Category Archives: Addcition

Tennis Player Richard Gasquet Tests Positive for Cocaine & Faces 2 Year Ban

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Richard Gasquet Tennis Ban
French tennis player Richard Gasquet has admitted that a recently taken drug screen came back positive for cocaine; However, Gasquet is claiming he’s innocent.  According to the AP, two urine samples were taken from Richard Gasquet on the same day, last month during the Sony Ericsson Open in Key Biscayne, Fl, and both revealed positive test results for cocaine use.  Nonetheless, Gasquet told reporters, “I am gathering together proof of my innocence and I will choose an appropriate moment to express myself.”

Not surprisingly, Gasquet quickly pulled out of the Sony Ericsson Open in Key Biscayne, Fl, after have taken the tests.  Gasquet claims that his withdrawal was due to a right shoulder injury.  The governing bodies of world-wide tennis, the WTA and the ITF, along with the World Anti-Doping Agency are still reviewing Richard Gasquet’s case.  The French Tennis player faces up to a two-year ban from international play as a result of testing positive for cocaine.

Despite the current controversy that surrounds 22-years-old, Richard Gasquet, he has definitely proven his skills in the past when he made it as a semi-finalist in the Wimbledon by beating Andy Roddick; also, he had a former world ranking of #7 and currently hold the ranking of 23rd in the world.

Study Shows 80% of Australians Think They Have A Binge Drinking Problem

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Australian Binge Drinking

The Australian organization, the Alcohol Education Rehabilitation Foundation, recently teamed with the Distilled Spirits Industry Council of Australia (DSICA) to conduct a survey that yielded more than 1,000 respondents; the finding were startling, roughly 80% of Australians surveyed believed there is a national drinking problem.  That almost a 20% increase from the same survey that was given last year, which resulted in a 63% acknowledgment of a national drinking problem.

ABC Australia reported that Scott Wilson, the chairman of The Alcohol Education Rehabilitation Foundation said, “The swing in attitude can be largely attributed to government efforts to put binge drinking on the national agenda.”  In short, a new government initiative to raise awareness of binge drinking has been effective.  However, it seems that the government may have to step up there efforts as, “Almost 100 per cent of respondents agreed the responsibility to help communities with alcohol problems should be shared between governments, alcohol manufacturers, alcohol retailers, individuals and the health and not-for-profit sector,” according to ABC Australia.

Colombian President Alvaro Uribe Pushes to Make Drugs Illegal

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Drugs Illegal in Colombia

Colombian President, Alvaro Uribe, has introduced an amendment that aims to make drug possession illegal in Colombia. The Colombian congress already began discussing the illegality of drugs in Colombia earlier last week.

As it stands currently, Colombia citizens (of legal adult age 18+) are permitted to legally possess 20 grams of marijuana, 1 gram of cocaine and or 2 grams of synthetic drugs, ecstasy. Drugs current status was the result of a 1994 Constitutional court ruling.

In a recent speech, President Uribe stated that there was a contradiction in the fact that Colombia claims to be waging war on drugs (using billions of US dollars), while allowing domestic possession of drugs. During his 6 years of presidency, Uribe, has put forth various efforts to evoke this reform. However, he has always faced resistance from congress members, who believe the illegalization of drugs in Colombia would be a violation of Colombian’s freedoms.

The new amendment is less punitive than the ones previously introduced. However, if passed, drug possession would be considered a misdemeanor, not a felony, and would result in the intervention of a “therapeutic court”, involving judges, doctors, and psychologists.

In the Rooms Youtube Channel

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In the Rooms Youtube Channel

The new social networking website IntheRooms.com, which dedicates itself specifically as a support network for those in recovery, now has a channel on youtube.com that is filled with all kinds of pertinent recovery videos.  To be specific, there are exactly 37 videos currently, which range from an NBC 6 interview with the founders of In the Rooms, Kenny Pomerance and Ron Tannenbuam, to several videos that feature Father Martin.

For those unfamiliar with Father Joseph Martin, he was an ordained priest based out of Baltimore Maryland, who was an alcoholic that made a full recovery and spent the rest of his life advocating animatedly for the Alcoholics and Narcotic Anonymous fellowships.  Unfortunately, Father Joseph Martin passed away earlier this year (2009).  He is most famous for his “Chalk Board” talks that helped champion addiction recovery for so many individuals who sought to overcome the disease of addiction.

A Global Recovery (aglobalrecovery.com) invites everyone around the globe, who may be reading this article (as well as everyone who isn’t), to visit the In the Rooms Youtube Channel at: http://www.youtube.com/intherooms.  We also invite everyone to get as much support as possible by joining the online community of InTheRooms.com.  There, you can get in contact with plenty of support from the over 30,000 fellow recovering members from all around the world.

New Mandatory Minimum Drug Sentences in Canada Stir Controversy

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Mandatory Minimum Drug Sentences Canada

Yesterday (May 04) the Canadian all-party committee held a meeting to hear from opponents and supporters alike on the new Ottawa drug policy that calls for mandatory minimum sentences for drugs like marijuana, which has been approved by the government to 3,000 Canadians for medicinal use.  The newly proposed Canadian drug penalties would call for an automatic two year sentence for offenders selling small amounts of drugs near schools, parks, malls and other youth hangouts.  Additionally, marijuana growers caught selling even one plant would also be jailed.

The Harper Government’s mandatory minimum bill would be the first of its kind in Canada.  It would supersede Canada’s current sentencing protocol, which gives judges the discretion to sentence as they see fit.  Nonetheless, the bill is receiving a lot of resistance from opponents whom argue that the bill will only fill jails with small time crooks, while the drug lords will continue to thrive and roam freely.  The issue has seemed to split between conservative and liberal parties in Canada; conservatives favoring the bill, while liberals oppose it.  Also, supporters of the new bill seem to ignore the action of the neighbors across the border, in states like New York, where mandatory minimum sentences have been recently overturned/revoked by the state’s legislation.

Currently, the mandatory minimum sentences that exist in Canada’s law books for sentencing only pertain to murder and offenses involving firearms.

Quick Facts: Methamphetamine

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Quick Facts Methamphetamine

A Global Recovery will be presenting facts on various narcotics, from time to time, under a section called “Quick Facts.” This first segment is on crystal meth facts. This particular article focuses more on the long-term health effects of methamphetamine.  Mostly all of the following information is based upon the statistics, studies and report from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, Research Report: “Methamphetamine Abuse and Addiction” section.  It can be found at the following link: www.drugabuse.gov/ResearchReports/methamph/methamph.html

Long-term meth abuse causes many harmful effects, including addiction, which “characterized by compulsive drug-seeking and drug use which is accompanied by functional and molecular changes in the brain,” per NIDA.  Additionally, chronic methamphetamine abusers often show signs of “violent behavior, anxiety, confusion, and insomnia,” and, “a number of psychotic features, including paranoia, auditory hallucinations, mood disturbances, and delusions (for example, the sensation of insects creeping on the skin, which is called “formication”), which can result in homicidal as well as suicidal thoughts” (NIDA).

Building a tolerance to meth is pretty common amongst abusers, which can lead them to having to take larger quantities to obtain the same desired effects.  During a “run,” an abuser can inject “as much as a gram of the drug every 2 to 3 hours over several days” (NIDA), until they run out.  Often the result of the “run” is near starvation and dehydration as the participants often just forget to eat and drink.

Although no physical withdrawals take place when a meth user stops, in the case of habitual abusers (chronic user) of the drug, often “depression, anxiety, fatigue, paranoia, aggression, and an intense craving for the drug,” can result, according to NIDA.

In scientific studies conducted on animals to measure the long-term effects of meth on the brain, “Researchers have reported that as much as 50 percent of the dopamine-producing cells in the brain can be damaged after prolonged exposure to relatively low levels of methamphetamine,” says NIDA—as well as, nerve cell damage to serotonin-containing nerve cells.   However, researchers aren’t sure if brain toxicity is related to the psychosis seen in some long-term methamphetamine abusers.

Allegations of Government Funded Drug Research that Gave Addicts Illegal Substances

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Government Illegal Drug Study

According to the Washington Examiner, the US Department of Veterans Affairs gave 69 vet heroin addicts steady quantities of morphine, then suddenly cut back quantities, to study if they would become “hyperactive.” The publication claimed that the “secretive experiment” had cost “$7.8 million,” adding that they based their statements on documents obtained from the “Examiner Show,” confirming the allegation.

The article also mentioned a 10 year old study recently released as a result of the Freedom of Information Act that offered the fullest documentation of “widespread government trials that gave hard-core drugs to addicts.” This particular study took place during the mid 90’s and studied 787 drug addicted vets, whom suffered a range of effects, as part of the study, from minor things like constipation all the way through conditions like heart tremors. The article mentioned that what has happened to participants since remains unclear.

The Washington Examiner also mentioned that the VA and NIDA were aware that the border-line, unethical studies were taking place and refrained from exposing them. The article also cited the logic some maintain in arguing that these human subject tests of these kinds are crucial, because they remain the only real way to measure the long-term effects of drug abuse.

As a matter of fact, rom Dr. Petros Levounis, who is the director of the Addiction Institute of New York, told the Washington Examiner: “It’s very, very good for us to think about these matters. But really, the truth of the matter is that these patients, in general, would continue to use these drugs. By bringing them into a hospital, we’re increasing the odds that they will engage in treatment.”

Click here, Full Article, for the full details of the studies and the entire article in its entirety.

National Survey in Panama Shows Alcohol as most Consumed Drug

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panama alcohol

The results of the national Panamanian survey “Encuesta Nacional de Salud y Calidad de Vida” (ENSCAVI) have revealed that alcohol is the most widely-used drug in the country.  The data reported by the ENSCAVI was obtained in 2007 from survey responses given by approximately 25,748 adults.  Several Panamanian organizations collaborated to administer the survey, including the “Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas de Estudios de la Salud”, the “Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censo de la Contraloría General de la República de Panamá”, and the “Ministerio de Economía y Finanzas (MEF).”

The statistics obtained from the ENSCAVI survey also provided significant evidence of gender differences in regards to alcohol consumption.  Across all variables, it was the survey concluded that Panamanian men reported drinking alcoholic beverages with more frequency then women. In addition, it was found that men begin consuming alcohol at an earlier age than their female counterparts.  The average age that Panamanian males reported, for first consuming alcohol, was between 18 and 24, while the average female reports were around 25 years of age.

In regards to the consumption of alcohol among Panamanian youths, a research study conducted by psychologist, Geraldine Emiliani, found that 89% of the polled adolescents (ages 14 -17) reported already consuming alcohol at family gatherings and at clubs.  Researchers believe that possible causes of early alcohol consumption are linked to a lack of parental involvement and communication, peer pressure, an excess in alcohol marketing.  When these factors are combined with a shortage of safe and healthy entertainment, subsequently, a deterioration of the family follows.

New Program, Project G86, to curb Rise of Youth Drug Addiction in India

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Hindustantimes of Indian reported last week that according to drug-abuse experts, statistics are showing youth drug addiction has risen drastically in India over the last few years.  One such expert is psychologist Rahul Chandok of the Batra Hospital, who said “The number of students smoking marijuana to beat stress has gone up considerably in the past few years. Students with an experimental zeal are more prone to intoxicants like weed and hash.”  Some experts are saying that kids as young as 13 and 14 in India are regularly partaking in such behaviors.

Nonetheless, the UN is taking preventative measures to curb youth drug addiction in India by implementing a school-based, awareness and education program designed specifically for youths, called G86.  Thus far, the G86 project has already had 200 public and government schools commit to participating in their “I Decide — I will not take drugs” campaign.  The program mainly targets middle-schoolers but also involves parents by sending informative brochures home with kids.

It seems that the effort to reach out to parents is considered crucial by expert like Deepak Raheja, who heads the Hope Foundation, which works in the recovery community and commonly sees addicted kids.  Raheja often shared his sentiments in the article, saying “abuse can lead to various behavioural changes in children. They need to rekindle essential values that can save children from deadly consequences.”

Cocaine Production on the Rise Says Bolivian Anti-Drug Chief

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Bolivian Anti-Drug police chief, Oscar Nina, recently warned that law enforcement has seen a spike in cocaine productions, mainly due to Colombian and Mexican cartels subcontracting local coca growers to process the leaf instead because it’s more efficient than shipping it out. “There is more interest and investment in purifying coca paste here and exporting it, rather than sending it to Colombia for purification” said Nina in the interview.

However, this pattern is not new. In the mid 90’s, Peruvian anti-drug authorities saw the same shift being made by the major cartels in Colombia, when local growers were paid more to process the cocaine, rather than exporting it to Colombia for the task. Still, much of the coca grown in Bolivia is done so by family farms and is legal under the country’s law, as it is intended for use in teas and herbal medicines. For exactly this reason, conditions are ideal in Bolivia for upping local processing of coca.

Last Month, Bolivian authorities busted three hidden processing-labs in the jungle, after a small plane aviated by two Colombians was seized carrying 660 pounds of cocaine and lead to the discovery. Thus far in 2009, nine tons of cocaine has been seized and 992 drug-related arrests made. Just last year, Bolivian authorities busted more than 3,000 local, coca-processing labs and seized a record breaking 27 tons of cocaine that mainly came from the small, clandestine operations.