“Swiping right” on modern dating apps can bring users one step closer to matching with a potential partner, but drug dealers in Florida are abusing this opportunity to sell their wares. Detectives with the Polk County Sheriff Office alleged that 52 people used the LGBTQ dating apps Grindr, Scruff, and Taimi to sell Methamphetamines, Cocaine, Fentanyl, Marijuana, and other drugs.

Detectives created undercover profiles and were able to buy nearly a pound and a half of Marijuana, one of the most commonly sold drugs, and 280 grams of Meth through online sales. This operation, dubbed “Swipe Left for Meth,” illustrated how individuals explicitly promoted drugs on their dating profiles. Potential buyers only had to swipe left on a photo to express their interest or send a direct message, with little to no moderation from the platform.

Grindr, self-described as the world’s largest social networking app for the LGBTQ community, saw more sales than the other 2 investigated apps. Grindr, Scruff, and Taimi strictly prohibit the selling and promoting of drug use, but users have previously accused Grindr of not doing enough to police illegal drug sales. Users across all platforms are encouraged to report suspicious and threatening activities, but many profiles slip through the radar.

Secret Language On Dating Apps

Individuals selling or looking to buy drugs on dating apps and social media discreetly use emojis and code words to conceal their sales and inquiries. Usually, app algorithms will flag or delete the content that explicitly discusses drug use before users see it. A typical loophole to avoid detection is to use emojis or code words. Common emojis used include snowflakes or snow for Cocaine, diamonds for Crystal Meth, and an electrical plug for a drug dealer or “plug.” These emojis signify the amount of the drug, the type, the strength, and the purity. Recognizing the double-meaning of emojis is imperative to monitoring and identifying potential drug sales.

However, using emojis is not the only way drug dealers and buyers identify their interests. Individuals can just look for a capital “T.” Profiles that include what seems to be randomly capitalized Ts or acronyms in the title or bio are signaling that they are looking for or selling “Tina” – Meth’s street name. This capitalization also appears in terms like “parTy and play” or “PNP,” which describes a term used by some gay men to describe a sexual encounter while under the influence of drugs. Some Grindr users even report receiving messages “nearly every day” from someone asking them to participate in “PNP.”

Dangers Of Buying Drugs Online

Fake prescription pills, commonly laced with Fentanyl and Methamphetamine, are sold across most social media platforms, making them attainable to anyone with a smartphone or internet. This accessibility of illegal substances is alarming on multiple fronts, but of most concern is the risk of lethal overdose due to laced or counterfeit drugs. According to the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), for every 5 pills the DEA seized in 2021, 2 out of the 5 pills contained a lethal amount of Fentanyl which is 50 to 100 times more potent than Morphine. Often, individuals purchasing drugs online or in-person trust the dealer and the product at face value, but many dealers cut their product with other substances like Fentanyl. Being able to purchase drugs through apps only expedites this risk of exposure and increases the reach of drug distribution.

Since teens and young adults are the most prevalent demographic amongst social media platforms, parental figures can help guide and monitor online activities for younger children and teens. Behavioral signs that may signify an individual is purchasing illicit drugs online include:

• Displaying secretive behavior when online such as switching between web pages or quickly exiting a page when someone walks into the room.
• Lying or deceitful behavior.
• Increase in spending money or missing money.
• Increase in received packages.
• Spending more time alone in their room or locking the door.
• Changes in behavior or changes in sleep habits.

Apps And Drug Distribution

Dating platforms are not the only apps experiencing high rates of drug distribution; Snapchat and Instagram are facing growing concerns with drug dealing. The nature of social media and its algorithms is to push content that they believe an individual wants based on their activity on the platform. For example, if individuals are actively searching for a particular drug through hashtags, they are likely to connect with a dealer or someone affiliated. Once a point of contact is made, it only takes a couple direct messages to make a sale. Additionally, the disappearing chat and photo feature on Snapchat can make some drug deals nearly untraceable. These innovative features like hashtags, trending pages, “Quick Add” contacts, and disappearing direct messages can build a hidden web of drug distribution that police officials have difficultly tracking.

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Cracking Down On Online Drug Dealing

In a 2016 study of gay dating apps, LGBTQ blog WEHOville reported that only Grindr “allowed its users to openly include emojis and text in their profiles that indicated they were drug users or sellers.” One month after the report, the app censored a few well-known drug emojis and words, but the app’s drug market is still present today. A Grindr spokesperson states that the app “prohibits the promotion of drug use in its user-profiles and is committed to creating a safe environment through digital and human screening tools to help its users connect and thrive.” The common thread throughout most social media apps is that they rely on their users to report inappropriate content, but police departments across the country are aiming to investigate more cases of drug selling and promotion on apps and other social media platforms.

The post Drug Dealers Use Dating Apps To Peddle Drugs appeared first on Addiction Center.

Snapchat, the popular photo and instant messaging app, is integrating a new approach to lowering the dealing of drugs on the platform. These efforts are being made in attempt to keep the community of those who use Snapchat safe from the devastating impacts of the Fentanyl crisis. 

For years, social media sites have been used as avenues for drug dealers to remotely access and influence young people to purchase illicit substances. In the last few years, the selling of deadly counterfeit prescription pills has increased. This increase has been specifically true for Snapchat where messages are designed to disappear after a certain amount of time. Counterfeit pills being sold through social media look almost identical to real prescription drugs, such as Percocet, OxyContin, or Xanax. 

What makes the use of counterfeit pills so dangerous is that there is a high chance that they have been made with Fentanyl, a synthetic Opioid that is stronger than Morphine and less expensive to produce than other substances. Because a lethal dose is very small, anything over 2 mg, pills containing Fentanyl have been linked to a dramatic increase in overdose deaths in the US. Teenagers and young adults are especially at risk for overdose from Fentanyl because counterfeit pills are so accessible through platforms like Snapchat. In 2020, it was reported that 48% of internet users who use Snapchat are between the ages of 15 and 25. 

DEA Public Safety Alert

On September 27th, 2021, the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) issued a public safety alert for the first time in 6 years. This alert warned of the threat caused by an increase in lethality and availability of fake prescription pills containing Fentanyl or Meth. The DEA reported that just this year 9.5 million counterfeit pills have been seized. Two out of every 5 of these fake, confiscated pills that contained Fentanyl contained enough of the substance to cause an overdose. 

Anne Miligram, DEA spokeswoman, told Today that social media companies are not doing enough to stop the selling of these harmful pills. Milgram went on to say, “Social media companies know that their platforms are being used for this. And they need to understand that Americans are dying. They are dying at record rates and they need to be a partner in stopping it.” 

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Snapchat’s New Drug Related Initiatives

Following this public safety alert, pleas from Milgram, and support from parents, Snapchat has decided to take steps towards improving this situation. The platform’s new safety initiatives include improved automated systems to detect the sale of drugs, hiring more staff to respond to law enforcement for criminal investigations, and an in-app education portal called “Heads Up.” 

Through Heads Up, Snapchat users can be educated on the dangers of Fentanyl and counterfeit pills with resources from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA), the Centers For Disease Control And Prevention (CDC), and non-profit organizations. App users who search for certain drug terms or for substance abuse help will be directed to Heads Up. Already, the platform has teamed with Song For Charlie, a family run nonprofit, to develop a video advertising campaign on the topic. According to Snapchat, this video campaign has been viewed 260 million times thus far. Additionally, the platform will be rolling out a new national filter that will bring awareness to the issue and direct users to the Head Up portal. 

While many parents are calling for more extensive parental controls, social media platforms like Snapchat are hesitant. Even though parental controls may have the ability to prevent potential overdoses, they also may threaten the privacy of the app’s users. Snapchat responded to the rising Fentanyl crisis in a blog post saying that they are working to find the balance between safety and privacy on the platform. They hope to empower their community to express themselves without a fear of harm. 

What Are Other Social Media Companies Doing?

Although Snapchat has been the main platform linked to counterfeit pill overdose, other social media companies play a role in the overall Opioid epidemic. Facebook’s policies state that ads cannot promote the sale of illicit or recreational drugs. Despite reports of the platform being used by drug cartels, little has been done to stop these violations of the site’s drug rules. The company removes flagged pages as they see fit but many of them still operate openly. The system that allows offenders to repeat drug dealing or cartel behavior has not been changed. 

Instagram, which is owned by Facebook, was also said to be a place for drug cartels to recruit, train, and pay hitmen. In 2019, the photo sharing app had issues with some of their recovery based hashtags. Comments promoting the sale of illicit drugs were found on photos with hashtags, like #opioidcrisis and #opioidaddiction, that were intended to help those struggling with Opioid use. After this, the platform attempted to crack down on the use of these hashtags and make efforts to support those in recovery. 

In response to the DEA’s safety alert and Milgram’s comments, TikTok spokesperson, Hilary McQuaide, stated that the video sharing social network has systems in place to prevent drug dealing activity. McQuaide cited the app’s technology which removes accounts that promote illegal drug sales and the human reviewers who are used to find and evaluate violative material. 

Working Together To Limit Online Drug Deals

Even though individual social media companies are making efforts to vanquish online drug dealing, very few have yet to work together on the issue. Currently, drug deals tend to occur across multiple platforms. Dealers may use one site to connect with potential buyers, another to communicate, and a third to make the final sale. 

For 6 months, Snapchat has been using intelligence from a public health data company that searches all over the internet to catch drug dealers. This includes looking on other websites and the dark web to find drug ads that list a Snapchat account. According to Snapchat, their detection skills have allowed them to increase the number of removed accounts by 112% in the first half of 2021. Sharing data between the platforms may be the key to lowering Fentanyl overdose deaths amongst young people in the US.

The post Snapchat Making Efforts To Stop Drug Dealing appeared first on Addiction Center.

Kratom (Mitragyna Speciosa) is a tropical tree from Southeast Asia. It is traditionally used as medicine by Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Papua New Guinea natives. Recently the drug has been marketed and sold for recreational use, pain relief, and as treatment for Opioid addiction. However, it is not FDA approved for use and is illegal in 6 American states. The herb is typically found in capsules, tablets, or extract form. It can also be smoked, chewed, or boiled into a tea and has various nicknames like Herbal Speedball, Thom, and Biak. If used in high doses, Kratom reacts like a depressant while inducing euphoric effects. When used in low doses, the drug creates a stimulating effect on the body.

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Kratom And Opioids

Though it is not medically recommended, Kratom is sought out for its Opioid-like properties. The drug’s sedative-inducing compounds mitragynine and 7-a-hydroxy mitragynine attach to the brain’s Opioid receptors and produce a form of pain relief much like Codeine and Morphine. Some have used the drug as a form of medical treatment for alcohol and Opioid addiction. According to Kratom lobbyists and advocacy groups, the herb curbs Opioid cravings and urges to use. However, there is no scientific evidence that the tropical plant is a safe form of therapy.

The Side Effects

Although there are people who believe in Kratom’s value, researchers argue otherwise. For example, from 2011 to 2017, Americans reported around 1,800 Kratom-related incidents to US poison control centers. Over 50% of those reports resulted in seizures, high blood pressure, and even death. Kratom’s accessibility and lack of regulation adds to the already considerable uncertainty of its health risks. When taken without medical supervision, the tropical leaves can have serious side effects which offset any potential benefits.

Some of Kratoms physical side effects include:

• Nausea 
• Chills
• Vomiting
• Itching
• Muscle pain
• Sweating
• Dry mouth
• Thyroid problems
• Tongue numbness
• Changes in urination and constipation
• Loss of appetite and weight loss
• Liver damage
• Coma
• Death

It also can result in mental and psychological side effects like:

• Hallucinations
• Delusion
• Depression
• Aggression
• Dizziness
• Seizures 

Controversial Kratom Evidence And Findings

In the US, Kratom is commonly sold as an energy booster, mood enhancer, and treatment for Opioids. However, the herb is listed as a drug of concern by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Though it is not a controlled substance, recent findings show that Kratom is dangerous and addictive when taken regularly. According to a 6-month cross-sectional survey of 293 regular Kratom users, almost 50% of participants developed severe dependence problems. The other half showed a moderate dependence. Nearly 100% of the individuals who participated in the study developed a level of Kratom dependence, and many later battled withdrawal symptoms.

Unfortunately, much like Opioids, Kratom can be highly addictive. Research shows that it is associated with drug dependency, the development of withdrawal symptoms, and cravings. The longer a person uses the drug, the likelier they are to experience severe withdrawal symptoms. A different study surveyed 150 people and discovered that 70% experienced mild anxiety after quitting Kratom while 30% battled moderate anxiety. The study also found that 81% of respondents reported mild depression. In comparison, 19% were confirmed to have moderate depression after quitting Kratom use.

Lack Of Regulation

Kratom’s lack of regulation has led to companies taking advantage of its popularity. There are several companies selling products with Kratom labeled as pain relievers. Many others are making “deceptive medical claims” like it is effective against cancer. However, there is no scientific evidence to support these declarations. Such unproven claims instead spread misinformation and negatively influence patients from seeking adequate care.

Final Verdict

As of now, Kratom is not a safe alternative for Opioid treatment or any other condition. The drug is not federally regulated. There is little to no control or reliable information on its growth, processing, or labeling. The uncertainty surrounding the herb only adds to its undeniable health risks and amplifies its high addiction rate.

Treatment For Kratom Addiction

If you or someone you love is using Kratom, please reach out for help. There are no FDA-approved uses for Kratom. Based on recent findings, the drug’s Opioid-like properties may lead to addiction, abuse, and dependence. If you notice that you have developed a dependency or someone you know, there is support available. Contact a treatment provider to discuss options for treatment or if you have rehab-related questions. Do not continue using Kratom without consulting a medical professional. Find help today.

The post Kratom: Helpful Herb Or Toxic Substance?  appeared first on Addiction Center.

On July 15, the academic journal JAMA Pediatrics published a study that examines how drug abuse and the Opioid Epidemic have strained the foster care system in the United States. The researchers obtained their data from the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System, a federal government information project. Almost 5 million children entered foster care between 2000 and 2017. There are many reasons why the authorities take children away from their parents, including neglect and child abuse. Drug addiction, especially addiction to opioids, is becoming an increasingly common reason. According to the study, 1,162,668 children entered the foster care system between 2000 and 2017 because of their parents’ drug addiction.

In many cases, state or local authorities determined that the parents were too addicted to drugs to adequately care for their children. Additionally, in other cases, the parents sometimes died from drug overdoses or went to prison for using or selling illegal drugs. In all of these situations, if the parents lacked relatives who could care for their children, their children entered the custody of the state.

In 2000, drug addiction was the cause of only about 15% of foster care entrances. By 2017, that percentage had grown to 36%. While foster care entrances for drug abuse increased, entrances for abuse and neglect declined. The study found that children who entered foster care because their parents were battling drug addiction were likely to be under the age of five. Moreover, while most drug-related foster care entrances happened in the South, the number of such entrances increased the most in the Midwest. The researchers stated in their article that this problem “coincide[s] with increasing trends in opioid use and overdose deaths nationwide during this period.” In Ohio, a state where the Opioid Epidemic has been especially disastrous, about half of all children who enter foster care have drug-addicted parents.

What Are The Solutions To This Problem?

Since the study has been published, numerous commentators have begun to suggest ways to resolve the challenges of caring for children who lose their parents to opioids and other drugs. Angelica Meinhofer, one of the researchers for the study, stated that she hopes her findings will help the children who are so often the forgotten victims of drug abuse.

A lot of the work out there has focused on mortality and overdoses and how it affects adults. [It’s] less known how the epidemic might spill over to children. And that’s something I’m trying to shed light on.”

Addiction experts and social workers have recommended that state and local governments set up drug courts and sponsor treatment programs for addicted parents. These would provide them the opportunity to recover from addiction and raise their children. April Dirks, a social worker from Iowa, said in response to the study that “the foster care system is overburdened — there’s not enough families, not enough services,” and that children suffer trauma when they lose their parents. For this reason, there should be greater effort to keep families together through treatment. Children sometimes enter the foster care system temporarily and then reunite with their parents once they overcome substance abuse.

If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction and considering treatment, contact a treatment provider today to learn more about the many rehab centers which are committed to helping people achieve long-lasting recovery.

The post Research Study: Drug Addiction Is Sending More Children To Foster Care appeared first on Addiction Center.

Many of us want a life-booster, something that makes us feel confident, energized, and ready for a challenge. For people who are handling emotional problems or just need some help with getting through the day, phenibut may seem like the answer. Anyone can buy Phenibut online for less than $30, but even though it’s becoming popular and easy to obtain, the evidence for its usefulness is not conclusive. Moreover, phenibut may be addictive for some people.

Phenibut is supposed to alleviate anxiety, depression, PTSD, stress, and insomnia. It also allegedly enhances learning, memory, concentration, and social skills. It’s no wonder why tens of thousands of people have researched this “wonder drug” and why many have given it a try.

Phenibut, which is sometimes called phGABA or phenigamma, is a synthetic chemical first synthesized by a group of Russian scientists in the 1960s. Its chemical structure is similar to that of GABA, a neurotransmitter which blocks signals between brain cells and calms the nervous system. However, unlike GABA, phenibut can enter the brain through the blood stream, and therefore it can function as an ingredient in pills and elixirs. Phenibut-based products include Anvifen®, Adrafinil®, and Noofen® as well as some generic products which claim (misleadingly) to contain GABA.

Is Phenibut Safe And Does It Actually Work?

The answer, unfortunately, is that we don’t really know. Phenibut is only considered to be a legitimate medication in Russia, its country of origin, and in Ukraine, Latvia, and Kazakhstan. Furthermore, it’s a controlled substance in only two countries: Australia and Hungary. Throughout the rest of the world, the status of phenibut is less official. For example, in the United States and Europe, phenibut is a legal “nutritional supplement,” but health authorities have not classified it as a true medication. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has never assessed the alleged benefits of phenibut and has not confirmed whether it is truly effective for treating any disease or disorder. In fact, as of this year, the FDA does not even classify phenibut as a “dietary ingredient” and warns that products that claim phenibut as a dietary ingredient are fraudulent.

It is important to note that many scientific studies on the effects of phenibut have been conducted on mice and cats, not on human subjects. Right now, there isn’t an extensive collection of peer-reviewed data on how the medication actually affects humans. In fact, most of the information that we have about how phenibut works is anecdotal.

While many people have said that phenibut improves their mental health and self-confidence, many others have reported negative side effects. Based on patient reviews and limited scientific research, the side effects of phenibut may include dizziness, nausea, tiredness, and headaches. Additionally, there have been several reports of people who nearly suffocated after using phenibut along with alcohol or marijuana. So far, there are no confirmed cases of phenibut causing a person to die.

Is Phenibut Addictive?

Most mind-altering drugs and substances carry risks for dependence and addiction. It isn’t certain whether phenibut is addictive, although anecdotal evidence and some studies suggest that it could be. People who have taken phenibut to manage stress, fall asleep, or suppress anxiety have become dependent on it. This is because someone who takes phenibut regularly may eventually feel unable to work, socialize, or sleep without it. Some phenibut users have also reported experiencing withdrawal symptoms, especially insomnia, irritability, and rebound anxiety and depression, after they stop using it.

Get Help For Addiction Today

Overall, phenibut is somewhat of a mystery. If you choose to try it, it’s important to keep in mind that it hasn’t been thoroughly tested and that its effects are unpredictable.

Phenibut is basically a self-help product, a drug which is neither a true medication nor an illegal substance. It might be beneficial, but it might also cause discomfort and dependence. If you have concerns about the risks of phenibut, consider alternative options, such as prescription medication or therapy, for treating any problems you may have.

If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction to phenibut or anything other substances, please contact a treatment provider today to learn more about treatment options.

The post Phenibut Supplement: Potential Benefits And Risks For Addiction appeared first on Addiction Center.

Since 1999, the number of drug overdose deaths in the United States has quadrupled. The Opioid Epidemic has contributed greatly to this astounding increase. Among all the opioids which have claimed lives and caused addiction throughout the country in recent years, fentanyl is perhaps the deadliest and most addictive. In fact, fentanyl is even more potent than morphine and heroin, and it killed about 24,000 Americans in 2017. Drug traffickers often mix fentanyl into heroin to increase its potency, but last year, law enforcement officials reported that traffickers have started to mix fentanyl with cocaine. According to DEA reports, this new trend will endanger thousands of lives.

In 2018, according to the DEA, there was a 112% increase in samples of cocaine which contained fentanyl. While about 60% of these samples also contained heroin, there was an overall decline in the prevalence of heroin mixed with fentanyl. In Florida, a state where cocaine is especially prevalent, the DEA reported a “widespread adulteration of cocaine with fentanyl and fentanyl-related substances,” including carfentanil, an animal tranquilizer, in 2017. Authorities in Florida actually discovered traces of fentanyl in more than 180 cocaine samples. That same year, fentanyl caused 57% of all fatal overdoses in New York City. In many cases, the overdose victim was using cocaine (which is already dangerous and illegal) and they weren’t aware that it contained fentanyl.

Why Is Fentanyl In Cocaine Becoming Popular?

The Colombian government has relaxed its campaign to exterminate the coca plant, so there is currently an abundance of cocaine in the global market for illegal drugs. Consequently, law enforcement agencies have confiscated large quantities of cocaine in American ports, including 16 tons on a cargo ship in Philadelphia and 3,200 pounds in a shipping container in New York earlier this year. Customs and Border Protection has seized at least 38,000 pounds of cocaine since October.

As a wave of cocaine floods America’s shores, the DEA believes that drug traffickers are mixing fentanyl into cocaine to make it more profitable. Adding fentanyl to cocaine results in a more powerful “high” and a far more addictive substance. This helps traffickers build a larger base of reliable customers at the expense of people’s lives.

According to the New York City Department of Health, cocaine users who have no experience with prescription or synthetic opioids face the greatest danger of overdose because they have no opioid tolerance. Nevertheless, there is already a demand for fentanyl-laced cocaine. In April, the DEA seized about 116 pounds of cocaine in New Jersey. The entire supply was adulterated with fentanyl.

New Measures To Prevent Overdoses

The best way to avoid suffering an overdose from a combination of fentanyl and cocaine is to avoid cocaine entirely. Health officials and the DEA have warned that no one can be sure which substances may be included in any batch of cocaine.

Fentanyl is so potent, and it’s really hard for someone to tell if it’s in the substance they intend to use. This really is a crisis. 

While law enforcement continues its work to stop the flow of drugs into the country, addiction experts are emphasizing the importance of educating the public about the dangers of fentanyl. One recovery center in New Hampshire is even leading a campaign to distribute free fentanyl testing strips. The strips can be used to test cocaine or heroin for the presence of fentanyl and, hopefully, prevent an overdose. New York City has also begun to distribute free naloxone, a medication which reverses the effects of an opioid overdose. If it is quickly and correctly administered, naloxone could save a person’s life from an overdose on fentanyl.

Ultimately, it is most important to understand that the people who manufacture and sell cocaine do not have their customers’ wellbeing in mind. If you are using cocaine, you are at risk not only for a cocaine-induced heart attack, but perhaps also for an opioid overdose.

Contact a treatment provider today to learn more about how you can overcome addiction to stimulants, opioids, or other substance by getting treatment at a rehab facility.

The post Drug Traffickers Are Increasingly Mixing Fentanyl Into Cocaine appeared first on Addiction Center.

On June 25, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker signed House Bill 1438, which allows people in Illinois to use and purchase recreational Marijuana. The bill also requires the state to license marijuana dispensaries. Medical Marijuana has already been legal in Illinois since 2013 and now Illinois will be the 11th state to legalize the drug for non-medical use.

Recreational Marijuana is currently legal in Massachusetts, Maine, Vermont, Michigan, Colorado, Washington, Oregon, California, Alaska, and Nevada, although the federal government still classifies cannabis as a Schedule I controlled substance.

Pritzker stated that “legalizing adult-use cannabis brings an important and overdue change to our state, and it’s the right thing to do.” Supporters of HB 1438 claim that taxing legal Marijuana will generate millions of dollars in revenue for Illinois and that legalization, combined with the bill’s reparations provisions, will correct injustices which they say anti-drug laws have inflicted on minorities. Opponents of HB 1438, especially interest groups which represent police officers, fear that legalization will cause more people to use Marijuana and then drive while “high.”

New Marijuana Rules And Limitations

Under the new law, Illinois residents may possess as many as 30 grams (or 1 ounce) of Marijuana and non-residents visiting the state may possess as many as 15 grams, beginning on January 1, 2020. Possessing non-medicinal Marijuana will be against the law for the remainder of 2019.

Adults who are at least 21 years old will also be allowed to buy Marijuana, but only from licensed dispensaries. The law does not allow people in Illinois to grow their own Marijuana unless they are patients who use medical Marijuana for treatment. In those cases, they may keep a maximum of 5 cannabis plants in their homes. Additionally, it will remain illegal to use Marijuana in public spaces, at schools, in a car, or in the presence of a minor. Landlords and business owners can also ban Marijuana use on their private property, and universities and colleges can still prohibit the drug on campus.

When cannabis sales begin on January 1, there may be over 100 dispensaries for recreational Marijuana throughout the state. The law requires would-be Marijuana merchants to pay $100,000 to apply for a dispensary license. The state will give preference to the 55 medical Marijuana dispensaries which are already operating in Illinois and then will open applications for 75 more licenses in October.

Overturning Criminal Convictions

When he signed HB 1438, Pritzker claimed that the “the war on cannabis” – the criminalization of Marijuana – “has destroyed families, filled prisons with nonviolent offenders, and disproportionately disrupted black and brown communities.” Therefore, the law will erase state-level, non-violent marijuana convictions. This provision has the potential to relieve almost 800,000 people of a criminal record.

The law also requires that 25% of tax revenue which the state collects from the Marijuana industry be invested in high-poverty areas and that another 20% of the revenue be used to finance programs to treat drug addiction. Furthermore, the law requires that the state give preference to minorities who apply for a license to open a dispensary.

Legal Marijuana Is Not Safe Marijuana

Cannabis may now be legal in Illinois, but regular Marijuana users are still at risk for emotional disorders, lung damage, stunted brain development, psychological dependence, and symptoms of withdrawal.

Whether or not it’s legal, Marijuana can harm a person’s ability to maintain a healthy lifestyle. If you or someone you know needs help with overcoming Marijuana dependence, contact a treatment provider today to get answers to your questions about rehab.

The post Illinois Legalizes Recreational Marijuana, Overturns Cannabis Convictions appeared first on Addiction Center.

On June 25, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted unanimously, 11-0, to ban the sale of e-cigarettes. The new ordinances prohibit stores from selling e-cigarettes and also prohibit anyone from selling them online to buyers with a San Francisco address. Additionally, the Board voted to ban companies from manufacturing e-cigarettes on city property. If Mayor London Breed signs the ordinances, the city will start to enforce the new rules in 7 months. Breed has said that she supports the ban.

San Francisco will be the first American city to ban e-cigarette sales, but it’s also home to the headquarters of Juul Labs, Inc., the largest e-cigarette company in the country. Juul vaping devices account for about 70% of the entire e-cigarette market. The problem, according to supporters of the ban, is that Juul’s products lack FDA regulation. Dennis Herrera, the City Attorney, said that the ban “wouldn’t be necessary if the federal government had done its job.” He was referring to the legal requirement that products like e-cigarettes not be sold until they pass an FDA safety review.

The FDA has not reviewed any vaping products – from Juul or any other company – yet hasn’t banned them either. City leaders from San Francisco as well as New York City and Chicago have criticized the FDA for what they consider to be a failure of oversight.

A Response To Teenage Vaping

The supporters of the ban also expressed concern for children’s health. Vaping has become very popular with teenagers, so much so that the number of high school students who use e-cigarettes skyrocketed by 78% in 2018. Since e-cigarettes contain Nicotine, an addictive substance, the Mayor and the Board are worried that vaping will harm teenagers in San Francisco. Although the smoking age in California is 21, vaping devices are common in San Francisco schools.

There is so much we don’t know about the health impacts of these products, but we do know that e-cigarette companies are targeting our kids in their advertising and getting them hooked on addictive nicotine products. We need to take action to protect the health of San Francisco’s youth and prevent the next generation of San Franciscans from becoming addicted to these products.

Juul’s Response To The E-Cigarette Sales Ban

Juul adamantly opposes the ordinances. The company spent over $600,000 to lobby against the new rules and has been collecting signatures for a petition to challenge the ordinances on the ballot this November. Juul said that it does not advertise its products to minors. As evidence, the company cited its decision to delete its social media accounts, which young people were most likely to see, and stop selling flavored e-cigarettes, which were most popular among teenagers. Juul also stated that the ban may be counterproductive for fighting Nicotine addiction.

This full prohibition will drive former adult smokers who successfully switched to vapor products back to deadly cigarettes, deny the opportunity to switch for current adult smokers, and create a thriving black market instead of addressing the actual causes of underage access and use.

In addition to Juul, some small businesses in San Francisco also oppose the ban because many city residents visit family-owned stores to buy Juul devices.

Regardless, other cities may soon follow San Francisco’s example. Vaping is such a new phenomenon that governments and regulatory agencies are just starting to catch up. It is possible that the regulation of e-cigarettes will leave the confines of local politics and become a national issue in the future.

For more information on treatment options, contact a treatment provider today.

[UPDATE: On September 30, 2019, under mounting political pressure, Juul suspended its campaign to overturn the city’s ordinances through a ballot initiative. The company had contributed almost $19 million to support Proposition C, which would have permitted the sale of e-cigarettes to adults in San Francisco. Proposition C will still be on the city ballot in November.]

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On June 18, a team of police officers and agents from the U.S. Coast Guard and the Department of Homeland Security discovered 16.5 tons (or 33,000 pounds) of Cocaine on a freighter ship docked at a port in Philadelphia. The authorities confiscated the illegal cargo, impounded the ship, and arrested several members of the crew. The supply of Cocaine was worth over $1 billion. The drug bust in Philadelphia was one of the largest in U.S. history, both in terms of the size of the drug stockpile and its value.

The ship, MSC Gayane, launched its voyage from Chile and sailed to Peru, Colombia, and Panama before docking at Freeport in the Bahamas. From there the Gayane sailed to Philadelphia and would have departed for the Netherlands, its final destination, had detector dogs with the Philadelphia police not found Cocaine in seven shipping containers aboard the ship. Mediterranean Shipping Company, which owns the Gayane, expressed concern that its vessel had been used to transport illegal drugs and vowed to cooperate with law enforcement.

One Gayane crew member, Ivan Durasevic, claimed that he had been promised $50,000 to help bring the drugs onboard. The police arrested Durasevic after investigators found traces of Cocaine on his arm. Fono Faavae Tiasaga, another crew member whom the authorities arrested, admitted that he had partnered with Durasevic to smuggle Cocaine onto the Gayane during a previous voyage.

Prosecutors charged both crew members with “conspiracy to possess Cocaine aboard a ship subject to U.S. jurisdiction.” According to the prosecutors, drug traffickers approached the Gayane on smaller boats and delivered the cocaine to the conspirators in South American waters.

Part Of A Pattern

The drug bust in Philadelphia was not an isolated incident, but rather part of a series of drug busts which have recently taken place in the northeastern region of the United States. In March, law enforcement officers confiscated about 992 pounds of Cocaine from the MSC Desiree at the Port of Philadelphia. Like the Gayane, the Desiree was bound for Europe and its owner is Mediterranean Shipping Company. The Cocaine supply in the March drug bust was worth about $18 million.

Later that same month, police discovered 3,200 pounds of Cocaine in a shipping container at the Port of New York and New Jersey. The Cocaine stash was worth about $77 million. That drug bust was the largest in New York since 1994. The Cocaine, which was hidden under boxes of dried fruit, was stored a ship that was bound for Belgium.

Cocaine, New York’s nemesis of the 90s, is back – indicating traffickers’ push to build an emerging customer base of users mixing Cocaine with fentanyl. This record-breaking seizure draws attention to this new threat and shows law enforcement’s collaborative efforts in seizing illicit drugs before it gets to the streets and into users’ hands.

Trafficking Cocaine

Ever since the Colombian government relaxed its campaign to eradicate the coca plant, Cocaine production has increased in Colombia, resulting in a cocaine surplus. This may explain the recent surge in cocaine trafficking and the record-breaking quantities of cocaine that U.S. authorities have been seizing. The drug bust in Philadelphia this month demonstrates that cocaine trafficking is still a vast and lucrative illegal enterprise.

Cocaine is illegal to use or possess in the United States. The drug is addictive and has the potential to kill its users by causing heart attacks. Drug traffickers reap enormous profits by getting ordinary Americans addicted to Cocaine. If you or someone you know is addicted Cocaine, contact a treatment provider today for information on rehabs.

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