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Newsletter 2-07
CONFERENCE AGENDA ITEMS DEVELOPING
The March Conference agenda is shaping up. Hurry up and register
now. Be sure to make hotel arrangements as soon as possible and tell
them you are with Project GHB (or use their special link on our website
conference page.
IMPORTANT NOTE: We are working on
CEUs for some of the various professions of our attendees. With such an
array of state and professions represented, it is somewhat difficult to
accomplish this for everyone. Attendees should let us know exactly what
is needed for them to get credit for this training and we will work with
you on that. Some are able to “self report” and thus will be able to do
necessary paperwork after the conference.
Conference speakers include (partial list only):
--Trinka Porrata, Project GHB President, opening
statement and introductions
--DEA Dallas Senior Agent in Charge, James L.
Capra, opening statement
--Gary Shimabukuro—President, Laulima Hawaii,
“Crystal Methamphetamine (ICE):
The Violent Reality.”
--Diana Faugno, Forensic
Nurse Consultant, Board Director EVAW International, and Sharon Walker,
forensic nurse, on drug-facilitated sexual assault
--Laura A Sabien, a
single parent of three daughters, who has been self-employed as a
housekeeper for over 20 years—“On March 19, 2001, a guy I cleaned for
drugged my beverage and sexually assaulted me. I somehow drove home,
though I have no memory of that event. I was 40; he was 27. He
currently resides in the Utah State Prison. I was recently awarded a
civil judgment against him as compensation for his criminal behavior.
This is my story.”
GHB, GBL, 1, 4-BD and Research Update
Segment
Organizers: Timothy Maher (USA) and Syed Ali (USA)
Introduction/Overview…………………..Timothy Maher/Syed Ali
Single and multiple injections of GBH produce neurobehavioral and
neurochemical changes in a rodent model.
Syed Ali. Neurochemistry Laboratory, Division of Neurotoxicology,
National Center for Toxicological Research/FDA, Jefferson, AR, USA.
GHB affects learning and memory.
Ratna Sircar, Neurobehavioral Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry,
The Zucker Hillside Hospital, Glen Oaks, NY, USA.
New Discovery and GHB Receptor Pharmacology.
Maharaj Ticku, Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas
Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
GHB and 1, 4-BD can produced audiogenic withdrawal seizures in Sardinian
alcohol-preferring (SP) rats.
Timothy Maher, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health
Sciences, Boston, MA, USA.
GHB: Do we really know how it works: Neurotoxic or Neuroprotective?
Timothy Maher, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health
Sciences, Boston, MA, USA.
Project GHB: A communication link to users of gamma hydroxybutyrate.
Joseph Banken, Department of OBGYN, University of Arkansas for
Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA.
--Roger Jadosz, RI, Presentations re abuse of the
drugs absinthe & DNP
--Dr. Amy Goodwin, John Hopkins University School
of Medicine, on behavorial pharmacology of GHB, including the acute
behavioral effects and physical dependence potential of GHB and some of
its pro-drugs, GBL and BD. Also, comparison of the physical dependence
potential of GHB to GBL during both precipitated and spontaneous
withdrawal tests.
--Dr. Nikolas Lemos, San Francisco Medical
Examiner’s Office, Hair Testing for GHB (pending final approval for
attendance)
--Dr. Sergio Abanades, Clinical Pharmacologist,
Staff Researcher, Pharmacology Unit Institut Municipal d’Investigaci
Mdica, Associate Professor of Pharmacology, Universitat Autnoma de
Barcelona, Spain, re GHB administration in humans, abuse potential and
GHB intoxication in the emergency room.
--Buck Reed —CEO, UniMed, Australia—Current GHB
trends in Australia; Crystal meth in Australia—How it has changed
police/ambulance practice; Drink Spiking—not happening? Or being
missed?
--Teodoro (Terry) Bottiglieri, Institute of
Metabolic Disease, Dallas, Effect of GBL on Locomotor Activity & Brain
Dopamine Metabolish in Rodents
--Judge Roderick Kennedy, New Mexico Appeals Court,
1. The changing face of drugs and driving: zero tolerance vs. drug
impairment; 2. Judicial perspectives on proving the presence and effect
of drugs at trial
--Dr. James DeFrancesco, DEA Chicago lab, re current drug
trends/analysis, including GHB and its analogs, and the recent series of
heroin-fentanyl related deaths
--Dr. Ashraf Mozayani, Harris County, Texas
--Marc LeBeau, FBI Crime Lab, toxicology issues in
DFSA cases
--Dr. Barry Logan, Washington State Crime Lab
Director, Drugged Driving Issues—GHB, MDMA, DXM, etc.
--Steven Steiner, DAMMAD & AFDFY
--Don MacNeil, MedTox, Pharmacology of Addiction &
Managing Methamphetamine
--Warren Diepraam, Assistant District Attorney,
Harris County DA’s Office, Houston, re charging issues in vehicular
homicides (DUI murder case).
--George Elwell, Beverly Hills Police Department,
“Operation Shanghai Express” –a major GHB trafficking case.
--Calvina Fay--Drug Free America--A Clear and
Present Danger: The Drug Legalization Movement in America
--Dr. Kurt Kleinschmidt, Toxicology Fellowship
Program Director, UT SW Medical Center, and Director of the North Poison
Control Center N. Texas, on current drug trends in the poison control
center.
--Dr. Deborah Zvosec, Hennepin County Medical
Center & Minnesota Medical Research Foundation, GHB fatality series, GHB
withdrawal in the ER, use of expert witnesses.
--Dr. Karen Miotto, UCLA, GHB addiction recognition
and treatment, etc.
--Fernando Montes, The Hooton Foundation, re
steroid abuse issues.
--Marc Gonzalez, Western NADDI, prescription drug
abuse.
--Scott Albrecht, DEA Special Agent-- The Steven
Lorenzo case: GHB rape/murder of gay men in Tampa and the Russell
Nestor case: GHB trafficking, rape and overdose death.
-- John Davis, Assistant US Attorney, Organized
Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force in the Eastern District of
Missouri—The Cassandra GHB analog trafficking case--From email wiretap
to traditional wiretap to search warrants around the country seizing
product and arresting customers.
REMEMBER: The above is a partial list! More to
come.
Exhibitors will include (partial list): Purdue
Pharma (silver sponsorship), MedTox, DEA Victims Assistance Program,
IACP’s DITEP program, Cookie Lee jewelry, Voice of the Victims, DAMMAD,
Law Tech Publishing, RAINN, Michael’s Message. Others pending.
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VOLUNTEER NEEDED—ARE YOU GOOD WITH FINE DETAIL
WORK?
Is anyone out there experienced with making Italian
bracelet charms (mounting photos on them and neatly sealing them) or at
least good with doing fine detail work (steady hand, good handling small
objects!!!)? I have the kit to make some of the Italian charms but I’m
NOT good at doing such detailed work. We need someone to volunteer to
make charms with the Project GHB logo. Call me at 480-219-1180 or email
Equus555@att.net.
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NO WONDER KIDS ARE SO SCARY WITH THE RISKS THEY
TAKE!!
By Trinka Porrata
Sometimes we are shocked by what young people will
try with no regard for risk of life. Well, we sometimes don’t have to
look far to see where they get it! From adults, using the term “adults”
loosely! A Sacramento radio station, KDND, has fired several employees
after the death of a contestant in their “Hold Your Wee for a WII”
contest. Contestants were to drink as much water as possible without
going to the bathroom to win a Nintendo Wii video game system. The
second runner up went home and died from “water poisoning” as a result.
Water intoxication deaths are “best known” in recent years to those of
us in law enforcement and the medical field as a result of abuse of MDMA,
aka Ecstasy, which causes the body to overheat. MDMA abusers are often
told that they just need to hydrate (true to some extent, but not a
foolproof resolution) while on it because it causes the body to
dehydrate. Unfortunately, simply drinking a lot of water in a short
period of time, especially with a dehydrating drug on board, while
trying to cool down or to flush out the drug can result in water
intoxication. Essential electrolytes are flushed from the body, leaving
the system unable to sustain life. There was even a GHB-related death
in the same area a few years back when a GHB addict’s wife confronted
him over his weird behavior and dumped out his entire stash of GHB,
throwing him into withdrawal (GHB addiction withdrawal syndrome can be
severe). The man attempted to detox “cold turkey” by drinking volumes
of water to flush it out of his system, but then died from water
poisoning much like the above case.
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NEW ORGANIZATION—AMERICANS FOR DRUG FREE YOUTH
AFDFY,
http://www.americansfordrugfreeyouth.org, is a new anti-drug abuse
organization, headed by Steven Steiner, who also started Dads & Moms
Against Drug Dealers,
http://www.dammad.org. You’ve probably seen DAMMAD referenced on
our site or in newsletters before as we have worked with that group for
some time.
This AFDFY link is to an article of particular
interest. Those promoting legalization of drugs are well financed and
often rather subtle in their approach. Marsha Rosenbaum, from Drug
Policy Alliance, is a key figure in preaching “harm reduction”
(translated—Let ‘em do drugs and have a good time) in our PTAs and
schools, while school administrators often really don’t even understand
that that is their message. I’ve encountered DPA before, including
their support for a pro-Ecstasy conference in the San Francisco area a
few years back. Good to really know who your speakers are and what they
really are about.
http://www.americansfordrugfreeyouth.org/absolutenm/templates/?a=85&z=12
DAMMAD features a tip line, for those wishing to
report drug dealers at work.
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IN JAIL BUT MAINTAINING A SENSE OF HUMOR
Former Mr. New Zealand Justin Rys is doing his time
in jail in NZ for trafficking GHB but has retained a sense of humor
through it all. He has come out with a line of clothing dubbed “Big
Kiwi Convict Gear” with a logo featuring a big guy tugging at the (jail)
bars. Justin has donated four of his Convict Gear shirts for raffle
prizes at our March conference. Justin’s story re will appear in our
upcoming book, “G’d Up 24/7: GHB Addiction for Medical, Corrections &
Criminal Justice Professionals.”
Without access to weights in prison, Justin keeps
in shaping by lifting other inmates. In his words,
"Have also figured out how do it heavy
squats," he wrote. "One person on my shoulders, another person stands on
top of them holding on to wall. Got up to about 230 kilograms (507
pounds) so far, better than nothing, still far too light though!!"
http://www.bigkiwi.co.nz/shop.htm
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TAMPA TRIBUNE ARTICLE BRINGS FORTH REQUESTS FOR
HELP
The Tampa Tribune special on GHB addiction has
stimulated a tremendous amount of response to both Project GHB and to
the series article. Tampa Tribune reporter Jan Hollingsworth, whose son
became addicted to GHB and ultimately committed suicide after a long
battle with the liquid demon, has received numerous contacts, including
from families requesting help with GHB addiction. The GHB Addiction
Helpline has also received a number of requests for help as a result of
Jan’s stories. Some requests for help have come from addicts
themselves, finally realizing that someone out there does have a clue
and that help is possible. Other contacts have been from friends or
family members who had no idea what was happening to their friend or
relative……until their read “A Broken Mind” and recognized the described
behaviors.
http://www.tbo.com/news/reports/ghb/
The Tampa Tribune has granted permission for the
article to be included in our upcoming book about GHB addiction, “G’d Up
24/7,” which is at the publisher now, in final editing.
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SECOND SUSPECT IN TAMPA TORTURE CASE CONVICTED
January 19 in Tampa a federal jury convicted Scott
Schweickert on two charges in the drugging (GHB involved), torture and
killing of two men in a case of sadomasochistic sex and violence.
Sentencing is set for April. His partner in crime and mastermind of the
gruesome cases, Steven Lorenzo, had already been convicted and is
serving 200 years in federal prison for the same offenses plus seven
other charges of drug-facilitated crimes of violence against other men.
The victims, Michael Wachholtz and Jason Galehouse,
disappeared in December 2003. Galehouse’s body was never found.
Wachholtz’s body was recovered two weeks later.
They have not been tried for the actual murder of
the two men and state charges may still be filed at some point.
Schweickert was convicted of conspiring with Lorenzo and of
administering the drug GHB to Wachholtz with the intent to commit a
crime of violence.
The Tampa Tribune coverage is detailed and very
graphic.
http://www.tbo.com/news/metro/MGBYIEJYTWE.html
http://www.tbo.com/news/nationworld/MGBC81VK5XE.html
FYI--RESOURCES RE DRUG ABUSE ISSUES
http://www.painfullyobvious.com/
http://ncadi.samhsa.gov/
http://www.drugfree.org/Parent/Resources/Prescription_Medicine_Misuse
http://www.theantidrug.com/drug_info/prescription_drug_abuse.asp
http://www.family.samhsa.gov/get/otcdrugs.aspx
http://www.teens.drugabuse.gov/
http://www.projectghb.org/prescription_drug.htm
http://www.ctprevention.org/necasa/tips_parents/Prescription-and-Over-the-Counter-Drug-Abuse-062405.pdf
http://www.dpna.org/index.html
http://www.inhalants.org/about.htm
RESOURCE RE METH ABUSE PREVENTION WORK
http://www.usemethloseitall.org/video_tina.htm
http://www.usemethloseitall.org/video_busted.htm
Don’t have your own campaign? Consider contacting
UseMethLoseItAll about permission to use their great materials.
Also:
http://www.mappsd.org/DEC%20Angels.htm
– POPPYLAND?
The White House is seeking $10.6 billion from
Congress for Afghanistan, a major increase aimed at rebuilding the
country and strengthening government security forces still fighting the
Taliban five years after the U.S.-led invasion. Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice said all but $2 billion of the money is for security
needs. She detailed the plan as she prepared to attend a NATO gathering
meant to plan for an expected Taliban military offensive in the spring.
The administration funding proposal comes after a
year in which Taliban forces launched surprisingly fierce attacks across
the country, poppy production expanded and relations worsened between
Afghanistan and Pakistan, a key ally in the fight against global
terrorism. The United States wants to strengthen the democratic
government of Afghan President Hamid Karzai. The money would be on top
of $14.2 billion in aid the United States has already given to
Afghanistan since the 2001 invasion that took down the Taliban
government. The plan is that of the total, $8.6 billion would be for
training and equipping Afghan police and security forces, and $2 billion
would be for reconstruction.
Some of the U.S. money will go to expand
drug-fighting efforts. BUT--Officials in the Afghan capital of Kabul
said this week that despite pressure from the United States and a record
crop last year, the country's heroin-producing poppies will not be
sprayed with herbicide. Afghan officials said there would be increased
efforts to destroy poppy crops with traditional techniques _ typically
sending teams of laborers into fields to batter down or plow in the
plants before they can be harvested. Fueled by the Taliban, a powerful
drug mafia and the need for a profitable crop that can overcome drought,
opium production from poppies in Afghanistan last year rose 49 percent
to 6,700 tons. That's enough to make about 670 tons of heroin, or more
than 90 percent of the world's supply and more than the amount that the
world's addicts consume in a year.
STUDY CALLS TV PRESCRIPTION DRUG ADS TOO
EMOTIONAL
According to a new study, TV commercials re
prescription drugs play on viewers’ emotions, often lack solid
information and downplay the role of a healthy lifestyle.
The typical American TV viewers sees up to 16 hours
of these ads, called direct-to-consumer advertising, every year. Drug
ads are somewhat regulated by the FDA, but regulations were loosened in
1997. Researcher Dominick Frosch, asst. professor of medicine at UCLA,
David Geffen School of Medicine, said, “The educational value of the ads
is pretty modest.” The medicines advertised in the 38 ads included
Actonel for bone density, Cialis and Levitra for erectile dysfunction,
Valtrex for genital herpes, Lipitor for high cholesterol and Zoloft for
depression and social anxiety. They analyzed content by evaluating
factual information and types of appeals to viewers, such as rational,
emotional, humorous, fantasy appeal, sex appeal or nostalgia. They also
noted how the ads portrayed the role of the drug in lives of the ad
character and how or if the ad represented the role of a healthy
lifestyle.
“Ninety five percent of the ads are using positive
emotional appeals—people looking happy after taking the drugs,” Frosch
says. The ads present “a very black and white portrait of the benefits
of prescription drugs. Take this drug and everything is going to be
back in order.”
One example—a Valtrex commercial for genital herpes
shows a young woman first saying, “Living with genital herpes can be a
hassle.” After taking the drug, the last scene shows her kissing a
partner in the surf, with Rio de Janeiro in the background.
He added that lifestyle changes are sometimes
mentioned as an adjunct to taking the drug when in some cases changing
behavior—such as exercising more to reduce cholesterol—might actually
prevent the need for the medication. They found that no commercials
mentioned lifestyle change as an alternative to medication.
The pharmaceutical industry disagrees, saying that
the study was done before new (voluntary) guidelines came into effect
January 2006. Under the new (voluntary) guidelines TV commercials for a
prescription drug should state the name of the drug, condition it treats
and the risks as well as the benefits.
The study was published in the Jan-Feb issue of the
Annals of Family Medicine.
COMMENT (by Porrata): Remember the series
of Viagra ads that never once met those guidelines? They simply touted,
“See your doctor now for a free trial six-pack of Viagra.” They never
mentioned the condition it supposedly treated or any risk factors. They
were purely recreational drug ads in my opinion. Many of those free
trial six packs ended up at rave parties and in night clubs as a chaser
to Ecstasy (MDMA) since XTC can cause “limp noodle syndrome.” The combo
is called Sextasy by users. Many of the drug ads seem designed to send
us all running to our doctors begging for THAT medicine because some
actor or athlete or whomever told us we need it. I’d rather NEVER see a
drug ad on television; I’d rather see most of that unbelievably huge
advertising budget deducted from the price of the medication and a small
percentage of it spent on educating doctors about the medication so
he/she know what is available as they make a diagnosis. No wonder drugs
are so expensive. Think about the cost of one television ad and
multiple it by the zillions of times it airs nationwide, plus magazine
ads, etc.
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