NCJ Number
65411
Date Published
1980
Length
143 pages
Annotation
GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, PHYSICIANS, AND LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL TESTIFIED ON THE EXTENT OF COCAINE USE, ITS HEALTH AND SOCIAL CONSEQUENCES, AND INVESTIGATION BEFORE A HOUSE COMMITTEE ON NARCOTICS ABUSE AND CONTROL.
Abstract
IN AN OPENING STATEMENT, THE CHAIRMAN OF A SPECIAL TASK FORCE ON COCAINE EMPHASIZED THE INCREASING USE OF COCAINE BY MANY SEGMENTS OF THE POPULATION AND ITS HIGH POTENTIAL FOR ABUSE. A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE WHITE HOUSE STAFF SUMMARIZED THE ADMINISTRATION'S PROGRAM TO COMBAT COCAINE ABUSE. THE RAW SOURCES, MANUFACTURING PROCESS, AND SMUGGLING ROUTES FOR COCAINE WERE DESCRIBED BY A MEMBER OF THE DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION. A DETAILED STATEMENT GIVEN BY AN OFFICIAL FROM THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DRUG ABUSE (NIDA) PROVIDED DATA ON COCAINE'S COST, CHARACTERISTICS OF USERS, REACTIONS TO THE DRUG SUCH AS HALLUCINATION AND DEPRESSION, AND PROBLEMS CAUSED BY SMOKING COCA PASTE. IN ORDER TO DISPEL THE NOTION THAT COCAIN IS A SAFE AND RISK-FREE SUBSTANCE, A PSYCHIATRIST AND A PHYSICIAN SPECIALIZING IN PHARMACOLOGY DISCUSSED THE EARLY HISTORY OF COCAINE, ITS PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS, DANGERS TO HEALTH FROM SMOKING COCA LEAVES, AND THE GLAMORIZATION OF COCAINE USE. A FLORIDA MEDICAL EXAMINER PRESENTED DATA ON COCAINE-RELATED DEATHS, AND HE CONCLUDED THAT COCAINE COULD NOT BE CONSIDERED A SAFE RECREATIONAL DRUG AND THAT PRIOR USE OF COCAINE AND RAPIDITY OF ABSORPTION HELP DETERMINE A FATAL REACTION. ATTORNEYS AND POLICE INVOLVED IN THE COCAINE CONSPIRACY CASE, U.S. V. TILLERY, ET.AL., DESCRIBED THEIR INVESTIGATIONS IN THE WASHINGTON, D.C. METROPOLITAN AREA. THE HEARINGS CONCLUDED WITH THE PUBLIC INFORMATION DIRECTOR OF PHOENIX HOUSE FOUNDATION DISCUSSING EASILY PURCHASED DEVICES THAT YOUNG PEOPLE CAN USE TO CONVERT COCAINE TO COCA PASTE, FOLLOWED BY PERSONAL ACCOUNTS OF EXPERIENCES WITH COCAINE BY TWO RESIDENTS OF PHOENIX HOUSE, A DRUG TREATMENT FACILITY. (MJM)