It’s a pretty common story: every couple of weeks of so, the Coast Guard makes the news with another drug bust, pulling over a ship or a barge on its way to the United States that has thousands of pounds of cocaine or heroin on board. It happens so frequently, in fact, that it’s only makes the news on slow news days. The most interesting part of this story to the rest of the world is not necessarily the 95 bricks of cocaine that were intercepted – though that’s important, too – but the brand new boat they’re using to nab drug traffickers.

The Boat that Caught the Drug Dealers

The new Coast Guard boat is a 45-foot Response Boat-Medium (RB-M). It’s quick, it’s well-equipped and it’s proven itself to be a valuable asset in a number of different types of missions. Better than the larger ships, the new Coast Guard vessel has an easier time intercepting those suspicious, go-fast boats that are common in drug operations.

Pulling 95 Bricks of Cocaine Off the Market – A Positive Rush

Finally, cocaine provides a rush of a non-deadly kind. A US Customs and Border Protection Caribbean Air and Marine Branch aircraft on surveillance saw a little 18-foot yola headed for Puerto Rico with no navigation lighting, they called the Coast Guard. In response, the USCG sent out a  45-foot RB-M from Station San Juan and the Coast Guard Cutter Matinicus.

When the crew of the 18-foot yola saw the men and women in blue coming, they began throwing things overboard. The RB-M crew boarded the boat and stabilized it to keep it from sinking, then recovered as much cargo as they could from the water. A field test sample revealed that the suitcases that were tossed into the water were full of cocaine.  Over the next 24 hours, the Coast Guard worked with the Caribbean Corridor Strike Force and transferred the drugs to Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations agents for a more thorough investigation.

Senior Chief Petty Officer Robert Pump is the Station San Juan officer-in-charge. He says: “The 45-foot RB-M has continued to exceed all of our expectations. This interdiction is one more example of the amount of utility that was designed into this boat. The designers and builders should be proud that their efforts have resulted in an outstanding multi-mission platform that will capably safeguard our maritime domain.”

Fighting Cocaine Addiction on our Shores

While it’s a great help to Americans struggling with cocaine addiction that there is a little less product on the streets to promote relapse, serious day-to-day treatment and addiction counseling is necessary to truly fight relapse on a personal level. Contact us today if you would like to learn more about our cocaine rehab program here at the Canyon.

Is someone you love abusing cocaine regularly? Are you searching for information that will help you not only understand the nature of the disease and what to look for but how to help your loved one get the cocaine addiction treatment they need to kick the habit forever? Below you will find the definitions to a number of terms that will assist you as you research cocaine addiction and cocaine rehab options for your friend or family member. Bookmark the page and come back to as often as necessary.

• Cocaine Binge – Binge use of cocaine or any drug may not happen every day or even every week, but a person who binges on cocaine will use large amounts of the drug in a period of days. The risk of overdose is large among those with binge cocaine habits because their body can’t handle the overload of the drug. Usually followed by a ‘crash.’
• Cocaine Crash – After using cocaine for days on end, the user eventually runs out of their supply and can’t get more and the period that follows is called a ‘crash.’ During a cocaine crash, the user may be irritated, depressed, tired yet unable to sleep and suffer from sinus problems and headaches.
• Cocaine – The drug you hate is the psychoactive component of the coca plant, a white powder that can be snorted, freebased or injected.
• Crack – An inexpensive form of cocaine that combines cocaine, baking soda and hydrochloride salt into a rock form that can be smoked.
• Freebase – This is one of the terms used to describe the process of removing the hydrochloride from cocaine hydrochloride. The base form of the drug created through this process is smoked.
• Dual Diagnosis Treatment – For those who are living with cocaine addiction in addition to other psychological and behavioral disorders like ADHD, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder, Dual Diagnosis treatment provides help for both issues at the same time.
• Outpatient Cocaine Addiction Treatment – Outpatient programs are slightly less expensive than residential programs and allow addicts to continue to go to work or attend school if missing those things for a more intensive treatment is an issue.
• Inpatient Cocaine Rehab – Residential or inpatient treatment services provide a complete detox and addiction treatment program. Each one is different, but most incorporate 12-step meetings and personal therapy sessions with medical treatment and an array of other alternative treatment options.
• Holistic Cocaine Rehab – Holistic cocaine rehab programs may be inpatient or outpatient and may or may not provide 12-step meetings, but incorporate acupuncture, meditation, yoga, equine assisted therapy,  art therapy and other therapeutic options with the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy found in one-on-one session.
• Cocaine Detox – Those who experience extreme physical withdrawal symptoms when they attempt to stop using cocaine will need to ensure that their treatment program includes medical services and detox that will provide directed care to this issue.

If you would like to learn more about cocaine rehab or how you can help your loved one to heal from cocaine addiction, contact us today.

Charlie Sheen has been undergoing an at-home drug rehab program of late, famously texting all former associates in the porn industry to let them know that he is no longer open for business. Though it has been less than two weeks since the 36-hour spree reportedly involving cocaine abuse, porn stars and copious amounts of alcohol that landed him in the hospital, Sheen says he’s just fine – and ready to go back to work.

His network, however, is not so sure. They have suspended shooting for Sheen’s show, Two and a Half Men, pending his recovery, which they feel should probably take a little time.

Sheen heartily disagrees. According to Us Magazine, he unexpectedly called into the Dan Patrick Show and said: “I just figured I was supposed to go back to work because I’m ready. They said, ‘You get ready. We’ll get ready.’ And I got ready.”

Sheen seems to view the wait to return to shooting as meddling in his personal life. Though there is a morals clause in his contract, Sheen said: “Nitpick, nitpick, but I don’t think [the contract] covers, ‘Let us totally dominate and interfere with your personal life.’ I have a contract. They said, ‘Get your act together,’ and I did.”

But even though Sheen adamantly disagrees with the network’s decision, he also said: “I heal really quickly, but I also unravel pretty quickly. So get me right now, guys. Get me right now!”

It’s understandable that those investing a huge amount of money in the star’s performance would not be heartened by such statements. Sheen is reportedly uninterested in long-term recovery options or even working toward a clean and sober lifestyle despite all the problems he’s experienced in his life due to his behavior under the influence.

The term for those who are currently trying to keep their alcohol and drug abuse under control but have little interest in long-term addiction treatment measures? ‘White knuckling’ it. It’s not a pleasant or desirable place to be. The white knuckles one gets when gripping their chair arm due to discomfort to force themselves through an unpleasant situation is what the term implies – and it’s almost always followed by relapse. Most who recognize that they are white knuckling it to stay sober see this is a red flag letting them know that it’s time to get help and make sure that they are protected from relapse.

According to Us Magazine, Sheen says he drinks and parties out of “Boredom. Wanting to make things better – whether it’s real or imagined. I was sober for five years a long time ago and was just bored out of my tree.”

And he says that to call himself sober would be “inauthentic – it’s not who I am.”

Despite drug rehab, a recent hospital visit, issues with his ex, and the discussion between him and his network, Sheen still has a great outlook. His view on his life right now? Sheen says: “I’m having a ball. I am enjoying every moment.”

Get Your Flu Shot, Tetanus Shot, and Your… Anti-Cocaine-Craving Shot?

Testing for a possible cocaine vaccination has been conducted on lab mice within the last several months. It is common knowledge that rodents share a certain degree of physical characteristics with humans. However, in the analysis of drug addiction in humans as it relates to mice, I have to wave a flag of skepticism. Yes, both animals are structurally similar – but mice do not battle with the phenomenon of reason. Mice don’t have to decide between Bar A or Club C on Friday nights. They don’t live with a moral conscience that kicks in when drug cravings hit. Unfortunately, I just don’t see this vaccine panning out as intended.

To start, consider the statement by a renowned doctor in the field of addiction treatment. As stated in the online edition of Molecular Therapy, on January 4^th, 2010 quotes Dr. Crystal. She is one of the key doctors engaged in the development process. Dr. Crystal states,

“The human immune system doesn’t naturally tag cocaine as something to be destroyed, just like all small-molecule drugs are not eliminated by antibodies. We have engineered this response so that it is against the cocaine mimic. Our very dramatic data shows that we can protect mice against the effects of cocaine, and we think this approach could be very promising in fighting addiction in humans.”

Addicts of cocaine report intense physical cravings, a compulsion to use cocaine despite their best intentions to stop, and a mental preoccupation with the drug. In theory, the vaccine will preclude cocaine from affecting the brain as it historically has in its unaltered state. Through the vaccine’s effects, addicts who succumb to temptation in terms of cocaine would reap disappointing results:

“The antibody immune response produced in lab mice by the vaccine binds to cocaine molecules before the drug reaches the brain and prevents any cocaine-related hyperactivity. The vaccine effect lasted for an incredible 13 weeks, the longest time point evaluated,” states a January 5^th, 2010 article in Medical News Today entitled New Cocaine Vaccine May Squelch Cravings; Remedy Addiction.

Herein lies the rub. Vaccines designed to counter drug cravings might pull drug addicts away from the deep-seated emotional work, a necessary stepping-stone in maintaining abstinence from chemical dependency. Comprehending and managing the mental component of addiction is extremely important to long-term sobriety. By simply relying on a shot injected in the upper arm, a cocaine addict risks losing the inclination to participate in recovery-based work, such as:

• Maintain a regular therapy schedule or regular appointments with an addiction specialist
• Enroll in an inpatient rehabilitation center for drug addicts in which the client will learn invaluable life skills, stress reduction techniques, and bond with other addicts
• Participate in 12-step meetings such as Cocaine Anonymous
• Corral family members to attend family therapy sessions
• Commit to treatment in cases where an intervention is hosted by family and friends

Hopefully the vaccine provides nothing more than a supplemental option, to be integrated into a multifaceted treatment regimen for cocaine addiction. We hope that the link between the reaction seen in mice, and the reaction inherent in humans, continues to be researched and more clearly defined. We also retain optimism that the birth of a cocaine-craving curb does not reduce discretion on behalf of young partygoers. “Well, I can try some coke… there’s a vaccine I can take in the unlikely event that I become addicted!” We’ll keep our fingers crossed until further notice.

Fox News published an odd story recently: in North Carolina, monkeys are being forced to get high. To be more specific, those monkeys are housed in a research facility at Wake Forest University and closely monitored. The goal of plying them with cocaine is to determine the effect of the drug on the brain and learn a little bit more about how addiction works so that it can be better treated.

The study is actually a pretty common one (there have been a multitude of studies on animals that were designed solely to under the effect of drugs on the brain, body and psyche). The issue that this particular study raises has more to do with its source of funds.

Who’s Paying to Get Monkeys High?

The United States Government, actually, in a roundabout way. The study received $71,000 of stimulus funds and there are some who are irate over the fact. The money saved a research position, which many don’t believe was a strong enough investment for that amount of money. But the real benefit may be in what the study reveals.

Should Drug Addiction Studies Be a Priority During a Time of Economic Crisis?

Though Fox News and other conservative organizations may disagree, it is my opinion that drug addiction studies are of primary importance particularly when the country is experiencing an economic downturn. The fact is, drug and alcohol addiction rises when people are frustrated with the outlook for the future. When people lose jobs, they lose their homes. They can’t pay bills. They lose the retirement savings they worked so long for. They lose focus and have a hard time getting back on track. When this situation persists, relationships are strained, often to the point of breaking. As a result, people turn to drinking and drugs more consistently during a recession than under almost any other circumstance. Economic decline almost always relates to a rise in drug and alcohol addiction.

How Can Research Studies of Effect Assist in Drug Addiction Treatment?

Because monkeys so closely resemble humans in physiological makeup, a study that focuses on the repeated use of cocaine and the development of addiction may assist us in learning how to treat addiction. There is no cure for drug addiction as yet, but there are a number of options in cocaine addiction treatment. In some instances, medications are indicated while in others a patient-led cocaine detox is a better choice. Followed by psychological and therapeutic addiction treatment, cocaine rehab is extremely effective; research can only improve the healing experience of those who need it.

Finding the Right Cocaine Addiction Treatment Program for You

Finding the right cocaine addiction treatment program is about determining your needs and resources. For most, an inpatient cocaine rehab is the best option as it allows for a full immersion experience in treatment. For others, when finances or commitments at home or work are an impediment, an outpatient cocaine addiction treatment program is a better choice. If you are unsure what will work best for you, call The Canyon today and speak to a counselor.

The arguments for legalization of currently illegal drugs like heroin, cocaine, marijuana and others is usually based on harm. Who does it hurt if I get high? a legalization advocate might ask. How does it affect anyone else’s life, the choices I make personally in my own home?

The answer may be encapsulated in one small town: Culiacan in Sinaloa, a state in north Mexico. Often called “the cradle of drug trafficking,” the residents of Culiacan live in fear that they will become one of the eight to 11 people murdered each day in relation to the drug trafficking and corruption in the state.

According to Manuel Ortiz of the San Diego News Network, Sinaloa is widely regarded as one of the most dangerous and deadly states in Mexico due to the number of drug bosses that come from here and the trafficking that occurs daily.

How Drug Trafficking Got Started

It started with local drug dealers selling marijuana and heroin back in the ‘70s. By the ‘80s, drug boss Miguel Ángel Félix Gallardo moved in and took business to the next level: he organized business, started trafficking cocaine from Columbia all for one purpose: to provide drugs to the United States that were in high demand. The boss known as “El Padrino” and his associates started bringing guns back from the United States after they’d drop their load of cocaine, heroin and marijuana. This increased their power at home through violence and also increased their income, allowing them to expand and bring more drugs to the United States.

In 1989, Gallardo was arrested, but his associates and competition only took the opportunity to expand. One of his associates, “El Chapo”, was arrested as well but escaped in 2001. Forbes magazine reports that El Chapo is now a billionaire and probably that only man in the world for whom the United States government is offering a $5 million reward.

How Drug Trafficking Changed the Very Culture of Sinaloa

It’s clear that from the beginning drug trafficking would not have grown without the demand for drugs in the United States. The violence that came about in these drug trafficking regions is a direct result of the individual in the United States who wonders who it hurts when they make the choice to get high.

As if it isn’t bad enough that drug trafficking is murdering the locals, it is also killing the culture of the area and altering irrevocably the lifestyle and customs of those left behind. Far from hidden, drug culture in Sinaloa is out in the open, supported by the government and celebrated in song, air conditioned tombs for drug traffickers and in churches with saint Jesus Malverde dedicated to serving those in the industry.

There’s a popular phrase in Sinaloa according to journalist and sociologist Javier Valdez: “I’d rather live five years as king than five years as a fool.”

Residents have come to accept drug trafficking and the resulting corpses as a part of daily life. Drug trafficking and the violence that comes with it, according to Valdez is “a way of life, we are consumed.”

The effects of genetics on the development of addiction to drugs like cocaine, heroin, alcohol and others has been often studied. New research, however, is taking a look at how drug addiction—cocaine addiction, specifically—affects genetics and genetic changes.

What Research Has Discovered About Cocaine Addiction

According to EMaxHealth.com, “Researchers now understand how cocaine addiction occurs. Scientists have discovered that cocaine use leads to epigenetic changes from repeated exposure to the drug; linked to an enzyme that alters the reward pathway in the brain.”

The study goes on to say that cocaine addiction and continued abuse does not change DNA sequencing but actually changes how the gene acts and interacts. Over time, exposure to cocaine represses an enzyme that is important in determining how a gene is expressed.

How Does Finding the Link Between Cocaine Addiction and Genetic Change Help Us?

New data and understanding of the mechanism of drug addiction helps in a number of ways. An ounce of prevention, as they say, is worth a pound of cure, so if we can figure out how to stop the develop of cocaine addiction before it begins, we’ll be better off.

For those who are already addicted to cocaine, understanding its mechanism in the brain can aid in the development of new drug addiction treatment therapies and programs to treat it.

Dr. Nora D. Volkow is the NIDA director. She says: “This fundamental discovery advances our understanding of how cocaine addiction works. Although more research will be required, these findings have identified a key new player in the molecular cascade triggered by repeated cocaine exposure, and thus a potential novel target for the development of addiction medications.”

Cutting Edge Cocaine Addiction Treatment

The availability and development of more cutting edge treatments can lead to whole new approaches to cocaine addiction treatment but can also increase the efficacy of holistic cocaine rehab programs that already provide a well-rounded approach to drug detox and addiction treatment recovery.

Dr. Eric J. Nestler is the director of the Brain Institute at Mount Sinai School of Medicine and was an investigator on the study. He says: “The more complete picture that we have today of the genetic and epigenetic processes triggered by chronic cocaine give us a better understanding of the broader principles governing biochemical regulation in the brain which will help us identify not only additional pathways involved but potentially new therapeutic approaches.”

Cocaine Addicts Versus Cocaine Abusers

Up until now, not much has been known about why it is that some people can use cocaine repeatedly and not develop an addiction to the drug while others can use it only a few times and develop a full blown cocaine addiction that requires treatment. The fact that mental disorders and drug addiction often come in pairs has been helpful in determining the causes of drug addiction as seen in this study and also in developing new treatments.

Holistic drug rehab is the most effective way to treat drug and alcohol addiction, as a result. With simultaneous treatment for dual diagnosis disorders, those who are living with psychological issues and drug addiction can more effectively be treated for cocaine addiction and addiction to other drugs. If you would like to learn more about holistic drug rehab, contact The Canyon today.