Thanks for checking out my blog! I really hope I have been educating and informing you about crack cocaine and its implications in Ottawa. As I continue to do more research, I will update this blog.
Talk soon!
Amisha
Sunday, November 28, 2010
What is being done to help crack cocaine (and all other drug) addicts in Ottawa?
The Somerset Street West Community Health Centre and the City of Ottawa's health department (not the same as Ottawa Public Health*) both operate a program called the 'Needle Exchange Safe Inhalation program', where two vans drive through Ottawa streets every night to distribute clean needles (for those who inject crack cocaine and/or other drugs) and other free items including condoms, in exchange for used needles. People who operate these vans often found saying to other that 'everyone matters'.
Additionally, the Oasis clinic and harm reduction centre at the Sandy Hill Community Centre hands out free, clean needles, condoms, pipes, mesh filters (holds the crack cocaine to burn), clean water and vitamin C.
If your going to use crack cocaine, as least do it safely ....right?
Crack cocaine (and other drug) addicts without any violence on their criminal record, that have a criminal charge related to a drug addiction (i.e. stealing) are eligible to apply for treatment through the Ottawa Drug Treatment Court (associated with Rideauwood Addiction and Family Services). The program runs over the span of year, where participants go through counselling and are required to appear in Court twice a week. Upon the successful completion of this program, participants are given a sentence other than jail time to serve for the criminal charge related to their drug addiction.
Another option is the Ontario Works Addiction Program (associated with Rideauwood Addiction and Family Services and the City of Ottawa). The general idea behind this out-patient program is individual and group counselling as well as education sessions, over a period of time.
There are number of other drug rehab centres within Ontario to help crack cocaine addicts deal with their addiction. As mentioned before, as of yet, there is no pharmacological treatment (i.e. no drug) that can be taken to treat cocaine addiction. That being said, it is a hot topic in scientific research.
*Ottawa Public Health does not distribute kits for making crack pipes since the city's council voted against the crack pipe program in 2007. Many counselor's, at the time, believed that distributing these kits only encourages crack cocaine addicts to continue using the drug.
The Somerset Street West Community Health Centre and the City of Ottawa's health department (not the same as Ottawa Public Health*) both operate a program called the 'Needle Exchange Safe Inhalation program', where two vans drive through Ottawa streets every night to distribute clean needles (for those who inject crack cocaine and/or other drugs) and other free items including condoms, in exchange for used needles. People who operate these vans often found saying to other that 'everyone matters'.
Additionally, the Oasis clinic and harm reduction centre at the Sandy Hill Community Centre hands out free, clean needles, condoms, pipes, mesh filters (holds the crack cocaine to burn), clean water and vitamin C.
If your going to use crack cocaine, as least do it safely ....right?
Crack cocaine (and other drug) addicts without any violence on their criminal record, that have a criminal charge related to a drug addiction (i.e. stealing) are eligible to apply for treatment through the Ottawa Drug Treatment Court (associated with Rideauwood Addiction and Family Services). The program runs over the span of year, where participants go through counselling and are required to appear in Court twice a week. Upon the successful completion of this program, participants are given a sentence other than jail time to serve for the criminal charge related to their drug addiction.
Another option is the Ontario Works Addiction Program (associated with Rideauwood Addiction and Family Services and the City of Ottawa). The general idea behind this out-patient program is individual and group counselling as well as education sessions, over a period of time.
There are number of other drug rehab centres within Ontario to help crack cocaine addicts deal with their addiction. As mentioned before, as of yet, there is no pharmacological treatment (i.e. no drug) that can be taken to treat cocaine addiction. That being said, it is a hot topic in scientific research.
*Ottawa Public Health does not distribute kits for making crack pipes since the city's council voted against the crack pipe program in 2007. Many counselor's, at the time, believed that distributing these kits only encourages crack cocaine addicts to continue using the drug.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
So what's it like being a police officer.. and dealing with crack cocaine?
Last year alone, Ottawa Police seized 600 grams of crack.
Every night, there are a number of police officers that patrol the downtown core of Ottawa, where most crack cocaine addicts can be found. They are on the look for traffickers, which are those individuals who are selling small amounts of crack cocaine to finance their own crack cocaine addiction. However, in actuality, officers want to get to the core of the problem - the major crack cocaine dealers. This is the tough part, as these major dealers are good at staying as far away as possible from the police as they can. It can be tough and often costly (resources, undercover agents etc.) to find the true culprits. Whats unfortunate is that the traffickers are the ones who often get caught the most, and end up serving time in jail, whereas these major drug dealers are often never found.
A police officer with the City of Ottawa, Sgt. John Gibbons:
"If somebody dropped a bomb in a subway that ruined the lives of 60 people, they'd be going away for quite a while. Someone who hooks 60 people on drugs ruins lives and changes the nature of a community. They should be looking at serious time."
Often a drug addiction involves crime...
A jobless addict has three options to help them get their next hit: to beg, to borrow, or to steal. When there desperate, and borrowing is not an option anymore, petty crime, like stealing, occurs. Since the number of crack cocaine addicts in Ottawa has rised in recent years, Ottawa police officers have seen an increase in crime rates.
Last year alone, Ottawa Police seized 600 grams of crack.
Every night, there are a number of police officers that patrol the downtown core of Ottawa, where most crack cocaine addicts can be found. They are on the look for traffickers, which are those individuals who are selling small amounts of crack cocaine to finance their own crack cocaine addiction. However, in actuality, officers want to get to the core of the problem - the major crack cocaine dealers. This is the tough part, as these major dealers are good at staying as far away as possible from the police as they can. It can be tough and often costly (resources, undercover agents etc.) to find the true culprits. Whats unfortunate is that the traffickers are the ones who often get caught the most, and end up serving time in jail, whereas these major drug dealers are often never found.
A police officer with the City of Ottawa, Sgt. John Gibbons:
"If somebody dropped a bomb in a subway that ruined the lives of 60 people, they'd be going away for quite a while. Someone who hooks 60 people on drugs ruins lives and changes the nature of a community. They should be looking at serious time."
Often a drug addiction involves crime...
A jobless addict has three options to help them get their next hit: to beg, to borrow, or to steal. When there desperate, and borrowing is not an option anymore, petty crime, like stealing, occurs. Since the number of crack cocaine addicts in Ottawa has rised in recent years, Ottawa police officers have seen an increase in crime rates.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Ottawa and crack cocaine .. is it a problem?
Yes. Really? Yes.
The words Ottawa and crack cocaine just don't go together.. or do they? Indeed, they do. In fact, it's estimated that Ottawa is home to about 5,000 crack cocaine addicts ... 5000 people! For a city that doesn't have that many people, that is quite a high number of purely crack cocaine addicts. There are addicts everywhere; although the main problem exists in downtown Ottawa, there are many crack cocaine addicts living in middle-class neighbourhoods, including Orleans, Kanata and Barrhaven. Your neighbour might be an addict.. who really knows?
So why is crack cocaine Ottawa's drug of choice? It's cheap and it does the job - deliver a fast high. The first sign of Ottawa having a crack cocaine problem arose when the number of hepatitis C, HIV, lip sores, asthma and pneumonia cases increased significantly.
There have been cases of Ottawa residents who have lost everything, all of their earnings, their jobs, their families, their children, their home, their health and most of all, their self-respect...
... because of their crack cocaine addiction.
Yes. Really? Yes.
The words Ottawa and crack cocaine just don't go together.. or do they? Indeed, they do. In fact, it's estimated that Ottawa is home to about 5,000 crack cocaine addicts ... 5000 people! For a city that doesn't have that many people, that is quite a high number of purely crack cocaine addicts. There are addicts everywhere; although the main problem exists in downtown Ottawa, there are many crack cocaine addicts living in middle-class neighbourhoods, including Orleans, Kanata and Barrhaven. Your neighbour might be an addict.. who really knows?
So why is crack cocaine Ottawa's drug of choice? It's cheap and it does the job - deliver a fast high. The first sign of Ottawa having a crack cocaine problem arose when the number of hepatitis C, HIV, lip sores, asthma and pneumonia cases increased significantly.
There have been cases of Ottawa residents who have lost everything, all of their earnings, their jobs, their families, their children, their home, their health and most of all, their self-respect...
... because of their crack cocaine addiction.
 |
| A City on Crack? |
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Can crack cocaine addicts develop tolerance? Do they experience withdrawal symptoms?
Yes and yes.
When crack cocaine is taken over a long period of time (chronic use), it can lead to the development of tolerance, where the effects from the first administration of crack cocaine are not produced by a second administration in a given period of time, unless a higher dosage is used. 'Nothing compares to the first hit', as addicts commonly put it. Some addicts continue to take higher doses of crack cocaine in order to intensify and prolong the 'good euphoric feeling' that it brings.
After the initial 'high' feeling experienced from taking in crack cocaine, chronic users tend to experience withdrawal symptoms, also known as a 'crash'. This period consists of intense craving, depression and exhaustion (emotional withdrawal symptoms as opposed to physical withdrawal symptoms). Sadly, there becomes a point where chronic users need to take in crack cocaine to feel normal, everyday pleasure.
Yes and yes.
When crack cocaine is taken over a long period of time (chronic use), it can lead to the development of tolerance, where the effects from the first administration of crack cocaine are not produced by a second administration in a given period of time, unless a higher dosage is used. 'Nothing compares to the first hit', as addicts commonly put it. Some addicts continue to take higher doses of crack cocaine in order to intensify and prolong the 'good euphoric feeling' that it brings.
After the initial 'high' feeling experienced from taking in crack cocaine, chronic users tend to experience withdrawal symptoms, also known as a 'crash'. This period consists of intense craving, depression and exhaustion (emotional withdrawal symptoms as opposed to physical withdrawal symptoms). Sadly, there becomes a point where chronic users need to take in crack cocaine to feel normal, everyday pleasure.
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