The Story Behind Red Ribbon Week

Enrique "Kiki" Camarena grew up in a dirt-floored house with hopes and dreams of making a difference.

Camarena worked his way through college, served in the Marines and became a police officer. When he decided to join the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, his mother tried to talk him out it. "I can't not do this," he told her. "I'm only one person, but I want to make a difference."

The DEA sent Camarena to work undercover in Mexico investigating a major drug cartel believed to include officers in the Mexican army, police and government. On Feb. 7, 1985, the 37-year-old Camarena left his office to meet his wife for lunch. Five men appeared at the agent's side and shoved him in a car. One month later, Camarena's body was found in a shallow grave. He had been tortured to death. 1

Within weeks of his death in March of 1985, Camarena's Congressman, Duncan Hunter, and high school friend Henry Lozano, launched Camarena Clubs in Imperial Valley, California, Camarena's home. Hundreds of club members pledged to lead drug-free lives to honor the sacrifices made by Camarena and others on behalf of all Americans.  These coalitions began to wear red badges of satin, red ribbons, as a symbol Camarena's memory. The Red Ribbon Week campaign emerged from the efforts of these clubs and coalitions.

Today, Red Ribbon Week is nationally recognized and celebrated, helping to preserve Special Agent Camarena's memory and further the cause for which he gave his life. The Red Ribbon Campaign also became a symbol of support for the DEA's efforts to reduce demand for drugs through prevention and education programs. By wearing a red ribbon during the last week in October, Americans demonstrate their ardent opposition to drugs. They pay homage not only to Special Agent Camarena, but to all men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice in support of our nation's struggle against drug trafficking and abuse.

Red Ribbon week starts today, October 17, and ends Sunday, October 25th.

Alcohol Abuse Stats

• Numerous studies suggest a significant relationship between work stress and the developement of drinking problems.
• About one in ten Americans currently has an alcohol problem
• In the United States, research has demonstrated that continued alcohol abuse is one of the major risk factors for violence in intimate relationships.
• Research has shown that long-term drug and alcohol abuse costs business and industry an estimated $100 billion annually. Alcoholism alone causing 500 million lost work days a year.
• 7.5% of Americans employed in full-time jobs report heavy drinking, defined as drinking five or more drinks per occasion on five or more days in the past 30 days; 6.6% of part-timers and 10.8% of unemployed workers also report heavy drinking; across all three categories, heavy drinkers are most likely to be found in the 18 to 25 year old age group.
• Alcohol is typically found in the offender, victim or both in about half of all homicides and serious assaults, as well as in a high percentage of sex-related crimes, robberies, and incidents of domestic violence, and alcohol-related problems are disproportionately found among both juvenile and adult criminal offenders. 40% of all assaults and 50% of all homicides in the United States are alcohol related.

For an alcohol use assessment click the link below.
http://alcoholism.about.com/od/tests/l/blquiz_alcohol.htm

Insite - Vancouver

The 12-seat supervised injection room is just one part of the facility. After injecting, the 600 drug users who visit Insite on an average day are asked to move to a post-injection room where they can rest and rehydrate before going back onto the street. Townsend says that this time is used to make contact with the users, to educate them about safe injection practices, and to refer them to medical care for treatment of wounds or to detox facilities if the addict expresses interest in getting clean. In fact, staff can refer addicts directly to Onsite - a 30-bed detox facility located above Insite.  "We have a detox right above our heads, so people know that they can always ask to be admitted there - it's really about making things as easy as possible," says Townsend. "But the first step is just making contact with people who have traditionally been alone in the alleys or in hotel rooms injecting drugs on their own. These people don't usually have any contact with health services, so that's why we've seen that going to Insite makes users 30 per cent more likely to seek treatment for drug addiction."

"While there is nothing to be said in favour of the injection of controlled substances that leads to addiction, there is much to be said against denying addicts health care services that will ameliorate the effects of their condition," Justice Ian Pitfield wrote. "I cannot agree with the submission that an addict must feed his addiction in an unsafe environment when a safe environment that may lead to rehabilitation is the alternative."

Drug Free Work Week

October 19th thru October 25th is Drug Free Work Week.

Here are some ideas for your drug free work place.

Would you know what you're looking at?

If you were to find something strange in your child's room, employee break room at work, friend's car, or even on the side of the street would you know what you were looking at?

Black Tar Heroine

Cocaine

Crack

Heroine

Hallucinogenic Mushrooms

Opium

Instructions for Doing Drugs

http://www.bluelight.ru/vb/showthread.php?t=146981 -- Tips and tricks to snorting coke

http://www.lectlaw.com/files/drg23.htm  ---  How to shoot Heroine

http://www.topix.com/forum/drug/oxycontin/T27SEP3SH2F3DKTOF -- Oxycontin

http://www.geocities.com/alustriel1/Heroin/howtoshoot.htm -- More about Heroine


As a parent the responsiblity really does fall to you to keep your children off drugs.  The resources are out there for them to figure it out on their own.  Is that really what you want?

Red Ribbon Week

Red Ribbon Week is Oct. 17-23

What are the odds?

The percentages of children that said someone had approached them in the last 30 days and offered to sell them drugs. Anywhere from 1 out of every 8, to 1 out of every 5 children has been approached by somebody selling drugs.

The children were asked how difficult it would be to obtain drugs if they wanted some.
More than 1 in 5 kids that have not used any drugs in the past year said heroin was easy or fairly easy to obtain. Of the children that admitted that they had used drugs in the last year, that number jumps to 1 in 4. These children are not getting drugs from strangers standing on street corners. They are getting them from their friends at school.

The average starting age for hard, addictive drugs like cocaine and heroin is only 14. And that is the AVERAGE. Many kids are starting at only 12 years old.

Take Your Kid to Jail Day
Wednesday, July 15th, 2009 • Filed under Drugs

Being a father must be tough. There are all the thankless jobs you have to do to ensure they grow up right. That’s why we have “Take Your Kids to Work” Day to show them just how hard Daddy works. That day doesn’t apply to you if you’re a drug dealer.

A father took his kids with him to a drug deal, according to the Toronto Sun.

He actually brought his five children with him on his drug deal. Maybe he should look into buying and delivering birth control instead.

The dealer he was meeting with was a cop who as it turned out was more than happy to help watch his kids while he spent the night in jail

Responsible Stakeholders?

Stakeholders restrict their product to attempt to lower deaths due to overdose on Methadone.  It's a shockingly responsible move in today's capitalist society.  Read the full story at Multi-Stakeholder Initiative.

Meth Face

Employee Assistance Programs

Not all performance issues are drug related.  There are many different factors that can affect an employee's work performance, a death in the family, financial or legal concerns, or personal relationship problems.  I feel that it's important for companies to provide some sort of assistance to their employees.  There is a huge benifit in taking care of the employees that you have instead of viewing them as expendable.  Companies who take care of their employees well being enjoy reduced turnover and absenteeism, and higher morale and productivity.

Costco put this idea of treating employees better, and it's paid off for them.  Read more about the "Costco Effect" at http://abcnews.go.com/2020/Business/story?id=1362779 

It gives you something to think about. To get your own Employee Assistance Program check out this link and tell them Kurve sent you.

http://www.bpahealth.com/

Welcome to Kurve!

This is our waiting room where you can get comfortable, read a magazine, and wait until you're ready to go.

These are mine and Cherre's desks.

Meet Cherre.

And here is Nichole.

It's me!

Here is the collection room.

And finally our collection bathroom...

And this concludes our tour of Ahead of the Kurve.

Cannabis Culture

Smoking marijuana is a lifestyle.  There are dating websites, forums, and shopping dedicated to potheads one and all. There is even a calendar dedicated to hearings on cannabis laws.

Links to check out:

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=420%20friendly

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/420_(cannabis_culture)

http://www.420magazine.com/forums/calendar.php

http://www.420dating.com/

http://www.420lifestyles.com/

http://420magazine.com/

Highlights of Study by State on Youth Drug Use


This report on substance use among youths is the second presenting State estimates from the 1999 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse (NHSDA). The Summary of Findings from the 1999 NHSDA presented national estimates, as well as State estimates, for all persons aged 12 or older. This report examines State estimates of the use of alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana by youths aged 12 to 17 and their perceptions and behaviors that may be related to that use. The national sample included approximately 25,000 youths, including samples of 1,000 youths for the eight largest States and 300 youths for each of the remaining 42 States and the District of Columbia. Estimates of substance use by States were categorized into quintiles, or fifths.

Alcohol Use

The State with the highest rate of past month use of alcohol among youths aged 12 to 17 was North Dakota (24.7 percent). The State with the lowest rate was Utah (10.3 percent). Most of the States in the highest ranked group were northern, while most of the States in the lowest ranked group were southern. Nine of the States in the highest ranked group for past month binge use of alcohol for youths were also in the highest group for past month use of alcohol.

There was a strong negative correlation at the State level between prevalence of past month use of alcohol and perceived risk of alcohol use. In other words, those States with the highest prevalence rate for past month alcohol use were the same States that had the lowest perceived risk of alcohol use. Similarly, States with high rates of reporting great risk in having five or more drinks of an alcoholic beverage once or twice a week tended to have low rates of alcohol use. The State reporting the highest rate of this type of perceived risk was Utah (51.5 percent of youths). Most of the States reporting high rates of risk among youths were southern. Seven States that reported the highest rates of great risk were the same ones in the lowest category for past month alcohol use.
Among persons who first initiated alcohol use in 1995 to 1997 at age 25 or younger, the average age at first use ranged from 14.8 years old in Montana to 16.5 years in the District of Columbia. The national average age of first alcohol use in this group was 15.7 years old. Of the 10 States in the lowest quintile for age at first use, only five-Montana, Colorado, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming-were also in the highest prevalence group for past month use of alcohol among youths.

Tobacco Use

Nationally, 17.3 percent of youths had used some form of tobacco in the past month (SAMHSA, in press). Cigarette use (14.9 percent of youths) was the main component of tobacco use, but use of cigars also was significant (5.4 percent). States that had high rates of past month cigarette use among youths also had high rates of tobacco use. Of the 10 States in the highest group for past month cigarette use, 8 States were also in the highest group for past month use of tobacco. Similarly, 9 of the 10 States in the lowest group for past month cigarette use were also in the lowest group for past month tobacco use.

Marijuana Use

The national average annual incidence rate for marijuana use among youths was 6.3 percent. At the State level, Arizona had the highest average annual incidence rate (8.9 percent). Five of the States in the highest quintile for past month marijuana use among youths were also in the top quintile for new use of marijuana: Massachusetts, Nevada, Delaware, Colorado, and Alaska. Of the 10 States with the highest estimated rates of incidence, 4 were in the West (Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, and Alaska), 2 were in the Northeast (Massachusetts and Vermont), 2 were in the Midwest (North Dakota and Wisconsin), and 2 were in the South (Oklahoma and Delaware).
The national average age at first use for persons who initiated use in 1996 or 1997 at age 25 or younger was 16.2 years of age. The average age at first use of marijuana ranged from a low of 15.1 years of age in Montana and Nevada to 17.1 years of age in Maine. Four of the States that fell into the highest quintile for rates of past month use of marijuana among youths had lower than average ages at first use of marijuana: Montana, Nevada, Minnesota, and Washington. Three of the States in the lowest quintile of past month prevalence had higher than average ages at first use: Iowa, Tennessee, and Idaho.

Risk and Protective Factors

Risk and protective factors involve attitudes and behavior associated with the higher likelihood of use or nonuse of drugs. The 1999 NHSDA collected data on risk and protective factors in several content domains, including four constructs in the "peer/individual" domain: antisocial behavior, favorable attitudes toward substance use, peer attitudes favorable toward substance use, and peer substance use. Each construct was based on averaging responses to multiple questions.

The peer substance use scale (four questions) was based on questions about how many friends used different substances, including alcohol, cigarettes, and marijuana. The following scale responses were used: 1 (none of them), 2 (a few of them), 3 (most of them), and 4 (all of them). The national mean was 1.69, with State estimates ranging from 1.46 (Utah) to 1.88(West Virginia). Because West Virginia fell into the top fifth on this list, but not in the top fifth for either past month alcohol use or past month marijuana use, its high ranking on the composite measure is probably due to its ranking near the top for past month cigarette use.

Sequence of Substance Use Initiation

Most persons who will ever initiate the use of cigarettes, alcohol, or tobacco have already done so by the time they are 20 to 25 years old. However, no sequence of use was predominant in that age group in 1999. Approximately 10 percent had not used any of the substances. About 19 percent had used only one substance (i.e., either cigarettes or alcohol). About 24 percent had used only alcohol and cigarettes: 14 percent using cigarettes before alcohol and 10 percent with the opposite pattern. Of those persons who had used all three substances (about 44 percent), the predominant patterns were (a) cigarettes, then alcohol, and then marijuana (14 percent) or (b) alcohol, then cigarettes, and then marijuana (about 13 percent).
Nationally, about 80 percent of all persons who initiated the use of marijuana in 1996 or 1997 at age 25 or younger had previously used either alcohol or cigarettes (or both) (data not shown in tables). The remainder had not previously used any alcohol and cigarettes. The 80 percent is composed of three groups: 8.6 percent had initiated only alcohol before marijuana, 16.2 percent had initiated only cigarettes first, and the majority-55.4 percent-had initiated both alcohol and cigarettes prior to their first marijuana use (data not shown in tables). Overall, therefore, 71.6 percent had initiated cigarettes before marijuana (about 64 percent had initiated alcohol before marijuana).
Among the eight States with large samples, there were significant differences in the average age at first use and in the lag between the initiation of cigarettes and marijuana. For example, the following average ages at first use were found in New York for the group who initiated both alcohol and cigarettes before marijuana: alcohol, 13.6 years; cigarettes, 14.4 years; and marijuana, 17.3 years. Florida, by contrast, displayed the more typical pattern among large States, with an age at first use of cigarettes, 13.8 years, fairly close to the age at first use of alcohol, 14.1 years, and followed by marijuana, 16.7 years.
There was no single cigarette "gateway" to first marijuana use in that (a) the average age at first use of cigarettes differed at the national level between the cigarette-only initiates (age 13.0) and the alcohol-and-cigarettes initiates (age 14.0); (b) the lag between first use of cigarettes and first use of marijuana differed between the cigarette-only group (1.9 years) and the cigarette-and-alcohol initiate group (3 years); and (c) the age and pattern of first use of alcohol, cigarettes, and marijuana varied across the large States.

"In the United States, approximately three-fourths of all deaths among persons aged 10--24 years result from only four causes: motor-vehicle crashes, other unintentional injuries, homicide, and suicide. Results from the 1999 national Youth Risk Behavior Survey demonstrate that numerous high school students engage in behaviors that increase their likelihood of death from these four causes...[including alcohol and illicit drug use]" Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), Centers for Disease Control, Risk Youth Behavior Surveillance.
 
 
Signs of Majiuana use:

http://www.addictionca.com/signs-of-marijuana-use.htm

Marijuana

Many compare the war on marjuana to 1930's prohibition on alcohol.  Statistics show that regardless of the laws making marijuana illegal many continue to use it.  In 2002, 94.9 million Americans admitted to having used marijuana at some point in their lives and in 2008 102.4 million Americans admitted to having used marijuana. 

Several organizations are pushing for the legalization of marijuana.  Some say that legalizing marijuana will reduce some of its popularity while others contend there are untapped health benefits.  Many still fight to keep the drug illegal becasue it is percived as addictive, and for its potenial as a gateway drug.

Those who want to legalize marijuana, groups such as Norml (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws) http://norml.org/ and MPP (Marijuana Policy Project) http://www.mpp.org/ , support the rights of responsible adults to use marijuana either for personal or medical use. Groups and individuals make a case that regulated sales will reduce crime, corruption, and violence related to black market sales.

Dr. Raphael Mechoulam, an Israeli professor of Medicial Chemistry and Natrual Products at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Israel is the man who first discovered THC.  Dr. Mechoulam and his team are in the front of medical marijuana research.  They were the first to identify the endocannabinoid system in the human brain using THC much the way that active compound in opium (morphine) was used to discover the endocrine system. 
http://www.smart-publications.com/articles/MOM-mechoulam.php

Studies have shown that the medical use of marijuana has the ability to relieve pain and nausea or reduce anxiety and insomnia.  Many states including Califonia, Oregon, and 11 others have medical marijuana laws in effect although it is still against federal law. 

Those pushing to keep marijuana illegal state that marijuana is a gateway drug and leads to further drug abuse.   Studies have shown that very few teens use other drugs without having tried marijuana, alcohol, or tobacco first. 

There is also a case for marijuana addiction.  An article in the New York Times follows two people's struggle with addiction and quotes Dr. Richard N. Rosenthal, chairman of psychiatry at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital in Manhattan said “The people who become chronic users don’t have the same lives and the same achievements as people who don’t use chronically.”
 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/19/fashion/19pot.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1

http://www.marijuana-addiction.net/

Is it possible that marijuana poses less of a risk than other drugs?  Both sides produce compelling evidence to support their stance.  Only time will tell if we will be seeing pot shops poping up on street corners or more flashing lights and handcuffs.


Some food for thought:

Trailer for the 1936 movie Reefer Madness:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1jB7RBGVGk

Medical marijuana arrests:  http://www.cbs8.com/global/category.asp?c=155799&clipId=&topVideoCatNo=149659&topVideoCatNoB=155712&topVideoCatNoC=155713&topVideoCatNoD=155710&topVideoCatNoE=155711&autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=4114860&flvUri=&thirdpartymrssurl=


Sources:

http://www.mpp.org/

http://www.smart-publications.com/articles/MOM-mechoulam.php

http://www.norml.org/

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/19/fashion/19pot.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1

http://www.marijuana-addiction.net/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raphael_Mechoulam

Cold Coke

Just Desserts


Friday, August 7th, 2009 • Filed under Cars, Drugs

God I love the summer, everything about it. The beaches, the skimpy outfits, the cold sugary treats. Why they are so addictive, they should be illegal.

One man almost fulfilled my wish when he got caught selling cocaine out of an ice cream truck, according to WCBSTV.com.

He actually sold kids some ice cream and waited around for his other clientele who he may or may not have played the little song on his overhead speaker for.

Police spotted the guy get out of his truck and make a delivery to a nearby house. At least he was smart enough not to sell drugs out of a donut truck.

http://www.dumbcriminals.com/stories/drugs/

Direct Observations Required

DOT Direct Observation Rule Starts August 31


The Department of Transportation published a rule in the July 30, 2009 Federal Register reinstating the requirement that employers in the aviation, rail, motor carrier, mass transit, maritime, and pipeline industries directly observe employees during urine collections for all return-to-duty and follow-up drug tests. The rule goes into effect August 31, 2009.

This provision was stayed by the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit effective November 1, 2008, but that stay was lifted on July 1, 2009. This amendment, therefore, restores language to the version that became a final rule on June 25, 2008.

Under the rules that were upheld, employees must raise shirts or dresses and lower underclothes and clothing to demonstrate to observers that they are actually producing the sample.

http://safety.blr.com/news.aspx?id=114061

To view procedures:

http://www.dot.gov/ost/dapc/testingpubs/DOT_Direct_Observation_Procedures_08-08.pdf


I think that it's important to also note that this direct observation ruling refers to employees that have tested positive, either for drugs or alcohol, or have refused a test. Once any one of these has occured an employee is then required to be evaluated a SAP, or Substance Abuse Professional.  Before an employee can return to work in a safety sensitive position the employer must receive an evaluation on the employee from a Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) meeting DOT requirements. Employees will be required to pass a return to duty test and a number of follow-up tests randomly over a period of time designated by the SAP.  These are the tests that are required to fall under direct observation according to the DOT regulations that took effect on August 31, 2009.

To locate a SAP in your area:

http://www.saplist.com/find_a_sap/search.php

Portable "Ice"

Small, portable meth labs pose a new threat to communities in the fight against this devastating drug.
The highly-addictive stimulant methamphetamine can be made from household ingredients -- including over-the-counter cold medications containing pseudoephedrine. After the 2005 Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act restricted over-the-counter sales of pseudoephedrine, the number of meth labs in the United States dropped nearly 80 percent.
But even with these limitations, some meth cooks have found ways around the law with a new one-pot method, threatening the progress that communities have made in the fight against this devastating drug. For example, in the first three months of 2009, the Tulsa Police Department discovered almost 60 labs, compared to 41 in all of 2008. At a community summit to address the one-pot crisis last month, Tulsa Mayor Kathy Taylor warned that if the situation doesn’t improve, “the cost of responding to meth-related fires and incidents will start breaking police and fire department budgets in these already-difficult economic times.”
According to a Partnership survey of 20 U.S. law enforcement agencies, the one-pot method takes less time, leaves less mess and is just as strong and addictive as the meth produced in super labs in Mexico and California. With ingredients small enough to fit inside a backpack, this new method eliminates the ammonia odor, the usual tell-tale sign that a meth lab is present.
“The meth cooks are using this method because it is quicker and less traceable,” explains Detective Andrew Munsterman with the Warrensburg Police Department in Warrensburg, MO. “It is extremely dangerous and very popular now, because of the crackdown of traditional meth labs by law enforcement.”
Often made in a vehicle or motel room, the one-pot method produces low quantities and low quality meth and is usually made for personal use. The one-pot method involves mixing pseudoephedrine and other readily available chemicals in a plastic two-liter soda bottle. Once the meth is extracted, the cook often disposes of the waste materials by flushing them down the toilet or dumping them roadside.

“This is the most common method in our community, and unfortunately we see plenty of this,” says Officer Grant Melton with the Louisville Metro Police Department. “This method is just as dangerous as a traditional meth lab and there are always unknown chemicals involved and this always causes a hazard to the everyday citizen.”

“ If you come across a discarded container used to produce meth,” he adds, “contact your local police department about your concerns.”


To learn more and find ways to help:

http://www.drugfree.org/Portal/DrugIssue/MethResources/meth_faq.html#4

http://www.drugfree.org/meth360/

http://www.drugfree.org/Portal/DrugIssue/MethResources/meth_affects_community.html

http://news.drugfree.org/get-involved/

Drug Enforcement Aministration's Threat Evaluation for Idaho

The following is the DEA's evaluation of the risks specific to Idaho in the drug trade:

Drug Situation

Mexican drug trafficking organizations trafficking in methamphetamine, marijuana and cocaine are the greatest threat to the state. Crystal methamphetamine has replaced methamphetamine HCL in popularity in Idaho. The northern portion of the Idaho panhandle shares a border with Canada, and this area has been the subject of seizures of BC Bud marijuana being smuggled from Canada to the United States. Mexican nationals have made inroads into the large scale outdoor production of marijuana on private, state, and federal lands. Cocaine is becoming more popular in Idaho, although crack cocaine is not considered a significant threat. Club drugs are mainly a part of rave parties, with MDMA (street name Ecstasy) being the most available. Drug trafficking organizations in Idaho primarily smuggle bulk currency drug proceeds back to their Sources of Supply. The Idaho drug trafficking organizations also use other varieties of money laundering to legitimize and reposition illicit proceeds.

Cocaine

During the past year, in the DEA Boise Area of Responsibility, the price of cocaine HCL has diminished. The use of cocaine has also tripled during the same period. This is due to the increased law enforcement activities by Mexican law enforcement authorities against precursor chemicals and methamphetamine production in that country. Mexican drug trafficking organizations are the predominate groups directing the importation and distribution of cocaine within Idaho. Crack cocaine is encountered infrequently and is not considered a major drug threat. Cocaine distribution in Idaho is obtained by Mexican organizations from sources in Mexico, Arizona, California, and other Southwest Border states.

Heroin

Mexican black tar is the predominate form of heroin available in Idaho, with brown heroin encountered sporadically. Mexican drug trafficking organizations are the main groups responsible for the importation and distribution of heroin in Idaho. Mexican black tar heroin is produced in Mexico and obtained by organizations from sources in Mexico or other Mexican drug trafficking organizations in Arizona, California or other Southwest Border states.

Methamphetamine

 Crystal Methamphetamine (ice) is a widely abused drug in Idaho, and continues to impact al elements of society. Idaho has experienced a dramatic decrease in methamphetamine labs as Mexican organizations turn to methamphetamine produced in Mexico. During the past year, there has been a marked decrease in the quality and quantity of methamphetamine in Idaho. During this same period, there has also been an increase in the price of methamphetamine in Idaho. All of this is the result of aggressive domestic law enforcement targeting and a crack down by Mexican law enforcement on the importation of precursor chemicals, and methamphetamine labs in that country.

Club Drugs

Club drugs, particularly MDMA (street name Ecstasy) (4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine) continues to be popular among young adults, and most often is found at rave venues. MDMA encountered for sale in Idaho is believed to originate in Canada, which is then smuggled into the United States through the State of Washington. Steroids are also available in Idaho, and are mainly acquired through Internet purchases.

Marijuana

Marijuana is one of the most highly abused drugs in Idaho. Some marijuana is produced in indoor grow operations. Marijuana is produced primarily on local properties, and state and federal forest lands. The large outdoor cultivation plots are largely controlled by Mexican nationals. Marijuana that is smuggled from Mexico into Idaho is available, but is less desirable. BC Bud marijuana from Canada is not as widely available for sale in Idaho; however, along the Idaho panhandle area which borders Canada, there have been seizures of BC Bud marijuana attempting to be smuggled into the United States.

Pharmaceutical Diversion

 In Idaho, prescription drugs are largely abused. The primary methods of diversion of legitimate pharmaceuticals continue to be illegal dispensing and prescribing by physicians, prescription forgery, doctor shopping, and drug thefts from pharmacies and hospitals. Pharmacy burglaries are prevalent throughout the state. Diversion Investigators are also encountering pharmaceuticals that have been purchased via the Internet. The abuse and trafficking of oxycodone (OxyContin, Percocet, Percodan), hydrocodone (Vicodin, Lortab), methadone, and anabolic steroids continues to be a concern.

 

There are enough drugs to go around for those who want them.  Are those the people that you want working for you?

Why Drug Test?

Substance abuse in the workplace has been proven to directly effect safety, quality of work, health insurance rates, turnover, employee absenteeism, accidents and productivity. In order to secure top employees human resource mangers check out employee references, history, and qualifications.

The top reason for a drug testing program is safety. Drug use impairs a person’s ability to perform at their top level. Even if the use of drugs is restricted to outside working hours the effects are long lasting. An employee could even consider their lunch break outside of working hours and come back to work high. Employee drug testing programs are able to identify safety risks and eliminate them. This benefits the company as a whole as well as the employees and it lowers worker comp claims and injuries.

Employers have a right to decide on who they choose to hire. Employee drug testing programs ensure that the quality of work is not affected by substance abuse. It has been proven that drug testing programs raise the quality of work by simply eliminating employees that use drugs who cannot contribute 100% to the company.

Employee drug testing programs identify the user and allow the company to clean up the work place. This can greatly reduced health insurance premiums and health costs to the company. In the state of Idaho the worker’s comp benefit to the companies that drug test is up to 5% off their yearly premium. This can be a huge benefit to larger companies.

Employee drug testing programs offer pre-employment drug screening. By not hiring drug users a company will decrease its turnover rate. The testing also eliminates the need to fire someone down the road for substance abuse.

Employee drug testing also allows the company to do random testing. This helps reduce the amount of employees doing drugs. It also has been proven to reduce employee absenteeism within the workplace. Drug related absenteeism and sick leave could be devastating to the company both in terms of cost and company morale.

Accidents are more likely when there are drugs involved. Employee drug testing programs act as a deterrent to drug use. This may influence an employee’s decision making regarding drugs as the possibility of a test is always there. Most programs test immediately after an accident to see if drugs were a factor. This reduces a company’s liability. If drug use is a factor the employee will be dealt with immediately before any more damage is done, thus reducing the cost to the company.

All human resource managers want productive, happy employees. Productivity is paramount to the success of any workplace. Substance abusers are often less productive, file more health insurance claims, and bring down the morale of a company. Drug testing programs significantly contribute to a safer, productive and conflict free environment.

52 Year Old Man Guilty of Methamphetamine Distribution in Idaho and Montana

BOISE -- The U.S. Department of Justice says a 52-year-old man has pleaded guilty in federal court to helping distribute methamphetamine in Idaho and Montana.


Michael Opland, a Post Falls resident charged with conspiracy to distribute the drug, entered a plea earlier this week in Coeur d'Alene's U.S. District Court.

He also pleaded guilty to another charge of failure to appear in court, after missing an April 14 trial date.

A federal judge has sentenced Opland to serve at least 10 years in prison.

ACLU Lawsuit Over Drug Testing

ACLU threatens lawsuits over drug tests


by George Lauby (North Platte Bulletin) - 7/20/2009



The North Platte Housing Authority must stop testing employees for drugs, the American Civil Liberties Union said Monday.

The ACLU said the drug and alcohol-testing policy is unenforceable and illegal, in a letter to the board of commissioners of the housing authority.  Board chairman Ed Rieker would not comment about the ACLU allegations “until we’ve had a chance to discuss it with legal counsel.”


The board is searching for an attorney and hopes to have one by August, Rieker said. North Platte city attorney Doug Stack once advised the board of commissioners, but does so no longer, after critics noted that his duties as city attorney could conflict with the interests of the housing authority.

The housing authority implemented a drug testing policy this spring after two years on the drawing board. Hair samples of all employees were tested, providing a 90-day look-back window of drug use. The tests were negative, board members have said.   Under the policy, random urine samples are also taken.

Board members have maintained the testing program was prompted by complaints from North Platte residents that some housing authority employees apparently were using illegal drugs.  In setting up the tests, the board followed U.S. Department of Transportation protocol, Rieker told the Bulletin in May.



Potential employees are now tested before they are hired. In the ACLU letter, attorney Amy Miller said “pre-employment drug testing and random drug testing of employees must cease immediately.”  Miller said such tests can only be given if the job is “safety sensitive” – a standard applied to transportation workers and medical professionals, among other workers.

Drug tests are invasive, Miller also said. Providing a urine sample in the presence of a stranger is “the most extreme example of invasion of privacy." And, she said a drug test reveals whether the employee is pregnant, diabetic, taking legal medications and “many other private details.”

Miller said the ACLU would sue individual members of the housing authority board if the drug testing procedure does not cease.