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------------------------------------------------ Announcements / What's New
Beth Pearce, Producer and Director, Voice of the Victims Films: Designer drugs are not fun, cute, or sexy - they kill, rape and destroy young lives. I didn't know that. I'm a mom who tries to protect her kids; I'm not a drug expert. So when I learned that a young woman - Erin, who you'll meet in my first film - was in a coma because of a designer drug, I reacted like a mom. I wanted to protect my kids, True Stories stories of Ecstasy and Ketamine is the result. In the film, you'll see and feel the pain four families have gone through, and you'll learn from experts what these drugs do and how to protect the ones you love. I would love for parents to watch my films (more are in the works!) with their children, opening an honest dialog about designer drugs. Please do more than just order this film. Watch it, think about it, talk about it...and use it to influence those you love. [top]
[top] ------------------------------------------------ Article 1Halloween Alert Risk In Use of Decorative Contacts & Ecstasy Drug Abuse To Eyes By Trinka Porrata As Halloween 2003 approaches, it is a good time to repeat the FDA warning against using the non-corrective, decorative/cosmetic contact lenses that are distributed directly to consumers—without a prescription or proper fitting by an eye care professional. These products have been shown to present significant risks of eye injury or even blindness. See the FDA alert at http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2003/NEW00955.html These contact lenses have been particularly popular at rave parties, especially at Halloween time. They change the eye color and/or have unusual designs that appeal to some costume wearers. For some, they simply mask the widely dilated pupils of those on the drug MDMA, Ecstasy. Ironically, no research or attention by the FDA or the National Institute of Drug Abuse has been paid to the use of Ecstasy related to possible eye damage. People on XTC have dilated pupils that react little, if any, to light. While on the drug they are captivated by the lights and give each other “light shows” that are also called “Eye Candy.” Some of the lights aren’t particularly bright but many are. The tiny photon lights are extremely popular and are indeed quite bright. A sober person will find that they “feel” the light moving toward their eye from a significant distance and would not tolerate it being brought very close to the eye. But people on X (aka E) are fascinated and can’t get it close enough. [top] Consider your own last trip to the eye doctor. Perhaps he used a drop into your eye to dilate your pupils for diagnostic purposes. You either had to have someone drive you home or had to wait awhile and drive carefully home with sunglasses on. You were over sensitized to light and it hurt!!! Ironically, it is the opposite for those on E. They want the light and the more the better. Flashing colorful lights, even fire captivates them. Eye doctors in Pasadena, California, who were interviewed about the potential risks of eye damage by these light shows while on Ecstasy and with pupils dilated were deeply disturbed by the concept. The concerns are the brightness of the lights (some very bright), proximity to the eyes (right up against their eyes), the potential heat build up (body temperature is up significantly to even dangerously on the drug itself) and the length of exposure (ongoing and repeated). One doctor stated he had been seeing a form of vision lose in some teens that he couldn’t explain by conventional means and was concerned that this might indeed be the key. Clearly research is needed in this area. Much research has been done regarding the impact of MDMA on the brain. Damage to the teeth from MDMA use (causes teeth grinding and jaw locking which is why they suck on pacifiers and candy, etc., while on it) has also been clearly documented. No one has touched the issue of potential eye damage though MDMA abuse is widespread nationwide. The thrill of flames---At the September 2003 rave at the Cow Palace in San Francisco (that amazingly claims they don’t have “raves” but just teen dance parties; even after two people died at the New Years Eve rave this past year, they continue to do business with the same rave promoter who has a long history of legal issues) fire dancers performed at length. Flamethrowers at the very edge of the stage were shooting flames out over the crowd, huddled right up against the stage edge (no safety zone). Dancers twirled flaming batons, swung flaming sabers, spun pots of fire all around themselves, with a finale of two little gals harnessed up in huge framed butterfly wings that were set on fire. They seemed barely able to move in the harnesses and were “sort of” dancing right at stage edge. Had they tripped and fallen into the crowd, it could have been disastrous. Amazing that fire marshals presumably allowed this presentation at a major public facility. At the Fresno rave a couple of years ago, held by the same promoter, fire dancers on stilts were juggling fiery objects and one was witnessed to drop one of his, that then slid past the feet of two police officers and landed within a couple of inches of a young lady’s feet, her toes exposed in sandals. [top] Background Re Contact Lenses FDA has received reports of decorative contact lenses being marketed and distributed directly to consumers through sources such as flea markets, convenience stores, beach shops and the Internet. FDA has received reports of corneal ulcers associated with the wearing of decorative contact lenses in excess of the recommended period. Corneal ulcers can progress rapidly, and, if left untreated, could lead to infection of the eye. Uncontrolled infection can lead to corneal scarring and vision impairment. In the most severe cases, this condition can result in blindness and eye loss. Other risks associated with the use of decorative contact lenses include conjunctivitis (an infection of the eye); corneal edema (swelling); allergic reaction and corneal abrasion due to poor lens fit. Other problems may include reduction in visual acuity (sight), contrast sensitivity and other visual functions, resulting in interference with driving and other activities. “Although decorative contact lenses may seem festive during this time of year, consumers should understand that these lenses can seriously harm the eye if they are used without appropriate supervision by an eye care professional,” said FDA Commissioner Mark B. McClellan. “FDA is committed to protecting the public health by taking strong action against those who would put consumers at risk by improperly distributing these products.” The FDA has issued an import alert for decorative contact lenses presented for importation into the United States that are intended for distribution without the appropriate involvement of an eye care professional. [top] The Agency has examined numerous entries of decorative contact lenses presented for importation. Currently, there has been no demonstration to FDA's satisfaction that these products, when distributed without eye care professional involvement, comply with federal safety standards. Consequently, these products have not been permitted to enter United States commerce. Domestically, FDA has inspected several firms distributing decorative contact lenses, and additional inspections are planned. FDA has recently issued a warning letter to BWild Incorporated, warning the firm that it is selling decorative contact lenses without proper labeling about the risks and proper instructions for safe use. FDA will take action with respect to other firms distributing these products as appropriate. Recently, the FDA also sent letters to Yahoo! and the on-line auction site eBay, alerting them to the risks of decorative contact lenses distributed without appropriate eye care professional involvement and requesting their assistance in preventing improper online sales. FDA urges consumers not to use decorative contact lenses unless they have seen an eye care professional and have obtained proper fitting and instructions for using the product. FDA requests that consumers report any complaints to the FDA district office consumer complaint coordinator in their geographic area. Telephone and TTY contact information for FDA's consumer complaint coordinators is available via FDA's web site at http://www.fda.gov/opacom/backgrounders/complain.html. You may also report problems or complaints to MedWatch, the FDA’s voluntary reporting program, by phone at 1-800-FDA-1088; by FAX at 1-800-FDA-0178; or by mail to MedWatch, Food and Drug Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane (HF-2), Rockville, MD 20850. More information on decorative contact lenses can be found on the FDA’s web site http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/safety/declensenorx.html [top] ------------------------------------------------ Article 2Save The Date!International GHB & Chemical Drug Conference 2004The first International GHB & Chemical Drug Conference is planned for September 26-28, 2004, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Save those dates and attend the conference that promises to be a unique opportunity to learn and to share information about GHB, its analogs and other chemical drugs currently emerging and growing as drug abuse problems, such as MDMA (Ecstasy), ketamine, Foxy, Lucky 7, as well as prescription drug and over the counter product abuse issues. The rave and club scene, drug-facilitated sexual assault and how to successfully confront community drug abuse issues will be addressed. Detailed information for registration and for becoming a corporate or nonprofit exhibitor or corporate sponsor will be posted soon at www.projectghb.org. Conference committee members include:
[top] -------------------------------------------------- Article 3September 24, 2003 Why is it that after so many years of GHB information
and sorrow stories your company has provided, you still do not list
ONE company trying Generally speaking, when I say "GHB" I mean all forms
of GHB and that includes the analogs. There is no point in
distinguishing between them in terms of dosing. This testing problem
makes tackling GHB very difficult for law enforcement. Your website
doesn't seem to mention GHB analogs and doesn't tell potential
customers that it doesn't react to the analogs. The drink test
coasters on the market are supposed to react to GHB and ketamine, but
again, do NOT identify the analogs. The coasters don't work with
milk-based drinks, with dark liquids, etc., and don't work for GHB
analogs or the other 34+ drugs typically used. Ketamine isn't often
used in rapes and when it is involved, may more likely have been
taken voluntarily by a victim who is then abused while in a
disoriented state. The two primary analogs of GHB (GBL and BD)
convert to GHB in the human body. No matter which of the three you
are given, you will urinate GHB. So, how does it help for someone to
test their drink (and thus believe it is free of GHB) and get raped
anyway because the substance in the drink was GBL or BD??? Or it
contained one of the dozens of other drugs used??????? I see no
benefit whatsoever!!! No matter how well-intentioned the
creators were, the concept doesn't work well enough to use!!! I have
therefore personally avoided any impression of endorsing these
products. In fact, some of the pushers of these three products have
been far less than professional (one even quite profane) in their
efforts to DEMAND endorsement.
I simply don't see the benefit of the test products that do so little and leave a false impression that the drink is now "safe." It isn't. [top] ------------------------------------------------ Book Review
Narc Ops
Having grown up in Illinois, not far from T.H. and knowing Greg
Ferency to be a dedicated cop with a great sense of humor, I fully
recommend this book. Even my mother couldn’t stop reading it! It is
worthwhile for other officers and the general public as well. His
sense of humor shines through in a refreshing style. More about the book at Amazon.com: [top] Recent News Items
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