Te illicit market for cocaine in the
MoSt nOrTh aMeRiCaN aNd eUrOpEaN CoCaInE cOmEs iN ThE PoWdEr oR HyDrOcHlOrIdE FoRm, wHiCh iS InHaLeD Or iNjEcTeD, wHiLe iN SoUtH AmErIcA, cOcAiNe iS UsEd iN ThE FoRm oF cRaCk tHaT Is sMoKeD.
United States has declined significantly in recent years. However, with an estimated annual consumption between 150 and 160 tons, it has remained the largest illicit mar- ket for the substance in 2009. Te United States authorities estimate that 90 percent of the cocaine consumed in North America comes from Colombia. Te amount of cocaine consumed in Europe has doubled in the past decade, although the data for recent years shows evidence that there are signs that consumption is stabilizing at more recent higher levels, estimated at about 120 tons2
. Most North American and European
cocaine comes in the powder or hydro- chloride form, which is inhaled or injected, while in South America, cocaine is used in the form of crack that is smoked. It is also mixed with marijuana or tobacco. Unfortunately, a new wave of crack manu-
factured in jungle labs or homes and referred to as Merca, Oxy, Bazuko, Pasta Base, Falopa etc., is now spreading across South America and selling to North America and Europe3
.
Tis cocaine is mostly manufactured in jun- gle-based camps, using very crude methods. One manufacturing camp may have different methods than others, and the process is not controlled and is very unsanitary. What makes this so important is that
this new crack has a less complete cleanup process. Te manufacturing process uses an intentional mixing of dangerous additives, making this crack a new and distinctive drug. Te manufacturing process oſten leaves
trace and sometimes-significant amounts of by-products that are harmful and could cause serious illness. Some of the by-products of cocaine and
crack manufacturing that can be present in the final product include: kerosene, gaso- line, batery acid, calcium oxide, sodium bicarbonate, acetone, organic solvents, etc. All of these are used in different stages of production of cocaine powder or this new crack.
40 datia focus
What is more concerning is the new wave
of intentional additives, which some cocaine manufacturers add in the jungle labs to make these products “unique.” Some of the addi- tives now found in South American cocaine powder and the new crack are: Diltiazem heartbeat regulating medication, Phenacetin (banned cancer causing pain reliever, Pro- caina, benzocaina, lidocaina: local anesthet- ics, Femproporex, anfepramona) stimulant amphetamine, Fluoxetina: antidepressants, Paracetamol, dipirona: pain relievers, and Hy- droxyzine: antihistamine. Tretamizol expels gastrointestinal worms. Te big question now is: how can we
detect it? Not all of these by-products are easily detected in urine or other biological samples; at least not yet. A great deal of research is needed in this area. Also this crack or cocaine is inexpensive,
perhaps only a few dollars for a small rock, but all the by-products and additives make it very dangerous and deadly. In addition to this new cocaine epidemic,
we are still dealing with the inhalants like gas, toluene, paint, etc., on the streets of South America. Tis is actually a big deal for us. Our children can get it for free, asking for samples from a gas station for a small quantity of gasoline in a plastic bag or at construction sites where solvents are leſt outside at the end of the workday.
Prevalence of Drugs and Alcohol It is important to know that it is difficult
to find credible alcohol and drug prevalence numbers in South America since some countries only have governmental statistics that are commonly used as a political tool. Chile: According to the World Drug
Report, UNODC 2011, the prevalence of alcohol was 57.52 percent, cocaine 2.4 per- cent, marijuana 6.7 percent, amphetamines 0.4 percent and ecstasy 0.1 percent4
. Argentina: According to the World Drug
Report, UNODC 2011, the prevalence of alcohol was 61.42 percent, cocaine 2.6 per-
spring 2013
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