things up.
Swiss authorities chanced upon a massive grow plantation hidden in a corn field while checking two farmers suspected of being part of a larger drug operation.
All in all, this find helped Swiss authorities arrest 16 people, seize 1.2 tons of marijuana and also pocket around $780k worth of cash & valuables.
The prosecutor in this case plans to wrap up her investigation in February and then charge all 16 suspects with offenses and potential jail time.
According to the law, this was a profitable gang, earning $2.5 – $8.5 million each year. Maybe if they spent that on contextual advertising, Google wouldn’t have dropped a dime on them. Respect the tech.
Swiss Initiative Creates Legal Heroin
December 2nd, 2008 by Alex
Perception and reality are a funny thing.
Swiss voters have officially legalized their country’s comprehensive heroin program. At the same time, the Swiss people voted at a 63% clip against the decriminalization of marijuana.
Go figure.
It seems that the Swiss people see a clear distinction between rehabilitation rather than facilitation, which they believe the marijuana initiative really is.
The heroin program, which governments around the world have taken notice of, is specifically set up to help 1,300 registered addicts who have been unreceptive to other methods and therapies. These addicts are given clean needles, equipment and even a cup with their name on it (woohoo), so that under nurse supervision they can safely inject themselves.
A caveat of the program is that on top of receiving free heroin, these addicts also need to go to counseling sessions from psychiatrists and social workers.
This program has substantially improved conditions in Swiss cities, so most voters, especially the urban ones, want to see the program continue. On the flip side, 600,000 cannabis users in Switzerland will be treated as criminals for their habit.
Let’s hope the Green Party’s efforts will eventually bring about progress in the area closest to tFS’ heart.
