Opiate conclusion

Lets say its a Saturday morning. You've got nothing important to do so you brew a nice pot of coffee and watch some music videos. For some reason you decide to watch one of the many terrible Lil Wayne videos. In a state of shock, you notice a Styrofoam cup in his hand. It's hard to understand what the goblin like creature is saying in the fist pace, but adding a highly addictive prescription drug isn't helping. What he's drinking is commonly known as "lean", a prescription cough suppressant that contains both Promethazine and Codeine.

Huston Texas is the birth place of the Sipping culture. In the 1960's Blues players would mix Robitussin with beer and experience bizarre sedating effects. Local gangs did the same and a tradition was formed. In the late 80's an early 90's they substituted in Promethazine Codeine syrup and Purple Drank was born. A native rapper by the name of DJ Screw promoted the drug in song, and often slowed down his tracks to produce a sound similar to the effect of the drug. Many locals and people across the nation wanted to try this illegal cocktail and nation soon delt with a lean epidemic.  Codeine is a narcotic, and Promethazine an antihistamine, combined they create a deadly substance. When taken as prescribed the syrup can relieve sever respiratory infection or act as a sleep aid. When abused, a user taking a dosage high enough may experience something similar to an LSD trip.  

Now lean use is common throughout various rap stars. Many versus talk highly of the substance and act as publicity for the drug. Due to the high potential for abuse, in August 2014 all production of the substance was called to an immediate halt. The shortage of lean has caused street values to sky rocket. Some rappers are willing to pay upwards or $100,000 a bottle. Soon the lean will run dry and problems SHOULD come to a screeching haul.

Being the dumb ass he is, Soulja boy posted this photo to Instagram shortly after the annoucment.

Far more dangerous is addictive substance Heroin. Also an opiate, but injected or smoked instead of orally taken. Heroin is refined morphine that's strong enough to kill a man. This drug is so addictive that the process of detox can kill a user. Many heroin addicts must inject themselves two or three times daily to avoid withdraw. When one is ready to get sober it is a pain staking process that can take a life time. Relapse is almost unavoidable when dealing with heroin. Sadly relapse leads to overdose all to often in the world of music and fame. 

Bradly Nowell struggled with heroin addiction for the majority of his short life. He' gotten clean but fell into relapse a few time's. When he finally seemed to have his life back on track it happened. He was a new father, he'd just gotten married, and had just finished the album that would make Sublime famous. Then he died... He'd been married for a week ,and while on a five day tour he slipped back into addiction. He knew that he'd be meeting his wife for the last stop of the tour and couldn't be fucked up on Heroin. Two choices.. 

1. Flush it down the toilet

2. Shoot it all up.....

Bradley was found in his motel on the morning of May 25, 1996 unresponsive. When medical help arrived they pronounced that he had died hours earlier of an overdose. 

The albums release was originally set back, but eventually became available to the public. Songs such as "What i've got","Santeria", and "Wrong way" gave the band the fame they craved, but there was only one problem... The lead singer, songwriter, and guitarist was dead.

Moral of the story: don't play around with Opiates and you'll live a happy life. The very Symbol that sublime created tell's the story of it's lead singers death. The band was created in California and the members felt a sense of pride toward it. The Sublime sun represents Cali, you either have good times and it is sunny, or you fall into the dark presence of the drug culture.

  

 

Not Even Once

When discussing illegal drugs, four main categories do a great job explaining the effects felt by the user. Narcotics, Stimulants, Depressants, and Hallucinogens all provide a "high" that can hook an individual before they know it's happening. This week we're diving right into the hard stuff, Narcotics.

The picture shown is the extremely powerful and addictive plant Opium Poppy. Humans began using this plant around 3400 B.C. in Mesopotamia (Southwest Asia) for medicinal and spiritual reasons. These people realized the true power and potential of this natural gift and passed it onto other cultures. Greek mythology is thought to be linked with Opium use. Often priests and other high ranking religious figures would take high doses and go to the Oracle to seek enlightenment. In a state of delirium these men would return with "messages from the gods" and record what they had experienced. It is thought that Opium use within Greek culture may have influence on belief in polytheism. Gods like Zeus, Hades,and Aphrodite had heavy influence on the outcome of daily life. The people did everything they could to please them including human sacrifice.      

World wide during the mid 1800's Opium dens were present in China, France, Southeast Asia, and North America. These were literally little huts that only served the purpose of smoking and selling Opium. This is a highly addictive substance so junkies visited regularly. Non smokers would also walk in on occasion looking for a good time. Dealers wouldn't hesitate to sell and eventually the United States attempted to crack down on opium. The major operations were located in Chinatown in both New Your and California. When Opium is smoked it is highly potent and fast acting. Opioids are among the most dangerous drugs due to the high risk of user dependency.  

  Modern day we have harnessed the potency of the plant and made it useful. Morphine, Hydro Morphine, Methadone, and Oxycodone are all Opioid based drugs that can alleviate severe pain. Morphine is used to put a patient under sedation when in excruciating pain (burn victims, car accident victims, ect.). Our bodies are actually equip with Opium receptors, when the chemical enters the body it binds to these. The other drugs listed are pills given to people who often are not able to function unless heavily sedated. These prescription pills are falling into the wrong hands and are being abused in high numbers. Heroin has also been around sense the 1880's and has done nothing but destroy life's. Heroin is made by taking the sap from Poppy Opium and refining it into Morphine. After the morphine has been produced it is again refined into Diaorphine, more commonly known as Heroin. This substance can be injected directly into the blood stream or smoked. It's so powerful that many users do not remain conscious throughout high.

Next week will conclude narcotics by looking deeper into Heroin and introducing the problem Hollywood Drug Codeine. Many rappers drink "Lean", a Promethazine Codeine prescription caught suppressant. They pour a few ounces of the liquid into a styrofoam cup, mix it with sprite, and drop a Jolly Rancher into into the solution. Opioids have had more negative affects than positive, lives are destroyed daily because of them 

Straight to the Point

Before judgement can be put upon me, I'm stating the fact that I do NOT condone or encourage the use of drugs... I just find them fascinating. "You can talk about anything" was the basis for this assignment and I intend to take full advantage of that.

A ten year old boy sits silently as the man in the blue talks over the class. Drugs and alcohol seem to be his favorite topic. Little heads turn in fear as he holds up photographs of men wearing orange jumpsuits. He states, one day that could be us if we don't learn how to make proper decisions. Immediately my uncle vivid image stumbles through my mind. "Bad people are in jail for a reason" he declares boldly. My tiny hand rises innocently "My uncle is in jail... I dressed up as him for Halloween". The oh so certain officer no longer has control of the situation. A mere ten year old has brought him to a loss for words and he must be careful with his response. After all he's basically called a member of a little boys family useless. Surprisingly he continues the presentation without further comment and exits. Why didn't he say anything I wondered throughout the day?

Only with age could I fully digest what had happened. My uncle was indeed a criminal, but was he a bad man? Possession, distribution, and trafficking sixteen pounds of Marijuana were the charges faced; inevitably he served 4 years in the state prison because of this. 

Regardless I knew that i'd never be that man or behind bards. My parents always modeled him as "who not to be like" and because of this my life has been smooth for the most part. No major family tragedies or natural disasters near home thankfully. For some reason from the age of thirteen I found the shows on about people doing drugs in their dorms and jumping out windows hilarious couldn't help but learn more. I've taken a few classes, done a lot of research, and have some crazy friends that provide a basic understanding of how Narcotics, Stimulants, Depressants, Hallucinogens, and some new drugs of concern work and alter ones perception of reality. To make things a little more interesting and positive things like music, art, and culture will all be connected. Humor, Sarcasm, and opinions will defiantly be shared and be a fun semester.

 Getting back to my my uncle, it's crazy to think, what was "wrong" back then is and will continue to be a legal and profitable business. Two States (Colorado and Washington) have legalized the use of this medicinal plant and more are sure to fallow. Colorado's first year generated over thirty million dollars in tax's along with a decrease in crime rate. A major candidate running for election is bound to be a cannabis advocate at one point or another and legalization will occur. Being educated is key to ensure safety and good times to come in the years to come.