‘Dangerous’ black rock cocaine easier to smuggle
RCMP warns ‘potent’ form of drug circulating in Iqaluit; hospital not seeing increase in patients requiring treatment from drug
Qikiqtani General Hospital has seen few cases of patients ingesting black rock cocaine, said an emergency room doctor. (File photo)
Despite warnings from RCMP that “very potent” black rock crack cocaine is circulating in Iqaluit, Qikiqtani General Hospital has not seen evidence it’s a growing health threat in the city.
Dr. Scott Marin, the hospital’s chief of emergency medicine, said the hospital hasn’t seen an increase in the number of patients requiring treatment after ingesting cocaine.
“We do see people from week to week related to stimulant use — cocaine or otherwise — but again, no change,” Marin said.
In a news release March 21, RCMP warned that a “dangerous” form of black rock cocaine, which has a brown hue to it and can cause seizures, is being distributed in Iqaluit.
Marin said this type of cocaine can be created to enhance the high a user experiences, but often it’s a camouflage tactic.
“It has more to do with the smuggling of cocaine into the country and trying to integrate cocaine into objects that cocaine can later be extracted from,” he said.
The type of cocaine Marin describes is known as black cocaine and has been around for more than 20 years. In 1999, The Washington Post wrote about a new type of cocaine treated with various chemicals to evade detection through drug-sniffing dogs or other tests.
It can be hidden in rubber, asphalt, printer toners and other products.
The ingredients in black cocaine can vary wildly. Depending on what it is contaminated with, it can cause different long- or short-term effects including seizures, Marin said, adding he doesn’t know what is in the black rock cocaine police say is circulating in Iqaluit.
Regular cocaine can also cause seizures.
Marin said there have been no deaths as a result of the drug.
Cpl. Tammy Keller told Nunatsiaq News on March 24 that RCMP have not located any of the cocaine or laid any charges related to using or distributing it.
“We felt that in the public’s best interest that it was best to send out an advisory in hopes of preventing any further medical situations,” Keller wrote in an email.
I smoke rocks!
I smoke rock lobsters!
Remember what the Bible says: He who is without sin, cast the first rock. And I shall smoketh it.
RCMP drug section must be dismantled.
All those drug dealers selling Coke and crack every day.
I see RCMP truck at drug dealers house every weekend but still, they close
their eyes.
20 years ago, dealer we getting charge for half pound of weed .
Today, NOTHING.
WAKE UP COPS.
Whats wrong with hospital and cops in Iqaluit ? Crazy or what? or just dont care I guess ? or just been stupid ? the damage you careless hospital and cops dont see, I see it in my FRIEND’S physical appearance and treatning behavior who’s getting all skinny,loosing teeth and are aggressive ALLWAYS hyper,mad and want pick a fight not to mention paranoid. and they start stealing or muging or break and enter at every one House in the community, these old friends once normal, that I know for 14 years are untrusty now and a danger to the community, no need to say that CrackHead are not welcome in my house. I never like carackhead in Montreal or Ottawa I’m not gonna change and like the Crack Head in Iqaluit, No Way
Crack is one of the most addictive substances available on the street since 1980s. According to the National Drug Intelligence Center,
Lung damage-Respiratory problems.
Increased blood pressure.
Tachycardia or racing heart beat.Decreased appetite.
Anxiety – Irritability – Aggressive – paranoid behavior.
Sudden death due to heart attack or stroke.
“Crack lip,” which refers to painful blistering, and cracked lips caused by repeated exposure to the hot temperature of the crack pipe as it is pressed against the lips.
tooth decay, and broken and yellow teeth.
Intense craving for another dose shortly after the high subsides.
“crack bugs.“ This is a type of tactile hallucination—also called formication—that makes the abuser feel like bugs are crawling on or below their skin. The user might have long scratch marks on the surface of his or her skin caused by scratching in an effort to get rid of the bugs.
Onset of psychotic symptoms.initial euphoria can quickly turn to feelings of depression and paranoia.crack-induced paranoia might find themselves thinking that someone is trying to get into their house, that someone is following them, or that others are trying to attack them. This can lead to aggressive behavior or unprovoked attacks on others and dangerous situations for both the user and innocent bystanders.This pattern of compulsively chasing an elusive euphoric feeling is a fundamental component leading to the diagnosis of a mental condition known formally as ‘crack use disorder “crack bugs.“ This is a type of tactile hallucination—crack cocaine causes users to depend on the substance to help them avoid negative moods and feelings; those ensnared by crack dependency will experience extreme anxiety when they are not able to obtain the drug.
The pleasurable or euphoric short-term effects of the drug can usher a user towards addiction after using it just once.
Thanks for police to warn us,what we need is JUDGES to enforce the law and apply harsh long sentence,with hard drugs case, no excuse.often dealers gets away with it after cop charge them,like example,oh I was not home at the time the bust was made at my house lol come on,trow him in jail and throw away the key for a long time not just few weeks. Remember they are the one on the streets,in every public place,stores,restaurant,garages,outside boarding home giving free sip of vodka and drugs for free to Women,in knowing they get hook right away first time and the will Later use them as customer and Forneculate with your wife,girlfriend,kids or some one else wife,girlfriends and kids in Iqaluit.