Cocaine

Cocaine as we see it on the street comes from the leaves of the coca plants which grow in South America. After the
drug is extracted from the leaves it is then transformed by a crude laboratory, usually in Columbia, into what is know
as "Cocaine Hydrochloride". This is the water soluble form of the drug extracted from the leaves. This "cocaine"
appears as a white crystalline powder or white crystalline chunks depending on its purity and type of cutting agent
used by the street dealer. "Crack"cocaine on the other hand has the same beginnings but when it comes into the hand
of the street dealer it is broken down into a solid form which is smoked. "Crack"cocaine looks like a light brown or
beige crystalline rock with almost the same consistency as soap or macadamia nuts. Cocaine is packaged in a variety
of ways; folded papers called "bindles", small vials, zip lock baggies and Tupperware type containers. "Crack" cocaine
on the other hand is not normally packaged at all. It can be held in a pocket or in the dealers or users mouth due to it
not being water soluble. An assortment of paraphernalia is common to the use of cocaine because of the various
ways the drug is used. Razor blades, pipes, mirrors, straws, metal rods, and syringes are some to name a few.

The euphoria experienced with cocaine is immediate and short lived. The high lasting anywhere between 5-15
minutes. A feeling of well-being, alertness, and stimulation are common amongst users. On the downside of the high
the user may experience restlessness, irritability, and anxiety. This causes the user to become very dependent on the
drug to the point of centering their lives around it. This dependency causes a cocaine user to disregard all normal
needs associated with life such as; sleep, food, self respect and love. Cocaine causes a person to be highly euphoric,
dizzy, impaired divided attention, loss of coordination, restless and sweaty. An abuser will suffer from severe weight
loss as well as stuffy or bloody noses. On the downside the user will become depressed, paranoid and irritable.

Cocaine has been popular for many years. Cocaine is a highly addictive drug that causes physical and psychological
dependence. The cost of the drug is staggering as a person becomes addicted. It can and will cause financial disaster
for a family or business. The user will generally begin to steal from the home, then the neighborhood to support the
habit. Users will also become dealers to assist in off setting the cost of the drug. Increased traffic in the neighborhood
and suspicious activity will follow. As with any addictive drug crime follows the path of its use and sale. Neighborhoods
see an increase in burglaries, thefts, and violence. The violence is usually a by product of the fight for customers in a
particular area. The sad result is the victims are usually innocent persons caught in the middle. Gangs have grown in
size and power due to cocaine. Crack cocaine is one of the primary reasons for this. Gangs have always existed in
our community and not till a price tag was placed on the amount of money that could be generated by a gang involved
in cocaine, did violence become so prevalent.Cocaine, as with any addictive drug, poses more problems for the
community than just having another addict on the street. Crime is always associated with the use of any drug. This is
due to the simple fact that abusers can not support their habit on their own. All people of the community become prey,
as property crimes increase. Violence also is part of the cocaine epidemic. Any family this day and age can be
touched by the cocaine epidemic, from drive by shootings to residential robbery.

In the late 1980's "Crack" cocaine became the drug of choice . Prior to the introduction of "Crack" , gangs were
involved in mostly property type crimes. The high profits from the sale of "Crack" immediately caused violence among
local gangs. This violence was not exclusive to any neighborhood as the gangs began to network out to increase
profits from "Crack" sales.
 

Heroin

Heroin has been a part of the "Drug" culture for many years. Heroin is primarily used through injection causing wide
spread concerns for all. Syringes lost or left behind by users carry disease and narcotics which can effect anyone who
comes in contact with them. Syringes from heroin addicts have been found at bus benches, vacant lots by schools,
alleyways and public bathrooms. Diseases such as HIV, hepatitis, and tetanus are common amongst heroin addicts.
Prostitutes are common users of heroin and can spread disease with the syringes they use and the service they
provide. Prostitution and heroin go hand in hand. Prostitution is first used as a means to afford heroin and soon
becomes a way of life as the addicts body and mind deteriorate. A neighborhood with a prostitution problem is a
neighborhood with a heroin problem. Prostitution has been labeled by some as a victimless crime but in affect it has
several victims. One victim being the addicted prostitute, the other the family of an infected customer who contracts
HIV, and let's not forget the child who finds a syringe in the alley on the way to school.

Heroin is an opiate and is made from the resin taken from the seed pod of the poppy plant. The resin is then
processed in a variety of ways resulting in the final product known as heroin. The processing method determines the
appearance of heroin as it is seen on the street. In "Black Tar" heroin looks like tootsie roll candy and/or dark caramel
and has a strong vinegar odor to it. "Black Tar" heroin is packaged in small pieces of aluminum foil, tightly wrapped
plastic and/or cellophane from cigarette packages. Because the preferred method of a heroin user is injection, you will
generally see certain types of paraphernalia. This paraphernalia will include but is not limited to spoons with residue in
the spoon itself along with a piece of cotton, the bottom side of the spoon having burn marks and the handle being bent
downward somewhat. Syringes are also included in this paraphernalia along with soda bottle caps, which have the
same use as the spoons. The spoons or caps are used to dilute and liquefy the heroin. The cotton in the spoon is for
filtering the heroin as it is drawn into the syringe. If you ever encounter a syringe and/or spoon like described, don't
touch it and immediately notify 911. Police will respond and dispose of the items.

To put a perspective on heroin, morphine is one of the strongest legal pain killers known and heroin is five times
stronger. Heroin tends to relax the user. An immediate rush usually will occur and sometimes be accompanied by side
effects such as restlessness, nausea and vomiting. A user of heroin may go "on the nod". This is best described as
going back and forth from feeling alert to drowsy. Due to the use of needles with this drug, infections and abscesses
on the body are common. Heroin users will normally have injuries that have been left unattended due to the drugs pain
killing abilities. Addiction usually leads to malnutrition and weight loss. A person addicted to heroin may look like they
are in a daze, almost to the point of sleep, have a dry mouth, low raspy voice, droopy eyelids, profuse itching and fresh
puncture marks or sores covering their body.

Dependence is likely with heroin, especially if the person uses a lot of the substance or just uses it occasionally over a
long period of time. The physical dangers of using heroin, are but not limited to, contaminated needles, contamination
of the drug, using too much of the drug to the point of overdose, or combining it with other drugs such as cocaine
("speedballing"). As with any drug, when addiction occurs the addict will go to extreme means to obtain the drug. This
translates to increased crime in our community. The crime rate is directly affected by the drugs being used illicit drugs
being used in our community. Burglary, shoplifting, and robbery are a few that are most often connected to a heroin
addict. These crimes alone effect all of us from higher insurance premiums to higher costs for goods at local stores.
An added problem that is attached to heroin is the common way it is used, which is injection. Whenever a person is
under the influence of a substance they do not function reasonably. Usually all caution, is thrown to the wind and this
translates into the use of "dirty needles" and the spreading of the HIV virus.

Education is critical in combating the use of Heroin. Without education the motivation to get treatment will not be
present until it is too late. The information provided here is to assist anyone in helping someone who may need this
help or for helping themselves.
 

Methamphetamine

Crystal methamphetamine is a manmade drug, made with chemicals and chemical by products, usually in what is
called a "clandestine laboratory". These chemicals on their own are extremely hazardous and can cause serious
health problems for those contaminated. A "clandestine laboratory" can be very simple and set up in places such as a
motel room, business parks, trailers, or vans. The process of making methamphetamine creates toxic waste which
requires hazardous materials experts to come to a site and complete the "clean-up" process. This contamination
could cause on house or an entire neighborhood to be uninhabitable for years.

The appearance of methamphetamine is continually changing. This is due to new and innovative recipes being used in
the "clandestine labs". Common appearances are either a beige powder, an off-white crystalline rock, or a white
powder. The smell of methamphetamine can also vary, but generally it will have a "chemical" type smell.
Methamphetamine can be packaged a variety of ways; small zip lock baggies, folded papers or bindles, glass vials,
and plastic pill containers are some of the more common.

Methamphetamine may be used in a variety of ways: injection, inhalation, smoked, and ingested. Each way is specific
to a users preference and each has its advantages and disadvantages. A person who injects the drug will have a more
immediate high but will become addicted quicker as opposed to the inhaler. Any way methamphetamine is used, it can
and will become highly addictive. Users will generally need more of the drug to sustain the "high" they experienced
when they first began. This is due to the tolerance that the user builds with the frequency of use. A person on
methamphetamine will usually display restlessness, mood swings, excitation, and be very talkative. They will have little
to no appetite, dry mouth, and grind their teeth. They will remain awake or "high" for days and as those days progress
things such as violence, hallucinations, and paranoia become more and more evident. A normal "high" can last
anywhere between 6-12 hours depending on the dose and tolerance level of the user. After approximately 4-7 days the
user will crash. A crash causes severe depression causing the user to sleep for several hours at a time. As the body
begins to recover the addicts desire for methamphetamine returns and another cycle of 4-7 days on the drug follows.

The dangers of methamphetamine outweigh any reason for its existence. Violence and methamphetamine go hand in
hand, from violence towards other users, dealers, and police, to the family, friends, and children. Several incidents
have been documented recently of the violence associated with methamphetamine. Everything from children being
murdered by parents to police officers being killed by police. Over seventy percent of all crime can be directly
connected with drugs and their use. As with any drug it costs money. Users rarely have the means to pay for the
drugs themselves, therefore prostitution, burglary and robbery is the normal route taken by an abuser to obtain money
and/or drugs. This of course directly effects everyone in the community, not just the user.
 

Flunitrazepam (Rohypnol)

Flunitrazepam use is spreading rapidly across the United States. On the streets it is called many things, some of
which are, "roofies", "roche", "circles", and "Mexican Valium". By itself flunitrazepam is used in some countries as a
sedative much like valium, only flunitrazepam is ten times more potent. The drug is not made or sold legally in the
United States. It has become a popular drug among high school and college age kids. In some circles it has been
called the "date rape drug". The effects of this drug on the community has not yet been determined, but as with any
drug, problems will inevitably follow. An obvious problem is the fact that our communities young people have yet
another substance to abuse. This always opens the gateway for abuse of many other types of drugs. Also due to the
drug being relatively new, users will have to experiment with dosage in order to reach what they consider a
comfortable level. This process will cause overdoses and other possible medical problems for hospitals.

Flunitrazepam is marketed under the trade name Rohypnol. It is manufactured worldwide, particularly in Europe and
Latin America, by Hoffman-La Roche Inc. It comes in 1 and 2 milligram tablets, packaged in bubble packs, with the
name "Roche" printed on the package along with Rohypnol 1 or 2 milligrams. The tablets generally are white in color,
cross-scored on one side with "ROCHE" and "1" or "2" encircled on the other. Its packaging and appearance alone
causes concern among law enforcement agencies. People rarely associate the word "drug" with something packaged
and marked like a normal prescription drug. This gives the user a false sense of safety. This drug is not manufactured
or approved for medical use in the United States.

Rohypnol is ingested orally and is frequently taken with other drugs. It effects the user approximately thirty minutes
after ingestion and peaks within two hours. The effects may persist for up to eight hours or more. Some of the effects
associated are; decreased blood pressure, memory impairment, drowsiness, visual disturbances, dizziness,
confusion, gastrointestinal disturbances, and urinary retention. It is used by some as a "parachute" for the depression
that follows a stimulant high. Although the drug is classified as a depressant, it can induce excitability or aggressive
behavior in some users.

As flunitrazepam becomes more popular in our community, the information we can provide will become greater. This
drug, being relatively new in our community, we can only speculate what can and will occur with its abuse. Keep
checking this page as the information will be updated continuously.
 

Hallucinogens/Psychedelics

Hallucinogens, or psychedelics, are drugs that effect a person's perceptions, sensations, thinking and self-awareness.
Some hallucinogens are found in natural forms and others are synthetically manufactured. Hallucinogens are making a
wide spread comeback, especially in the high schools and colleges. Some of the resurgence can be attributed to the
cost effectiveness of the drug. A high with a hallucinogen can last for several hours as opposed to the short lived high
of cocaine and other illicit drugs. A single dosage unit of a hallucinogen can cost as little as three dollars. This is one of
the main reasons for its use among young adults. The effects on the community with these drugs can be drastic.
Young adults involved in the use of hallucinogens cannot function in school or society when on the drug.

The high associated with hallucinogens can vary from feelings of panic, confusion, anxiety, and loss of control.
Flashbacks may occur in some users along with severe mood swings, impaired thinking, unexpected outbursts of
violence, and depression.Some users state they "see sound" and "hear color" along with the hallucinations they
experience.
 

LSD:

LSD is normally found in the form of blotter paper. The blotter paper is the carrying agent of the LSD. Liquid LSD is
absorbed by the blotter paper and then dried. The dry blotter paper is then placed in the mouth and absorbed into the
users body. Blotter paper is a perforated paper usually sectioned into 100 doses. The paper will generally display a
design or pattern. Some of the current designs have been, "dancing test tubes," "smiling suns," "Mickey Mouse," and
"Bevis and Butthead." The paper or doses are usually stored in cellophane from cigarette packages, small zip lock
bags or plastic sandwich bags.
 

PSILOCYBIN:

Psilocybin is a drug derived from Mexican mushrooms. It is usually found in fresh or dried forms. A person can eat the
mushroom or it can be smoked. Psilocybin mushrooms grow wild in some areas of the country, but due to the climate
in most of the country, they are generally grown indoors. Psilocybin mushrooms are packaged in plastic sandwich
bags, much like marijuana.
 

ECSTASY:

Ecstasy has become the drug of the club scene . It has become popular at underage (non-alcoholic) concerts, "Rave"
parties, and topless nightclubs. Ecstasy may be a brown crystalline powder, contained in a pill or capsule form or as a
liquid. The drug has been known to create loss of all inhibitions in the user.
 

MARIJUANA

Most abused drug:

Marijuana continues to be the most abused and used illegal drug in the United States. There are approximately 12
million users in the United States.

Higher THC content:

THC is the abbreviation for tetrahydrocannabinol. This is the chemical in the plant which causes the psycho active
effect desired by the abuser. Today's marijuana in not the same drug as it was 20 years ago. Special fertilizer, plant
hormones and steroids, carbon dioxide, and advanced horticultural techniques are all used by the informed illegal
grower to push the plant into producing the highest grade, most potent product.

Domestic marijuana is the most potent and highly prized cannabis product in the world. In 1970, the average THC
content of the marijuana plant was 1.5 percent. Today's grower has been able to push the THC content to 8 to 20
percent.

Health risks:

Besides the well known psycho active caused by THC contained in marijuana, there is accumulating evidence of
marijuana's harmful biological effects. Marijuana contains known toxins and cancer inducing chemicals, which are
stored in the fat cells for long periods of time. Scientific research relates marijuana use to long term impaired effects
on the brain, the respiratory system, the immune system, and the reproductive process. THC and marijuana smoke
have been directly linked to miscarriage, utero fetal death, still birth, and infant death just after birth, along with behavior
and biological abnormalities of off-spring.

Marijuana use by expectant mothers affects the unborn babies. Studies in rhesus monkeys have demonstrated that
THC readily crosses the placenta and enters the fetus. One study reports an increased risk of childhood acute
nonlymphoblastic leukemia associated with maternal marijuana use, prior to and during pregnancy. Another study
revealed that infants whose mothers tested positive for marijuana use also had decreased birth weight and length,
which often relates to infant health.

Marijuana IS NOT a safe drug:

Early studies which indicating marijuana's harmlessness were based on marijuana with a low THC content. Today's
marijuana produced by new cultivation methods often has up to 30 percent THC, 3000 percent higher than the
marijuana available during the 1960's through the early 1980's.

Although some studies show that pure THC, one of the many chemicals in marijuana, has some effect in controlling
nausea and vomiting. This chemical is available in a pharmaceutical capsule called marinol for use by the medical
community.

Marijuana has, in fact, been formally rejected as a treatment by the American Medical Association, the National Multiple
Sclerosis Society, the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the American Cancer Society, and the American
Glaucoma Society. The risk of experimental medical use outweighs the possible gains.

Marijuana VS. Cigarettes:

Marijuana chemical make-up has potential for harmful effects on the smoker. It contains up to 400+ separate
chemicals, which break down into 2000 chemicals when smoked. No one knows the full effect of inhaling these
chemicals. Documented effects of long term use include damaged brain cells, decreased hormone production in both
sexes, acute memory loss, and lowered immune systems.

Many chemicals in marijuana are lipophilic or have strong attraction for fats. Unlike nicotine, marijuana is stored in the
fat cells and remains in the body for several days. This allows more time for adversely effecting the body. This is a
seep system. The body stores the marijuana and it just continually seeps, like a spring, out of the fat cells to
continually affect the abuser.

Marijuana advocates often compare smoking marijuana with smoking tobacco. Marijuana is more detrimental to the
smoker. Marijauna cigarettes produce proportionately more tar than tobacco cigarettes. Marijuana smoke has a high
concentration of carcinogenics. Marijuana users report many of the same health problems as cigarette smokers.
Problems include an increased frequency of bronchitis, emphysema, and bronchial asthma. Local irritation and
narrowing of the airways, increased risk of infection, and precancerous changes in lung tissue.

Marijuana and the Community:

As the battle over marijuana legalization continues, we owe it to the citizens of our community to continue our efforts in
reducing marijuana use and availability. Marijuana impairs the judgment and performance of most users. Driving
performance is affected causing frequent misjudgments of speed and requiring longer time for braking. A shock
trauma center in Maryland reports that 35 percent of patients tested positive for marijuana use. Emergency statistics
reveal that marijuana related incidents increased 4.1 percent from 1990 to 1991, with a 17 percent increase for the first
half of 1992.

Marijuana use among adolescents is correlated with increased delinquency, unemployment, divorce, abortions, and
health problems. Marijuana can also be a stepping stone to the use of other illicit drugs.

With all the listed problems associated with marijuana, it obviously is not the harmless drug some people wish you to
believe it is. To effectively reduce marijuana use, continued education and enforcement is a must.

Published By The Kinsley, Kansas Police Department       Thank You!    NEXT PAGE