Additional threats with Cocaine Abuse
Feature: Tainted Cocaine Sickening, Killing People...
Source: Stop the Drug War website

September 11, 2009 - On the last day of August, media outlets around the country ran an Associated Press story reporting that nearly one-third of the cocaine in the country is tainted with a veterinary medicine, a de-worming agent called levamisole. According to the AP, the tainted cocaine is responsible for at least three deaths in the US and Canada, as well as sickening more than a hundred other people.

According to health authorities, the cocaine tainted with levamisole is linked to an unusual incidence of agranulocytosis, a condition of a suppressed immune system, whose symptoms include persistent sore throat, persistent or recurrent fever, swollen glands, painful sores, skin infections with painful swelling, thrush, and other unusual infections.

The DEA suspects that levamisole is being added as a cutting agent by Colombian drug traffickers. Researchers speculate that it may boost the cocaine high by acting as a dopamine reuptake inhibitor, but there is of yet little research to support that.
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Cocaine rehab treatment needs critical for binge users
Did Cocaine, paranoia lead to death of man found in river?
Source: Suburban Chicago News
By: Matt Hanley

May 22, 2009 - The National Institute on Drug Abuse says that cocaine binges can lead to restlessness, anxiety and paranoia.

If that clinical definition is not descriptive enough, consider the death of Larry Steward, who Aurora police believe may have died because of his own drug-fueled suspicions.

Aurora police have been trying to figure out what happened to the Naperville resident since he was reported missing on March 1 by his family. His body was recovered four days later, lodged up on the southern tip of Hurd's Island in the Fox River.
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Cocaine overdose almost claims life of child
4-year-old Beloit, Wis, child overdoses on cocaine
Source: AP

April 27, 2009 - A 4-year-old boy who overdosed on cocaine last weekend was hospitalized in stable condition Monday, Beloit police said.
Capt. William Tyler said investigators do not yet know how the boy got the drug. No arrests have been made.
"We have spoken to both parents. Neither has been able to provide any plausible explanation on how the child got cocaine," Tyler said.
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Cocaine Abuse Shows Necessity for Effective Rehab
Drug Use Trends Need to Change
Source: NewsLinkIndiana.com
By: Jingwei Doug

Friday, February 6, 2009 - Four suspects were charged with possession of drugs in Delaware County this week, and the Muncie Police Department is trying to stop this trend of drug use.
Officers think the most effective to combat drug use is to find the major sources of drug selling from the dealers arrested from the street.
Officers also said cocaine use leads to more crimes. Police warn that using cocaine may now get offenders almost as much prison time as selling the drug.
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Growing Need for Cocaine Addiction Treatment Shown
NDIC: Cocaine Threat Growing
Source: The Tribune-Democrat
By: Mike Faher

Saturday, December 20, 2008 - Cocaine poses the “leading drug threat in the United States,” far outpacing heroin, a new federal report shows.

In fact, the document prepared by Johnstown-based National Drug Intelligence Center ranks heroin fourth on a list of nationwide concerns – behind methamphetamine and marijuana.

But the report also notes that heroin continues to cause acute problems in the Northeastern U.S., where there are “strong and lucrative markets” for the drug.

Pennsylvania, including Cambria and Somerset counties, is no exception.

“Heroin is our No. 1 problem,” said Detective Jason Hunter, Somerset County Drug Task Force coordinator.

NDIC’s 2009 National Drug Threat Assessment includes information from more than 3,000 state and local law-enforcement agencies across the country. It makes a clear case for cocaine being the most-pervasive drug problem.
The number of alcohol-related highway accidents involving young women in San Diego County has risen sharply, according to a new report.
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Cocaine Abuse Carries Additional Concerns
Officials Warn of Contaminated Cocaine
Source: Northern News Service Online

December 15, 2008 - Kami Kandola, the acting chief medical health officer for the NWT, is advising the public of a dangerous substance that could be contaminating cocaine.

Individuals who abuse cocaine could have their immune systems harmed if they use the drug when it has been contaminated.

The result is a condition known as agranulocytosis, which can impede the ability to fight off common infection and eventually lead to death.
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