Mexican Cartels Are Not Playing Around and They Will Stop At Nothin

Mexican cartels have been ravaging the pristine forests that cover the vast state of California. Unlike anything that has ever been seen, the size of the cartels marijuana fields dwarf any fields planted by the residents of California. As the medical marijuana movement sweeps across the country the cartels have found a way to exploit the relaxed marijuana laws. Plant numbers are of no concern to the cartels who smuggle illegal immigrants into the country to tend 70,000 plant crops on public lands, which end up yielding 35 to 75,000 pounds of marijuana in one harvest. At the end of the day it makes financial sense for the cartels to grow marijuana in the United States, having the product already on this side of the border saves millions in transportation costs. When the marijuana is harvested the cartels can easily move the drug to every major city in the United States. California is finding that it simply does not have the manpower to police these activities.

Brent Wood, a supervisor for the California Department of Justice's Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement, said to the AP; "just like the Mexicans took over the methamphetamine trade, they've gone to mega, monster gardens". Methamphetamine production shifted across the border into Mexico a few years back when the United States cracked down on the availability of Pseudoephedrine, the main ingredient in Meth. The meth labs created in Mexico were larger than any ever attempted before, reminiscent of the scale of the guerrilla marijuana operations taking place in the States. The cartels are not playing around and they will stop at nothing to get what they desire - billions of dollars.

On top of trashing public lands, the cartels have been holding people hostage on the farms to work the land. The cartels find out where their workers' families are back in Mexico and use their loved ones as leverage to keep them working. "Many of the plots are encircled with crude explosives and are patrolled by guards armed with AK-47s who survey the perimeter from the ground and from perches high in the trees", according to an AP report. How are local authorities supposed to combat this growing threat?

Crack Inhalation Room Where Addicts Can Go To Smoke Their Cocaine

There is talk in British Columbia about an experimental new study that would help the government determine why HIV and AIDS rates among Crack smokers are rising. The plan on the drawing board is to set up a crack inhalation room where addicts can go to smoke their cocaine in a sterile environment in order to see if it stops the increase of HIV/AIDS numbers. "Researchers tracked 1,048 crack cocaine users over a nine-year period and found that 137 became HIV positive. The reason for the increase is not definitive. But researchers, which included the B.C. Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, said disease transmission could be attributed to wounds produced around the mouth when smoking crack from a pipe", according to the Vancouver Courier. British Columbia is well aware that the war on drugs is not being handled properly and that drastic steps may be needed if the problem is going to be helped. Obviously, let's face it, there is a lot of hesitation regarding this subject matter; having a place where Crack smokers can get high just seems counter-intuitive.

Proponents of the trial inhalation room like Dr. Evan Wood, who was behind the study that showed the spike in HIV/AIDS rates among Crack cocaine users, point to the United States as an a reason for trying out the controversial inhalation room. "He pointed to research in the United States that showed a high number of people incarcerated for cocaine offences who are not receiving treatment. He noted the so-called "war on drugs" in the United States and in Canada has done nothing to stem the flow of drugs. Wood suggested he could buy drugs in less than 10 minutes of walking outside the Carnegie Centre, the location of the press conference", reported the Vancouver Courier. Canada has always had a more relaxed view on drugs than the United States; it is not surprising that leaders would be interested in such a drastic experiment.

The inhalation rooms could be a place where councilors and doctors could have a chance to help addicts get into recovery. Ultimately, if drug use drops then it stands to reason that disease rates would too. It wouldn't be a bad thing to have an experiment to determine how the virus is being transmitted, but, it seems the number one objective should be getting the addicts off the streets by providing the option of treatment as much as possible. Prevention is always the best answer in a country where crack and methamphetamine use is rising.

Safin Thinks that Agassi should "Give his Titles, his Money and his Grand Slam Titles" Back

The Andre Agassi public trial continues as he faces a barrage of scrutiny regarding what he revealed in his autobiography "Open". Just yesterday, Former No. 1 ranked Marat Safin thinks that Agassi should "give his titles, his money and his Grand Slam titles" back. Safin, like many other pro tennis players, has become outraged and cannot believe that Agassi would come out with this information. Why would Agassi do this, he doesn't need the money? Agassi had to believe that in one way or another the ATP will take action regarding what has happened. The ATP has still not commented on Agassi's confession, but, the tennis community is certainly speaking up.

"The ATP allowed him to win a lot of tournaments, a lot of money. It kept his secret. Why does he need to be so cruel with it? If he is as fair play as he says he is, he has to go to the end. You know, the ATP has a bank account and he can give the money back if he wants", Safin said to ESPN. What the ATP will make Agassi do is yet to be seen, although, it seems like Agassi is completely prepared to deal with the possible repercussions. Agassi couldn't live with the shame of having lied to the ATP, so he came clean regardless of the penalties. Agassi had a very interesting and stressful life and at one point he broke down and used methamphetamine to escape. Agassi broke free from the drugs and went on to win more championships sober.

In no way is Agassi's behavior back in 1997 excusable, maybe no action should be taken by the ATP. Agassi had an amazing career and it wouldn't have been so successful if he were high on Meth during all of those 20 years. Nobody is perfect, people make poor decisions from time to time; Agassi is one of those people, but, he had the courage to come clean even if it was years later. Maybe Agassi's courage will give other tennis players the strength to come forward or better yet, not mess with drugs at all.

See here: Part 2 Andre Agassi tells Katie Couric how he picked up his life and revived his career. He went from number 141 to the very top in the rankings, perhaps one of the greatest comebacks in sports history.


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Champion Tennis Player Andre Agassi Revealed that he used Crystal Methamphetamine

Champion tennis player Andre Agassi revealed that he used crystal methamphetamine in 1997 while facing emotional strain. His new autobiography revealed some things that many are finding hard to believe. Agassi, nervous about marrying Brooke Shields, began taking the drug when his assistant poured out a small pile of powder on the coffee table. In an excerpt of his book Agassi recounted, "There is a moment of regret, followed by vast sadness. Then comes a tidal wave of euphoria that sweeps away every negative thought in my head. I've never felt so alive, so hopeful -- and I've never felt such energy". Agassi would later fail an ATP drug test, which started a chain of events where he created a web of lies to keep from ending his career. After concocting a story for the ATP, the case was dropped; Agassi would go on to win the French Open.

Agassi wrote a letter to the ATP after failing the drug test, according to Agassi, "It's filled with lies interwoven with bits of truth. I say Slim, whom I've since fired, is a known drug user, and that he often spikes his sodas with meth - which is true. Then I come to the central lie of the letter. I say that recently I drank accidentally from one of Slim's spiked sodas, unwittingly ingesting his drugs. I ask for understanding and leniency and hastily sign it: Sincerely. I feel ashamed, of course. I promise myself that this lie is the end of it", reports CNN. Whether the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) let Agassi off because they believed his elaborate story or they did not want one of the all time tennis greats to smear the ATP's good name has not been revealed, the ATP has not commented yet on Agassi's unexpected confession.

The eight-time grand slam champion Andre Agassi retired from tennis in 2006, but, not before winning the French Open in 1998 and the U.S. Open in 1999. It seems like Agassi has not taken the drug since 1997, which is the good part of this story. Methamphetamine is a highly addictive drug that ruins countless lives on a daily basis, it affects movie stars, athletes, and average people all the same. There is a good chance that the ATP will take some sort of action regarding Agassi's lies and then going on to win the French Open. It appears that Agassi's intention was to come clean about something that was clearly eating away at him, it is hard to argue with honesty.


See here: Part 1 Andre Agassi talks candidly to Katie Couric about his life, his strong dislike of tennis at a young age, and the depression that led him to use meth.


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Vaccines For Drug Addictions Are Showing New Promise

The disease of addiction is a biological disorder in the brain that affects the award system and is in no way a moral failing by any means. Science has shined a new light on addiction and has given us the ability to understand what is operating in the human brain. Addiction is inherited and is not something that anyone asks to have, new developments in science have shown us that it may be possible to create a medical solution to the disease. Vaccines for drug addiction are showing new promise; it may not be long before we have a vaccine for all addictive substances. A report in the LA Times stated, "Vaccines to help people recover from such addictions as nicotine, cocaine, heroin and methamphetamines now appear scientifically and medically achievable after doctors reported Monday that a vaccine to treat cocaine dependence had produced a large enough antibody response to reduce cocaine use in 38% of addicted individuals". 38% is an amazing number and one that reaffirms the promise of these kinds of scientific pursuits.

A vaccine for addiction will not work the same way as normal vaccines. If you are born with a hereditary disposition towards drugs and alcohol there is no way to reverse it. However, a vaccine could potentially keep drugs that enter the body from reaching the brain thus preventing the high from ever being experienced. The vaccines stimulate the body's immune system to create binding antibodies that will attach themselves to the drug preventing them from ever reaching the brain. Unfortunately, creating vaccines does not equate to dollars for pharmaceutical companies to create these vaccines. They can make a lot more money from addiction maintenance than they could off a vaccine. This problem makes it very hard for certain studies to take place because of the lack of much needed funding which is in the 100's of millions. An ethical dilemma is clearly visible and I am sure will be addressed in the coming years.

Studies with the goal of creating a vaccine is a huge step in modern science and shows us that with understanding we can treat the most baffling of diseases. In the coming years we will see what role vaccines for drug addiction will have around the world and whether the pharmaceutical companies will set greed aside and hop on board. I encourage you to watch a Dr. Nancy Snyderman video on the subject:

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Adderall Abuse Epidemic In America

The academic world is facing an enemy far greater then anyone could of thought. The abuse of prescription medicine to deal wilth the stresses of life has become a rampant problem with no real solution in sight. Drugs like Adderall, Ritilan, and Dexedrine have become coping mechanisms for a number of reasons throughout the collegial atmosphere and in many cases have become not only socially acceptable, it's almost expected. It is almost hard to believe that 14 million prescriptions of Adderall were filled last year; it is no wonder the drug can be found on every college campus. Adderall abuse went relatively undetected for a long time because it is a prescribed medicine. However, like any prescription medication it can be sold or traded amongst peers and it is on a regular basis. There is no question that there is an Adderall abuse epidemic in America.

"At Cornell, a 2006 Gannett study found that at least six percent of the student body had used the drugs in the past year - though the impression of many students is that the actual percentage is much higher", according to the Cornell Sun. Many people do not talk about taking the drug because of the legal ramifications; many people also view amphetamine use as a way of cheating. Amphetamines give people a heightened sensitivity and greater concentration. Adderall is an amphetamine that increases the amount of dopamine released in the brain increasing the number of neurotransmitters available which increases concentration and alertness. When people take more than the prescribed amount the drug becomes tantamount to Crystal Methamphetamine; abuse can have a damaging effect on the brain resulting in permanent damage.

Sadly, Adderall abuse continues after college as people find that they have become dependent upon it to get their work done. Over time, one has to take more of the drug to get the desired effect because of higher tolerance levels. Amphetamine addiction is a real problem among young adults and many times treatment is the only solution. The vast majority of people who use prescription psychostimulants have very little idea about the serious side effects that can accompany the drug; prescription drugs have become such commonplace and are inside just about every medicine cabinet, this has given many students the idea that there is nothing wrong with their use.

I encourage you to watch this video of a CNN Interview with Dr. Drew Pinsky about this problem.