LOCAL DRUGS OF CONCERN
NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO

COCAINE

Cocaine is a naturally occurring substance derived from the leaves of erythroxylon plants indigenous to South America. Pharmacologically, cocaine has two prominent actions: 1) it is a potent anesthetic; and 2) it is a powerful stimulant.

Cocaine has been used in South America for more than 3,000 years and in North America since the 19th century in a variety of forms: coca leaves, coca paste, powder cocaine, and cocaine base (e.g., freebase and crack cocaine). The final form of cocaine dictates how the drug can be administered and, as a consequence, the intensity and duration of its physiological and psychotropic effects. For example, to be effective powder cocaine can be injected, insufflated (snorted), or ingested, while crack cocaine can only be smoked. Therefore, while powder cocaine users can administer the drug in a variety of ways, crack cocaine users are limited to smoking the drug.

LOCAL FORMS:

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Cocaine (powder form) - Powder cocaine is a white, powdery substance produced by reacting coca paste with hydrochloric acid. It is the most commonly used form of cocaine. Prior to distribution, powder cocaine typically is "cut," or diluted, by adding a variety of one or more adulterants: sugars, local anesthetics (e.g., benzocaine), other drugs, or other inert substances. Consequently, the purity level of powder cocaine may vary considerably. While the active ingredient in powder cocaine - the cocaine alkaloid - does not differ from the active ingredient in coca paste or other forms of cocaine, the salt substrate causes the drug to be hydrophilic - readily dissolved, or absorbed, into water - and, thus, easily injected, insufflated (snorted), or ingested.

Crack Cocaine - Crack cocaine is derived from powder cocaine. The crack cocaine comes in "rocks," each typically weighing from one-tenth to one-half a gram. One gram of pure powder cocaine will convert to approximately 0.89 grams of crack cocaine. Crack rocks are between 75 and 90 percent pure cocaine.

LOCAL PACKAGING AND PRICING:

Cocaine Powder - locally cocaine is packaged in paper that is folded up. These are sometimes referred to as “folds”, “decks”, “case” or “½ case”. It is also packaged in baby bottle liners that may be sealed with an elastic band. Powder cocaine is sold in quantities as small as ½ gram, but the most common quantities are 1 gram (referred to as a “case” or a “single”) and 3½ grams (referred to as an “eight-ball”). Cocaine powder is priced locally at approximately $50 per ½ gram, $90-$140 per gram, $300-$400 per eight ball, $500-$850 per ¼ ounce, $1000-$1200 per ½ ounce, $1800-$2400 per ounce, $7000-$8500 per ¼ pound, $12000-$16000 per ½ pound, $20,000-$32,000 per pound, and $35,000-$50,000 per kilogram.

Crack Cocaine - locally in the Thunder Bay area crack cocaine users are producing their own crack from powder cocaine through a relatively simple process. At this time the Police in the Northwest have not seen any major distribution of the substance.

LOCAL COCAINE PARAPHERNALIA:

Paper Folds - normally glossy magazine paper found in magazine publications which are mainly pictures. This paper is used due to it being a non-porous surface which will not absorb or trap the powder in its surface. The used paper folds will have a thin film of white powder residue which will test positive for cocaine.

Small Mirrors and Short Plastic Straws - small compact mirrors are used to “cut” the cocaine powder and add volume enhancer to the cocaine. The mirrors are also used to separate the cocaine into lines or rows for “snorting” the cocaine into the nose of the user through the small lengths of straw.

Hypodermic Needles - needles are used to inject the cocaine, which has been based, directly into a blood vessel. Needle users sometimes share their needles and certain, very dangerous, communicable diseases are passed by needle use. Needles should always be handled with extreme caution if found. If at all possible don’t touch them. Needles leave needle marks or “track marks” on the user which are quite visible on the skin, and as such regular users will sometimes inject themselves in concealed locations, such as between the toes on the foot, to avoid visual detection.

Crack Pipes - crack pipes are made from a variety of materials and can be things as simple as a used pop can with a dent in the side near the bottom of the can that will have small holes poked in it. The dented area will be blackened and burned if it has been used. Smoking crack cocaine requires a constant source of flame, as it will not smolder like a tobacco product will. As such the user will quite frequently have a good quality butane lighter or small torch to use for smoking.

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For further information contact:

TRI-FORCE / KENORA JOINT FORCES DRUG UNIT
Tel: (807) 475-0198
Fax: (807) 475-0328
E-mail: info@tri-forcedrugs.com

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