Unit 9 drugs as a social threat

Illegal drug traffic

The cocaine business

PRE-LISTENING SECTION

Exercise 1. Discuss the following issues be guided by the information below.

• Can you define the meaning of the word DRUG?

• What can you tell about TYPES OF DRUGS and their effect on human health?

A drug, broadly speaking, is any substance that, when absorbed into the body of a living organism, alters normal bodily function. There is no single, precise definition, as there are different meanings in drug control law, government regulations, medicine, and colloquial usage.

In pharmacology, a drug is "a chemical substance used in the treatment, cure, prevention, or diagnosis of disease or used to otherwise enhance physical or mental well-being." Drugs may be prescribed for a limited duration, or on a regular basis for chronic disorders.

Recreational drugs are chemical substances that affect the central nervous system, such as opioids or hallucinogens. They may be used for perceived beneficial effects on perception, consciousness, personality, and behavior. Some drugs can cause addiction and habituation.

Drugs are usually distinguished from endogenous biochemicals by being introduced from outside the organism.[citation needed] For example, insulin is a hormone that is synthesized in the body; it is called a hormone when it is synthesized by the pancreas inside the body, but if it is introduced into the body from outside, it is called a drug. Many natural substances such as beers, wines, and some mushrooms, blur the line between food and drugs, as when ingested they affect the functioning of both mind and body.

Types of Drugs

Alcohol Any number of intoxicating beverages, including beer, wine, whiskey, gin, vodka, etc. Primary effect is as a sedative.

Club Drugs This term refers to an influx of designer drugs including MDMA (Ecstasy), GHB, Rohypnol (Ruffies), Clarity, and Ketamine (Special K). Because most of these drugs are colorless, flavorless, and odorless, they can be added to beverages undetected. All effect the central nervous system and act as stimulant and hallucinogen.

Cocaine (benzoylmethylecgonine) is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic. Specifically, it is a serotonin-norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitor, which mediates functionality of these neurotransmitters as an exogenous catecholamine transporter ligand. Because of the way it affects the mesolimbic reward pathway, cocaine is addictive. Its possession, cultivation, and distribution are illegal for non-medicinal and non-government sanctioned purposes in virtually all parts of the world. Although its free commercialization is illegal and has been severely penalized in virtually all countries, its use worldwide remains widespread in many social, cultural, and personal settings.

Cocaine (Powder) Cocaine is one of the most powerful stimulants found in nature.. Coca leaves are treated with salt and gasoline and allowed to sit. The liquid is later drained and refined into cocaine base. Cocaine base can be smoked but typically is refined into a powder form. Powder cocaine (HCL) is inhaled into the nasal passages or can be dissolved in water and injected into the body via a syringe. Because of cocaine's high melting point, it cannot be smoked. In order to be smoked, it must be altered using the chemical process known as freebasing. Freebasing involves mixes the cocaine with other solvents over a heat source. This process can (and often is) deadly for the abuser.

Crack Cocaine Powder cocaine cannot be smoked unless chemically altered--thus crack cocaine. A chemically altered form of powder cocaine that is a hard, rock-like substance that is easy to handle and conceal. Crack cocaine is smokeable and creates an intense, immediate high. Because crack cocaine is nearly pure cocaine, doses are smaller and cheaper to obtain than cocaine. Crack cocaine can be instantly addictive.

Depressants/Sedative/Hypnotics These drugs interact with the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) to depress cognitive activities. They include sedatives (used to make a person calm or drowsy) and tranquilizers (intended to reduce tension and anxiety). Sometimes called "downers" or "benzos" (short for benzodiazepine) these drugs come in tablet, capsule or liquid form. Some drugs in this category are: Xanax, Valium, Halcion, Librium, Ativan, Klonopin, Seroquel, Zyprexa, Seconal, Phenobarbital, Amytal, and Haldol.

Cannabis is a genus of flowering plants that includes three putative species, Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, and Cannabis ruderalis. These three taxa are indigenous to Central Asia, and South Asia. Cannabis has long been used for fibre (hemp), for medicinal purposes, and as a recreational drug. Industrial hemp products are made from Cannabis plants selected to produce an abundance of fiber and minimal levels of THC (Δ9- tetrahydrocannabinol), a psychoactive molecule that produces the "high" associated with marijuana. The psychoactive product consists of dried flowers and leaves of plants selected to produce high levels of THC. Various extracts including hashish and hash oil are also produced from the plant.

Hashish Hashish is produced from the THC-rich secretions of the Cannabis plant (marijuana plant). Hashish is the resinous substance taken from the tops of female plants, which contains the highest concentration of THC. "Hash" is usually sold in balls or cakes. Most commonly used by smoking (pipe, bong) or ingesting (eating foods containing hash).

Marijuana Next to tobacco and alcohol, marijuana is the most popular chemical substance chosen for regular use. Marijuana comes from the Hemp plant and its content of THC found in the leaves and flowering shoots of the plant. Most commonly used by smoking (joint, pipe, bong) or ingestion (eating foods containing marijuana, example-brownies). Marijuana effects the central nervous system and gives the user a false sense of euphoria, relaxation, and increased visual, auditory, and taste perceptions. In actuality, the marijuana diminishes coordination, visual tracking, and loss of energy. Some users experience paranoia, delirium, and hallucinations.

Inhalants Common inhalants include some types of model cement, cooking sprays, hair spray, deodorant, liquid paper, aerosol sprays, paint, paint thinner, gasoline, and solvents. Inhalants are used by spraying or pouring the substance on a rag and the vapors (fumes) inhaled. This induces a short-lived, light-headed euphoric state in the abuser.

Heroin Heroin, a semi-synthetic opium, is derived from morphine. Heroin is smoked, inhaled, or injected by the abuser. LSD

LSD is a synthetic psychotropic, or mind-altering, drug. Due to its extremely high potency, LSD users may be "high" anywhere from 4-14 hours on one dose. LSD is usually sold in the following forms: liquid (small, glass vials); thin squares of gelatin ("hits"), referred to as "windowpane"; small square pieces of paper--commonly referred to as "blotter" acid.

Methamphetamines (Crystal Meth) Methamphetamines are highly addictive man-made chemical stimulants. The street versions of these compounds are cooked up in clandestine "kitchens" using a variety of hazardous and volatile chemicals. These stimulants can be inhaled, smoked, and injected by the abuser.

Mushrooms Psilocybin or "magic" mushrooms are found in a variety of environments and, like Peyote, produce similar effects as LSD but not quite to the same degree. The mushrooms are usually ingested but may be dried and smoked.

Narcotics Though commonly used to refer to all drugs---narcotics are those drugs which are derived from opium (derivatives or synthetics). Commonly encountered narcotics include: Opium, morphine, codeine, heroin, Dilaudid, Demerol, Percodan, methadone, and Darvon.

Opioids The most powerful prescription painkillers are opioids, which are made to react on the nervous system the same way as opium, morphine (a powerful painkiller that is highly addictive) or heroin. These medications include include oxycodone, hydrocodone, and mepreridine. The common brand names are Oxycontin, Percocet, Roxicet, Roxiprin, Vicodin, Dilaudid, etc.

Opium Opium is harvest from unripe seed pods of the Poppy plant. Opium can either be injected in its raw form (gum-like) or smoked. PCP (Angel Dust) Phencyclidine, commonly referred to as PCP or Angel Dust, is considered to be the most unpredictable drug on the street because of its effect of the user. PCP can be found in liquid (most toxic), gum, or powdered form. Liquid PCP is often applied to cigarettes as a means of ingestion. In powder form, PCP is commonly mixed with marijuana and smoked. PCP is often masqueraded as LSD or THC. The gum form of PCP may vary in color from a light tan to a dark brown/black.

Exercise 2. Match these words and collocations to their definitions (synonyms). Translate them into Ukrainian.

1	payload	a	careful watching of a person or place, especially by the police or army, because of a crime that has happened or is expected
2	surveillance	b	divide
3	haul	c	to make impure by adding inferior materials or elements
4	spread	d	package
5	ruse	e	a dealer who sells goods in big quantity
6	wholesaler	f	to seize
7	bundle	g	cargo, merchandise
8	retailer	h	trick
9	shambolic	i	a dealer who sells goods in small quantity
10	slump	j	to reduce the strength, force, or efficiency of by mixing in something else
11	to dilute	k	to imitate
12	to mimic	l	the amount of a contraband seizure
13	to adulterate	m	unorganized

Exercise 3. Explain the meaning of the following words and collocations. Translate into Ukrainian.

Under surveillance, to slip through, to rocket, evolving network, to loiter out, to beef up, to pay over the odds, money laundering, to shoot up to, to stick to family and friends.

LISTENING SECTION

Exercise 1. Listen to the recording and decide if the following statements are true or false.

1. The seizures of payloads of cocaine and other drugs are not common at all.

2. Every year the shipment of drugs decreases.

3. The price of cocaine in Europe has been falling due to its impurity.

4. The most coke-hungry country is Spain.

5. In recent years traffickers have targeted Barcelona and Valencia to stay ahead of the police.

6. There are many routes of drug shipment.

7. Most drug businesses are forced to stay complicated to evade the police.

8. Shortly before Christmas, the wholesale price in Britain shot up to 40,000 per kilo.

9. Dealers don’t want to dilute what they sell in order to keep their customers.

10. Benzocaine is less harmful than cocaine.

11. Educating drug-takers about what is getting up their noses may lower demand.

Exercise 2. Listen again and answer the questions below.

1. Why has the availability of cocaine increased and the number of users rocketed?

2. What did the drug-traffickers do to spread their risk and what was the reaction of the police?

3. What do most dealers do to protect their profits?

4. What did a senior SOCA official mean saying he’s aware that the health equation could one day say: “Stop trying to stop cocaine coming in”?

DISCUSSION SECTION

Exercise 1. Answer the following questions.

• Why is cocaine consumer society growing so fast nowadays?

• Will the high price on drugs ever stop their use?

• What can the governments do anything about the drug issue?

Exercise 2. Comment on the statements below.

1. Every form of addiction is bad, no matter whether the narcotic be alcohol or morphine or idealism. ~ Carl Gustav Jung

2. Two great European narcotics, alcohol and Christianity. ~ Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche

3. I will lift up mine eyes unto the pills. Almost everyone takes them, from the humble aspirin to the multi-coloured, king-sized three deckers, which put you to sleep, wake you up, stimulate and soothe you all in one. It is an age of pills. ~Malcolm Muggeridge

4. Anyway, no drug, not even alcohol, causes the fundamental ills of society. If we're looking for the source of our troubles, we shouldn't test people for drugs, we should test them for stupidity, ignorance, greed and love of power. ~P.J. O'Rourke

5. In the 1960s, people took acid to make the world weird. Now the world is weird, and people take Prozac to make it normal. ~Author Unknown

NOTES

Fluoxetine (trade names: Prozac, Sarafem, or in combination with olanzapine Symbyax) is an antidepressant of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) class. Fluoxetine is approved for the treatment of major depression (including pediatric depression), obsessive-compulsive disorder (in both adult and pediatric populations), bulimia nervosa, panic disorder and premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Despite the availability of newer agents, it remains extremely popular. Over 22.2 million prescriptions for generic formulations of fluoxetine were filled in the United States in 2007, making it the third most prescribed antidepressant. It is manufactured and marketed by Eli Lilly and Company.

TRANSLATION SECTION

Exercise 1. Make a transcript of the recording, translate it into your native language.

Exercise 2. Present a translation-oriented analysis of the text.

Exercise 3. Roleplay the dialogue between

a senior SOCA official and Kevin Marsh, an economist at Matrix Knowledge discussing the social problems of cocaine business.

Be guided by the following notes.

The Matrix Knowledge Group is a London-based consultancy providing software, research and advice to political organizations and charities. Their goal is to provide evidence and help with making decisions, with the motto ‘Better Decisions, Better World’. The group is made up of four companies: Matrix Insight Ltd, Matrix Evidence Ltd, Matrix Decisions Ltd and Matrix Knowledge Group Inc. Although based in the UK, they have worked for European organizations, in India and in 2008 opened an office in the USA. They have close partnerships with universities in the UK and USA, including the University of Cambridge, King's College London, London School of Economics and Political Science and several leading US academic institutions.

Matrix Knowledge Group was founded in 2005 and initially specialized in healthcare consultancy. It has since expanded its work to provide research and consulting, evidence assessments and software services - primarily to the public sector. Their principal markets include health and social care and crime and justice. It works primarily with national governments, international organizations as well as charities and foundations.

Exercise 4. Practise consecutive / simultaneous interpretation of the dialogue.

Exercise 5. Translate the information below into Ukrainian and analyze the basic transformations.

Prescription Drugs Prescription drug abuse is a modern-day plague with estimates of up to six million Americans have or currently abuse prescription medications. Many prescription drug addicts legitimize their use because of "doctor's orders". It is not uncommon for these abusers to exhibit drug seeking behaviors--going to several doctors, emergency rooms, and/or clinics reporting lost or stolen prescriptions, increased pain, etc in an effort to obtain their drug. For those addicts in the medical field or with access to prescription medications, stealing medications or self-prescribing medications is not uncommon. Many prescription addicts use multiple pharmacies to hide the amount and frequency of their use. Signs and symptoms of prescription addiction vary due to the different types of medications (hypnotic, sedative, amphetamine, etc). The most commonly abused prescription drugs are pain killers, depressants, stimulants, and antidepressants.

Exercise 6. Summarize the information in English and comment on the ideas expressed.