Author: Samuel Good

Crocodile: The Flesh Eating Drug

I am sure that when one hears the word crocodile, they think of the big jawed, green, scaly reptile that we all have seen. Though what if I told you that this was also the street name for a flesh-eating drug that is starting to become mainstream? One may then think I was making stuff up or that one has never heard of this. However, that is which will be discussed today. What will be covered is what is Crocodile, how it’s made, its effects, its origins, where it is common, and then some resolutions.

As stated above, what exactly is this crocodile? First it must be noted that crocodile goes by a many of names. While the listed above name is one of its main street names, it is also known by the name Krokodil (the Russian street name), and as desomorphine because of its main ingredient. To which for the rest of this article crocodile will be referred to its actual name Krokodil.

In answering the first question above, according to TOXNET, “Krokodil is a mixture of several substances and was first reported to have been used in Russia in 2003. The core agent of “Krokodil” is desomorphine, an opioid-analogue that can be easily and cheaply manufactured by oneself.”

Though the next thing would to be to describe what other substances is combined with desomorphine to create this drug. To which according to TOXNET, “Desomorphine has attracted attention in Russia due to its simple production, utilizing codeine, iodine, gasoline, paint thinner, hydrochloric acid, lighter fluid and red phosphorus.” This already sounds like ingrideints to another common drug such as meth.

The next question lies in how is such a thing made? According to EROWID:

“Clandestine manufacture of desomorphine involves two steps: the extraction of codeine from pharmacuetical products, followed by the synthesis of desomorphine from the codeine. The extraction of codeine involves mixing the codeine source (which often contains acetaminophen and other substances) with organic solvents such as gasoline, adding a strong base such as lye and then adding an acidic solution such as hydrochloric acid to produce water soluble codeine salts that will reside in the aqueous layer. The codeine can be further extracted but many will proceed directly with the next step. The extracted codeine is mixed with iodine, hydrochloric acid, and red phosphorus to reduce the codeine to desocodeine. Subsequently the desocodeine is demethylated itto desomorphine in a one-pot synthesis that may take 45 minutes. There are some reports of attempts at neutralization at the end of the reaction using cigarette ash or sodium bicarbonate.”

With a drug that has such a crude manufacturing process and ingredients, it would be safe to assume that the effects are not pretty. According to Narconon:

“Effects include:

  • Disruption of endocrine system due to the iodine content
  • Muscle destruction, also due to iodine
  • Bone damage due to high phosphorus levels
  • Nervous system damage due to iron, zinc, lead and antimony content
  • Inflammation of liver and kidneys also due to these metals
  • Ulcers that will not heal
  • Arms and legs that wither and die
  • Veins used for injection burn up from the caustic chemicals
  • Abscesses and gangrene
  • Overall collapse of health”

Once reading through hit can be seen why this is known as a flesh-eating drug. Though it gets its name from one other side effect they listed which includes “it makes some users’ flesh turn green and rough, like a crocodile’s skin

Though how where could such a horrid thing have originated? In a fact that may surprise many, the main ingredient originated from the United States almost 90 years ago. According to the DEA, “Desomorphine (Dihydrodesoxymorphine ordihydrodesoxymorphine-D) is a synthetic morphine analogue synthesized in the 1930s in the United States.” Though it would be almost another 70 years before any international incidents would be reported. Though the toxic mixture, which is listed, as according to TOXNET, was “first reported to have been used in Russia in 2003”.

However, where is most common then? If we look at in the sense of the drug, then this is mainly exclusive to the Country of Russia. Though if one is to look at the main ingredient desomorphine, then this is still in use today. There has only been one country that still uses this medically and that goes to Switzerland.

Though what could be some possible resolutions to such a horrid drug? One can mark out the idea of banning the chemicals that make it because they are everyday things. The main ingredient isn’t even pharmaceutically available in the majority of countries. So where does one start.

As with most drugs it starts with the users. Russia has been in the process of getting people off of this drug with rehabilitation centers. Though I believe they are heading in the right direction, I believe as well that they need to educate people. It must be treated like any other drug, thus starting with education about it, it may deter those on it or looking to start something.

-Samuel Good lll

 

References

The Issue at the Border

“I will build a great, great wall on our southern border and I will make Mexico pay for that wall.” was a quote to which is credited to the current President of the United States Donald Trump. Though this may be a controversial thing to start this off with, this quote had come from his resolution that there is a major problem at the border. The problems to which he listed was immigration and drug problems. This leads to which I would like to discuss, how the drugs get across the border, the importance of the business, what is brought in at the border, how much is brought, and lastly resolutions.

To his credit and in relation to this topic, there is a major problem at the border regarding not just immigration but with the drug trade. This may surprise people because generally when we think of drug trade or trafficking we think of heroin and cocaine from the cities or places like Florida and California. Whereas drugs like marijuana can be seen from coming from the country side and meth is usually associated with some RV or trailer park in the South. Though these contribute, there is a many of ways to which drugs get here, mainly at the border.

Before getting too detailed or in depth, the first thing is, what is drug trade or trafficking? The UNODC or United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime helps to give us a clear definition of the problem to which “Drug trafficking is a global illicit trade involving the cultivation, manufacture, distribution and sale of substances which are subject to drug prohibition laws.” Granted this says global but today’s topic is strictly on where America’s drugs come from.

However, moving on to how these illicit drugs get here, according to the NY Times , these are how drugs can get over the border.

“The majority of illegal drugs enter the United States in an assortment of vehicles, with drugs hidden in secret compartments in door panels or the roof, gas tanks, tires and even engines. Smugglers also dig cross-border tunnels, primarily to move large volumes of marijuana. While many tunnels are rudimentary, others have lighting, tracks and ventilation systems, even elevators. As of March 2016, a total of 224 tunnels were discovered on the Southwest border since 1990. Cargo trains, tractor-trailers and passenger buses have been used to move illegal drugs. Trucks and trains carrying fresh produce such as watermelons, limes and other fruits and vegetables have been used to bring in narcotics. Drug shipments are often painted green and hidden within crates with fake watermelons or limes. Cocaine has been found in tomato crates.”

To put this issue in the perspective of money, the Drug Abuse website provides us with some economic facts. “Drug trafficking in Mexico is a business worth over $50 billion per year.” With this as well “It is believed that the loss of the drug trafficking industry in Mexico would cause that country’s economy to shrink by over 63 percent”. The fact that this makes up over half of Mexico’s economy just goes to show the sheer scale of the problem.

However, this leaves with one other aspect. This includes in such what type of drugs are crossing over the border from Mexico in to the United States. The type of product to which is distributed revolves around 4 main drugs. According to the DEA “These Mexican poly-drug organizations traffic heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, and marijuana throughout the United States, using established transportation routes and distribution networks”. These four drugs should bring back a recent memory to which these are some of the main ones that a drug dealer in United States offers.

The next set of data may seem a little contradicting though. One may think that with the way the United States is we must have a very effective border patrol. Then again, if this half of Mexico’s economy, then it must be big numbers making it across. From what data tells us, according to Drug Abuse, “In 2008, the DEA seized the following amounts of drugs within the borders of the United States: “

  • Cocaine: 49,823.3 KGs
  • Heroin: 598.6 KGs
  • Marijuana: 660,969.2 KGs
  • Methamphetamines: 1,540.4 KGs
  • Hallucinogens: 9,199,693 individual units

If this is what is being seized, then one can only imagine how much is actually getting through. Though who is at fault, the government, border patrol, or just crafty drug smugglers?

This is where one must begin with creating resolutions for the above problem. Though this may be seen as a hard thing to do because if we put a stop to it then the Mexican economy may crash. So first I believe we start with fixing the Mexican economy and trade market. Link them with more partners and offer better trade deals with, thus they will be relying on other products to boost their economy.

To which at the same time as this one must beef up funding for the border patrol, DEA, and coast guard so they can combat the trafficker’s effectively. Both tactics must be implemented at the same time so that it seems you are both feeding and starving Mexico simultaneously.

The last part of this would be to combat it in the United states. Get people off it thus resulting in a no longer need for the market. However, this is all wish full thinking. The only one that may seem to even come close to reality is beefing up our border security. Though there needs to be an effective way to combat this without putting Mexico under, and I am pretty sure building a wall between us will not resolve this.

– Samuel Good lll

 

References

The Breakdown of a Drug Dealer

Throughout this blog there has been a wide array of topics discussed. These topics can range from types of drugs to regions affected, and victims affected by drugs. However, today I would like to talk about a subject to which various research across multiple search engines has more than likely yielded in a result of me being placed on watch list. This subject is one of the main components of the overall drug problem; which is to no surprise drug dealers themselves.

Though we may all have a general idea of what a drug dealer is just based on the two combined words, I would nonetheless like to provide a clear definition of the title. According to Collins Dictionary a drug dealer is a noun that means “a person that makes money selling illegal recreational drugs”.

Since the definition states the selling of illegal recreational drugs, the next presumed question would be, what sort of illegal product can they offer. This is where the Rehab Center will provide the menu to which what is offered as well as a description.

Today’s specials include:

  • Marijuana: “Marijuana is often referred to as the “gateway drug” of addiction and is the most easily accessed drug on the street and can be smoked or ingested.”
  • Heroin: “Heroin is an opioid most commonly taken intravenously. This highly addictive drug gives the user a feeling of euphoria which sends the user into a trance-like state.”
  • Methamphetamine: “Meth releases a surge of dopamine to the user when injected, ingested, or snorted. Meth may also come in the form of a pill.”
  • Cocaine: “Cocaine is most commonly snorted by the user, though crystal “crack” can be smoked or injected. This recreational drug is highly addictive.”
  • Ecstasy (MDMA): “A oral synthetic drug used as both a stimulant and a hallucinogen.”
  • Ketamine: “A drug with pain-blocking and hallucinogenic qualities.”
  • PCP: “Like Ketamine, is an analgesic with hallucinogenic qualities and can also be found in powder, pill, and liquid form.”
  • Mushrooms: “The hallucinogenic quality in mushrooms is caused by the presence of psilocybin.” The following link will take you to visuals of the “shrooms”.
  • Acid (LSD): “A hallucinogenic drug produced from lysergic acid found on the fungus of grains. It can be taken orally as a liquid, tablet, gel sheet, or a piece of saturated paper. LSD users refer to the effects of the drug as a “trip” and usually feel the effects for 12-24 hours.”

With a menu, one may notice that there is something missing. If someone had guessed prices, then had prizes been given out, one would had been rewarded. Cutting jokes aside, the next to which be discussed is prices.

In such the Rehab Center helps in providing us with such details. However, first it must be noted that the above drugs are measured in various sizes such as grams, milligrams, ounces, and micrograms. The price ratio then consists of the dollar amount per whichever weight measurement is used for the associated product.

The typical amount for marijuana is $15 per gram. The second product, heroin, can run between $15 to $20 for a 0.1gram of it. The third product, methamphetamine, can run about $80 for a gram. The fourth product, Cocaine, can run between $100 and $120 for a gram.

Next for prices to be discussed is the hallucinogens. Ecstasy can run between $15-$20 for 70mg to 100mg. The sixth product is Ketamine which costs about $25 for a dose between 50mg to 100mg. Next is PCP which runs about $25 to $30 for a single gram. The second to last product is mushrooms which will run someone about $20 for a 1/8th of an ounce. Lastly, acid runs about $5 to $20 depending on the dosage which can run from 50 micrograms to 150 micrograms.

The next thing to which one may be pondering is that the writer has given me what a drug dealer is, what they may sell, and at what price; so, what is the message behind it? Well one last fact I would like to provide, thanks to Narconon is that “A drug dealer can make over $800,000 a year, selling to individual users.” This is outstanding because according to How to E-D-U, the average salary for  “College grads (with a bachelor’s degree) is $51,206” (as of 2004). Knowing how people think, don’t start thinking about changing your career.

This is the problem though, as with most illegal activities, they profit so much more than those who wish to make a viable living. Though we can begin a “drug war” again and start throwing people in jail, I do not find this to be the greatest solution.

I believe the solution is in targeting the buyers, and no not throwing them in jail either. Dealers target everyone between rich, poor, old, young, and in between. By educating and rehabilitating the majority of buyers and addicts it will dry up the market.

Of course, we can continue you preach about the harmful effects and such that is discussed in school, though I don’t find this will work. If you start to promote this as an economic issue (money), this will turn a lot of people away from it. They should envision themselves in that fancy sportscar and not just seeing the one the dealer drives.

By implementing these education programs and rehabilitation, I believe it will turn buyers away and send the market under. This can be seen with stores or a business. If they are not selling their product or service, then they tend to go under.

With people no longer being addicts, they will be way more beneficial in society, implement better work ethics and pay more in taxes because they are now making more. In this result, the programs will in no time pay for themselves. Plus, I am more than sure that drug dealers are not going to be claiming that and paying the appropriate income tax rate.

-Samuel Good lll

 

References

Drug Abuse Among Military Personnel

When one begins to think of substance abuse, the first that may come to mind is teenagers, older people, or just civilians in general. However, what one might not think about is the abuse of drugs among active duty soldiers, reserve soldiers, or veterans. This may not be a very highlighted topic because statistics do show rates of such activities are higher among civilians than military personnel. Though this is not seen as a very major problem, it is a problem nonetheless.

As stated above and according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse or NIH, drug use is found to be much lower among military veterans than civilians. However, “heavy alcohol and tobacco use, and especially prescription drug abuse, are much more prevalent and are on the rise.” What then should naturally come to mind next is the question of “why” these rates are much higher. Surprising to be, this actually comes with a quite simple answer. The NHIDA states that “The stresses of deployment during wartime and the unique culture of the military account for some of these differences…. Those with multiple deployments and combat exposure are at greatest risk of developing substance use problems. They are more apt to engage in new-onset heavy weekly drinking and binge drinking, to suffer alcohol- and other drug-related problems, and to have greater prescribed use of behavioral health medications. They are also more likely to start smoking or relapse to smoking.” However, this reasoning mainly applies to active soldiers as well as reserve troops.

The next ones to dive into with drug abuse as well as other abuses are military veterans. There is a given reason to this which is broken down into two main parts. The first part of the reasoning which revolves around tobacco, alcohol, and some drugs, is to the lack of treatment as well as the continuation of effects and habits which was listed above. The second part of this comes from the National Veterans Foundation or NVF. In such, NVF state that “Combat today is vastly different than it was even 40-50 years ago, and the new war on terror has increased the trauma and emotional toll combat has had on our service members. Prescription drug abuse is on the rise among veterans because many are treated with powerful narcotic pain medications for injuries. Over time, veterans can become dependent on these drugs and eventually an addiction can develop.” Between the reasons for active and veteran military soldiers, conclusions can be drawn that with there being similar issues, a solution should be possible.

However, before diving into the solutions the above reasons and issues, I would like to dive into the statistics of Drug use among current and past military members. The first of which will be covered revolves around veterans. In regard to that, according to Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration or SAMHSA “There are an estimated 23.4 million veterans in the United States and Between 2004 and 2006, 7.1% of U.S. veterans met the criteria for a substance use disorder.” Unfortunately, more recent data could not be located on such a topic.

For those non-veterans, according to Global Security, for the United States the Personal End Strength-end, FY2017 (Military Personnel) totals to about 2,875,500 personnel with 1,296,900 being active duty, 448,700 being national guard, 364,500 being selected reserve, and 764,400 being civilian. Though these numbers are for the year 2017, in 2008, according to NIH, “11 percent of service members reported misusing prescription drugs, up from 2 percent in 2002 and 4 percent in 2005. Most of the prescription drugs misused by service members are opioid pain medications.”

With veterans and current personnel, between the two, prescription drugs are what seem to be the main issue. This would make since because in Colton Nutbrown’s blog Prescription Problems  “In a 15 year span between 1999 and 2014 the sale of prescription opioids has quadrupled, similarly the rate of overdose has quadrupled in the same time.” With both aspects in mind, a correlation could be drawn between the rise in sales of opioids as well as the rise of abuse among veterans and current serving military personnel. Though, after covering the reasoning and statistics, the last thing I would like to cover is how to fix or combat this problem.

In my humble opinion this is a serious issue that I believe should be treaded lightly. This is because what these soldiers have endured is why they are choosing this destructive past. I believe that it first should start with the family’s and addressing the early stages of such behavior. Once noticing the symptoms, they should then take advantage of the medical care the military provides, such as mental health care and prevention. For those that doubt, many of the programs are based off programs issued by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) Committee for Prevention of Mental Disorders. Lastly, even with this institution backing the programs, each branch has its own respective prevention program. In conclusion, I believe that even though this is not covered much, this is a serious issue and should be addressed as such.

-Samuel Good lll

 

References

Topic Image: https://www.google.com/search?biw=1366&bih=662&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=military+soldiers+&oq=military+soldiers+&gs_l=psy-ab.3..0l4.61594.61803.0.62779.2.2.0.0.0.0.158.287.0j2.2.0….0…1.1.64.psy-ab..0.2.283…0i8i30k1.0.ZFA2VHgdXr8#imgrc=y6jK30VEWtcf5M:

NIH:  National Institute on Drug Abuse (2013, March 01). Substance Abuse in the Military. Retrieved October 05, 2017, from https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/substance-abuse-in-military

NVF:  National Veterans Foundation (2016, March 30). Veteran Substance Abuse – What do the Statistics Tell Us. Retrieved October 04, 2017, from https://nvf.org/veteran-substance-abuse-statistics/

SAMHSA:  Veterans and Military Families. (2017, September 15). Retrieved October 05, 2017, from https://www.samhsa.gov/veterans-military-families

Global Security:  Pike, John (2017, September 4). Military. Retrieved October 05, 2017, from https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/end-strength.htm

Prescription Problems:  Cnutbrown. (2017, September 30). Prescription Problems. Retrieved October 05, 2017, from https://drugsjust3342017.wordpress.com/2017/09/30/prescription-problems/

 

Drug Test For Government Assistance

When it comes to the vast world of drugs, there are a plentiful of issues that come to mind. However there is one I feel does not get a lot of coverage or is discussed that I wish to bring to light. This topic is drug testing recipients on welfare and other public assistance program. One of the few reasons to which I relate to this topic is because for one it arises a many of time at the dinner table and I see how people abuse it in the area I am from.

Now before people think that I am a cold hearted S.O.B, I don’t believe that there is anything wrong with helping those in need, nor do I have a problem with welfare and other public assistance programs. What I do have a problem is seeing people with my own eyes sit around their butt doing drugs or drinking alcohol, not attempting to find a job or anything while there are people out there who are actually need it and are trying to get back on their feet.

The point that I am trying to bring across here is that I would like to see the amount of my tax dollars which contribute to welfare and other such public programs be put to better use. To put this in perspective, information from http://www.heritage.org/taxes/commentary/where-do-your-tax-dollars-go  says, “According to the latest Congressional Budget Office report on the distribution of federal taxes, Washington collects about $20,000 from the average household.” (1). In this collection, a part of it is known as income security, which includes welfare and takes almost 18% out this amount. To put into perspective that is an average of $3600.00 of your money that could potentially be going to people who are misusing it.

However, maybe this is not something that one has seen in their neighborhoods, or maybe have not even brought to mind that this is something that is happening around them or in the nation. Though data from http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=125387528 which was reported by Alan Greenblatt states that “ according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration…, which is part of the Department of Health and Human Services, found that 9.6 percent of people living in households that receive government assistance used illicit drugs in the previous month, compared with a 6.8 percent rate among families who receive no assistance.”

On one note the above data was from 2010 and I could not find any more recent data. Though from this, that is almost 10% of the people who are “reported” to be on drugs wasting your money. However I myself do not agree with this number. This is mainly because this involves only a selected few reported over which was probably through a random selection. I feel as though, even though it would not be economically possible, that if everyone was tested, we would see a much higher percentage of people on illicit drugs and government assistance programs such as welfare.

This idea of people on welfare and other public assistance programs is not a new idea or some type of regulation that has just popped up recently. Actually, according to NCLS at http://www.ncsl.org/research/human-services/drug-testing-and-public-assistance.aspx  “The 1996 welfare law bars states from providing TANF assistance to persons convicted of a felony for possession, use, or distribution of illegal drugs. However, it allows states to opt out of the ban or modify the period for which the ban applies. At least four states modified the ban to require those convicted of drug felony charges to comply with drug testing requirements as a condition of receiving benefits, including Maine, Minnesota, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.”

Including the statement above, in the year 2009, over twenty states had proposed legislation requiring drug testing when applying for assistance programs. Back in 2016 there were seventeen that still had proposals. Then during this year, Arkansas passed legislation making their drug testing program permanent.

So even recently states are striving towards making this testing to have benefits a thing. I completely agree with this and am okay with my money going towards more testing if it means that people who actually need these welfare and benefits and or other assistance programs are getting them instead of those who continue to abuse the program and illicit drugs.

-Samuel Good lll

References

Greenblatt, Alan. (2010, March 31). Should Welfare Recipients Get Drug Testing? Retrieved September 21, 2017, from http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=125387528

Michel, Adam, & Bogie, Justin (2017, April 17). Where Do Your Tax Dollars Go? Retrieved September 21, 2017, from http://www.heritage.org/taxes/commentary/where-do-your-tax-dollars-go

Finzel, Rochelle. (2017, March 24). DRUG TESTING FOR WELFARE RECIPIENTS AND PUBLIC ASSISTANCE. Retrieved September 21, 2017, from http://www.ncsl.org/research/human-services/drug-testing-and-public-assistance.aspx