Vol. 13, No. 2 by JM Publishing

Official Publication

NCNARC www.ncnarc.org

In Memory of Warren “Sneak” Lewis

North Carolina Narcotic Enforcement Officer’s Association Fall, 2011 Vol. 13, No. 2

NCNEOA 2011-12 Officers First Vice President Dennis Wooten Nash County Sheriff’s Office P O Box 355 Nashville, NC 27856 (252) 459-1539 dennis.wooten@nashcountync.gov

President Brian Arrington Randolph County Sheriff’s Office 727 McDowell Road Asheboro, NC 27205 (336) 318-6637 abarrington@co.randolph.nc.us

Second Vice President Gene Parsons NC SBI P. O. Box 1510 Jefferson, NC 28640 (828) 294-2226 gparsons@ncdoj.gov

Secretary Kelly Page NC SBI PO Box 697 Bailey, NC 27807 (336) 338-1504 kpage@ncdoj.gov

Treasurer Tim McLawhorn License & Theft Bureau, NCDMV 95 Edgewater Road Washington, NC 27889 (252) 943-7408 tmclawhorn@ncdot.gov

Sgt.-at-Arms/East Keith Whitfield Durham County ABC 3620 Durham Chapel Road Durham, NC 27707 (919) 201-0130 kwhitfield7@nc.rr.com

Sgt.-at-Arms/West Josh Wolfe High Point Police Department 1009 Leonard Avenue High Point, NC 27260 (336) 887-7874 josh.wolfe@highpointnc.gov

Training Coordinator Phil Little Bladen County SO (Retired) P.O. Box 266 Elizabethtown, NC 28337 (910) 862-2270 ncneoa@embarqmail.com

West Training Coordinator Kevin Black Rowan County Sheriff’s Office 232 N. Main Street Salisbury, NC 28144 (704) 239-6643 kevin.black@rowancountync.gov

Magazine Editor Kevin Black Rowan County Sheriff’s Office 232 N. Main Street Salisbury, NC 28144 (704) 239-6643 kevin.black@rowancountync.gov

Immediate Past President Bubba Summerlin NC SBI 1013 W. H. Smith Blvd Greenville, NC 27836 (252) 902-5239 asummerlin@ncdoj.gov

Contents this issue NCNEOA President’s Message....................................................................................................................................................................3 NCNEOA Application for Membership......................................................................................................................................................4 Past Presidents.............................................................................................................................................................................................5 Letters To Sneak...........................................................................................................................................................................................6 NLEOMF Research Bulletin...........................................................................................................................................................................9 Tactical Intelligence with Scott Stewart............................................................................................................................................13 Shifting Sands by Calvia Fay.....................................................................................................................................................................16 2011 Conference Photos..............................................................................................................................................................................21 Friends of NCNEOA.......................................................................................................................................................................................22 9-11 Memorial Opens to Public..................................................................................................................................................................23 NCNARC is published two times a year by the North Carolina Narcotics Enforcement Officer’s Association, P.O. Box 266, Elizabethtown, NC 28337, Phone: 910-862-6968, Internet: www.ncnarc.org. Kevin Black, editor: Goldsboro, NC. NCNEOA is a charter member of the National Narcotic Officers’ Associations Coalition (NNOAC) and an affiliate of the International Narcotics Enforcement Officers Association (INEOA). NCNEOA is a non-profit organization Tax ID #59-1917180

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NCNARC

Fall, 2011

NCNEOA President’s Message By Brian Arrington, 2011-2012 President

hat a privilege and honor it is to me to be elected the 2011-2012 President of the NCNEOA. I would like to give thanks to all past presidents and present and former board members who have led by example over the past years guiding me along the way and helping me to understand the importance of the leadership positions I have held and now hold with the NCNEOA. Let me also thank the members of this association for having faith in me and electing me to this prestigious position. I intend to continue the tradition of the hard working presidents who have held this position before me. I have been a part of this association since 2005 and have been a board member for the past five years. Through this association I have established many friendships and built numerous working relationships with various narcotic officers across North Carolina and as a fellow narcotics officer, I can’t begin to tell you the importance of these relationships when it comes to doing the job. I want you all to know that to lead this Association takes a team effort and the team of officers serving you this year are very capable individuals willing to dedicate their time

for the betterment of the Association. I would also encourage all members of the association to get more involved in the NCNEOA and the political stance we take. I want to remind you that the NCNEOA is your association and I encourage each of you to become more involved. The NCNEOA is in existence to educated and update officers with information needed to build better cases and prosecute drug dealers to the fullest extent of the law, but we are also largely involved with the political battle with the law makers of our state. Most of us have senators and congressmen who strongly support law enforcement’s efforts and it is our job to voice our concerns to these individuals to make the necessary changes that would continue to aid law enforcement’s fight against drugs. I challenge all members of this Association to always be prepared and to always remain passionate during your law enforcement career. Be prepared when you go to work, for the challenges you may face and be passionate about your work. Follow your passions and success will follow you!

In memory of Warren “Sneak” Lewis From the First Vice President By Dennis Wooten

s I write this I realize how hard it is losing a co-worker, well it’s even harder losing a best friend. I remember the first day “Sneak” came to work with me. The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation and Nash County Sheriff’s Office had been working a cocaine trafficking organization for a couple of months. We decided to take them off the day “Sneak” came to work with us. We took two individuals off with two kilos in a motel room outside of Rocky Mount, NC. I remember then Sheriff Jimmy Grimes speaking to Sneak in the parking lot of the hotel. He commented to Sneak, “Not bad for your first day, should have moved you a long time ago.” A humorous swipe at me I’m sure. Sneak made numerous good drug cases as an investigator. Once being assigned to the USMSVFTF, he excelled. On a particular case, we had outstanding federal indictments on a longtime cocaine trafficker. Sneak, in his willingness to work, took leads from other agencies and pressed ahead. He located the suspect in the Philippines which eventually led to his extradition to the United States. It’s cliché to say he was good guy or he’d give you the shirt off his back. In Sneak’s case he would not only give you the shirt off his back, he’d cut your grass and buy you supper. I’ve been told numerous times since his death, “He’s in a better place”. I truly believe that, but everyone who reads this should know this place was a better place when he was here. Personally, I know that and will miss him.

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NCNARC

Fall, 2011

NCNEOA NCNEOA "ORGANIZED ENFORCEMENT AGAINST NARCOTICS' “ORGANIZED ENFORCEMENT AGAINST NARCOTICS” APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP (PLEASE PRINT)

General membership is open to any sworn law enforcement officer who is employed full-time by a duly constituted governmental authority and who is engaged in the enforcement of laws governing illegal drugs and narcotics.

NAME: ________________________________________________________________________________________ Last First Middle initial DOB: _______________________________________ SSN: ____________________________________________ MAILING ADDRESS: _____________________________________________________________________________ CITY: __________________________________________ STATE: ____________ ZIP CODE: ___________________ AGENCY: ____________________________________________________ RANK: ____________________________ TELEPHONE WORK: __________________________________ HOME: ____________________________________ BENEFICIARY NAME/ADDRESS: ___________________________________________________________________

INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

DO YOU HAVE A N.C. TRAINING & STANDARDS INSTRUCTOR CERTIFICATE? ______ Yes ______ No IF SO, DO YOU HAVE A SPECIALTY? _____ Yes _____ No

LIST: ______________________________________

E-MAIL ADDRESS: _______________________________________________________________________________

DATE OF APPLICATION: __________________ APPLICANT SIGNATURE: __________________________________

New Member Renewal Associate

($25.00) ($25.00) ($25.00)

• ALL MEMBERSHIPS EXPIRE ON DECEMBER 31s1

Associate Membership is open to any individual with an expressed interest in the work of NCNEOA and a willingness to support the purposes of NCNEOA. Payment of annual dues includes subscription to NCNEOA Magazine. Life Insurance, and Training. MAKE CHECK PAYABLE TO: MAIL APPLICATION TO: FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL: WEB-SITE:

NCNEOA

PHILLIP LITTLE, 95 POEdgewater BOX 266, Rd., EL1ZABETHTOWN, 28337 Tim McLawhorn, Washington, NCNC 27889 910-862-6968 WWW.NCNEOA.ORG www.ncnarc.org

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Fall, 2011

NCNEOA Past Presidents 1981-83

Ken Razza, Hickory Police Department

1984

Jim Morris, Emerald Isle Police Department

1985

Anthony Dennis, Carteret County Sheriff’s Department

1986-88

Ralph McKinney, Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office

1989-91

Tony Keller, Catawba County Sheriff’s Office

1992

Lee Tate, Edgecombe County Drug Task Force

1993

Phillip Little, Bladen County Sheriff’s Office

1994

Kevin Duckworth, Morganton Police Department

1995

Scott Parker, Nash County Sheriff’s Office

1996

Bob Kennedy, Boone Police Department

1997

Leonard Hudson, Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office

1998

Tim Nelson, NC State Bureau of Investigation

1999

Marty Ferrell, High Point Police Department

2000

George Shaver, New Bern Police Department

2001

Steve Surratt, NC State Bureau of Investigation

2002

Jeff Eddins, NC State Bureau of Investigation

2003

Phil Hamby, Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office

2004

Tim McLawhorn, Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office

2005

Chris P. LaCarter, Hickory Police Department

2006

Randy Johnson, NC State Bureau of Investigation

2007

Kevin Black, Iredell County Sheriff’s Office

2008

Marty Ferrell, High Point Police Department

2009

Andy LeBeau, Boone Police Department

2010-11

Bubba Summerlin, NC State Bureau of Investigation www.ncnarc.org

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NCNARC

From the Editor:

Warren “Sneak” Lewis.

It was an honor and pleasure to get to know you over the years.

will not forget the day that Albert “Bubba” Summerlin called me to tell me what had happened. I felt an immediate void as the news of your death sunk in. I remember thinking about your family and wondering what agony they were now facing. I take some solace in knowing that you died doing what you believed in and doing what you loved. I also know that this world was a better place having you in it, and we were all better people with you as a friend. I will miss seeing you at the conferences, but I will never forget the times that I did get spend with you. I will always remember seeing you and asking, “If Scotty Parker knew where you were and what you were doing”. You would always come back with something as sarcastic as I had. Sneak, your death will not be in vain. Those of us left here will continue the work, and continue to fight the good fight. We will make sure that your family and everyone we come in contact with knows that you were and are still a hero. I know from my faith that you are in a better place. I also know that your suffering is over and we will meet again one day. Until we meet again my brother, know that you touched many and will be greatly missed. I love you man. Kevin L. Black NCNEOA Magazine Editor Past President

Nash County Sheriff’s Office Press Release June 9, 2011

Sheriff Dick Jenkins of the Nash County Sheriff’s Office regretfully announces that one of his Deputy’s has been killed in the line of duty tonight. Investigator Warren “Sneak” Lewis, who was assigned to the Eastern North Carolina Fugitive Task Force, was shot while attempting to serve a warrant for Homicide along with other members of the Task Force in the city of Kinston, NC. Investigator Lewis has been a member of the Nash County Sheriff’s Office for over 9 years. He has served on the Eastern NC Fugitive Task Force for the last three years. Sheriff Jenkins states “Investigator Lewis was a gentle soul and would go out of his way to give you the shirt off his back if he thought you needed it. He will definitely be missed, and he leaves a void at this office that will never be filled.”

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Fall, 2011

Your Letters To Sneak Forever My Hero

Sneak, today is Labor Day and we are not at the lake for the first time in 17 years. I can not put into words how our lives have changed without you here. But there is one thing I do know for sure I am so proud of you, even in your death. You lived every minute to its fullest and in every part of who your were you were a living testimony on what it meant to be a man, a husband, a father, son and friend. I am so grateful to God for bringing us together, and I am a better person because of you. I do know you are with the Lord now and I have to finish raising our two beautiful girls with out you here, but you dear laid such a wonderful foundation in their lives that that task will not be so hard. There were so many things left unsaid but I hope you know I will always be your girl. I will love you forever and again I am so proud of you. You, Warren Sneak Lewis will forever be my hero!

- Shannon Lewis, Wife

One of a Kind

Staying Strong

July 13, 2011

Sneak, you were truely one of a kind. I never saw you without a smile, and that had an effect on everyone you came in contact with, good guys or bad guys. At the end of the day, no matter who we were chasing, you showed us to treat the bad guy with respect. It will be hard to move on without you in this fight, but we all know that is what you want us to do... continue the fight against evil.

July 22, 2011

I will not ever get used to looking your name up here. We all miss you so much and it’s been over a month now. It is still not real. Shannon and the girls are holding up and staying so strong. They are such an inspiraton to the whole community. You would be proud. Your mom and dad as well. I know why you were such a great person, they taught you well. I hope you are playing corn hole and having fun. Thank you for being my friend and I will always be here for Lauren and Ashley. You will not have to worry about them at the school. They will have me there. Love ya my friend and I think about you everyday, several times a day.

- Deputy M. M. Strickland, Nash County Sheriff ’s Office

A True Friend

September 5, 2011

I thank you and your family for being a part of my life. I truly am a better officer and man because of you. You will always be a part of my life. I anticipate the day that we will meet again.

- TFO Jeff Lux

I see alot of people call you Officer Lewis, but to those who knew you best you were “Sneak”. Buddy, you are missed so dearly and the Narc conference and OCDETF won’t be the same without you. You were the prime example of how we should all conduct ourselves. Words cannot express what a joy it was working with you. You always made us laugh and feel welcome in your county. God will be pleased to have you. We have definitely lost a TRUE friend. God’s speed to ya buddy, until we meet again.

- Det. K. Dickerson, Oxford NC PD/Narcotics U.S. Marshals Service Violent Fugitive Task Force, E/NC www.ncnarc.org

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Your Letters To Sneak Outstanding Officers June 14, 2011

Investigator Lewis. I am sorry we never got a chance to meet under more favorable conditions. When we did it was as I kneeled by your side. You died doing a job only a chosen few step up to accept. I know several deputies at your department and they are all outstanding officers as I am sure you were. Lay down your gunbelt and rest my friend. God bless you brother.

- K. Devine K-9 Officer Kinston Department of Public Safety

A Treasured Friendship June 10, 2011

Sneak, it’s been a few hours since I heard the news. Even though I see your face on the television screen and I hear the reporters speak your name this just doesn’t seem real. I keep thinking about how many times I saw you when you were excited about some kind of change in your life. Like remodeling the home that you and Shannon would move into, or taking that job at Leith’s, then changing careers into what everyone knew was your passion—law enforcement. Most of all I keep replaying in my mind that night you called me outside and we talked privately about your recent appointment to the Marshal’s Service. I remember how excited and honored you were to have that U.S. Marshal’s badge. Although the dangerous career you chose has led you to this sad day I’ll never doubt your love for your career and that you felt you were exactly where the Lord wanted you to be. I can’t imagine the pain Warren, Ann, Shannon and the girls must be feeling right now. You’ll be missed around town and at the fire department. Thanks for all the great advice that helped me teach my sons how to wakeboard, but most of all thanks for your friendship.

- Captain Keith Wilder City of Raleigh Fire Department

A Year to Remember June 10, 2011

Sneak, you made 2007 a year to remember. I am glad I got the pleasure of working with you so much. You kept me smiling and laughing every day and taught me a lot. I loved helping you write that letter to get into the U.S. Marshal Service and you were so proud when you were selected. You were a great guy to work with and you will continue to inspire me. Please God look over his family and his friends and help them through this time. Miss you SNEAK.

- Officer J. Pironis Henderson Police Department

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Fall, 2011

Reprinted with permission of the NLEOMF. Law Enforcement Officer Deaths: Mid-Year 2011 Report

Research Bulletin www.LawMemorial.org

info@nleomf.org

Law Enforcement Fatalities Increase 14% in First Half of 2011; Firearms-related Fatalities Reach 20-Year High Following an alarming 25% increase in 2010, the number of law enforcement fatalities in the U.S. have continued to rise in the first six months of 2011.

A Closer Look: Florida Miami-Dade Police Department

Total Fatalities: Mid-Year 1961-2011 Detective Roger Castillo EOW: 1/20/2011

According to preliminary data from the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, 98 officers were killed from January 1, 2011 to June 30, 2011â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a 14% increase from the same time frame in 2010, when 86 officers were killed in the performance of duty. For 13 years in a row, traffic-related incidents have been the leading cause of officer fatalities, but for the first half of 2011, firearms-related fatalities have out-paced traffic-related fatalities as the primary cause of law enforcement deaths, with 40 officers shot and killed. This represents a troubling 33% increase from 2010, when 30 officers were killed by gunfire. Four of these officers were from the state of Florida, which has lost 10 officers in the first six months of this year, tied with Texas for the most law enforcement fatalities in the United States. Traffic-related fatalities have claimed the lives of 35 officers in 2011, a 17% decrease from the first six months of 2010, when 42 officers were killed. Of the 21 officers killed in automobile crashes, 13 law enforcement officers were involved in an assistance activity, six were killed in accidents relating to criminal activity, and two were killed en route to or from work in their patrol vehicles. The data and statistics contained in this report are preliminary and do not represent a final or complete list of individual officers who will be added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in 2012.

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Detective Amanada Lynn Haworth EOW: 1/20/2011

Detective Roger Castillo and Detective Amanda Haworth were shot and killed while serving a felony murder warrant. The officers arrived at the suspectâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s residence to serve a warrant when the suspect opened fire, shooting three officers. Detective Castillo was pronounced dead at the scene, and Detective Haworth later died during surgery.

St. Petersburg Police Department Officer Jeffrey Yaslowitz was shot and killed while serving a warrant for aggravated battery. As Officer Yaslowitz approached the Officer suspect to arrest Jeffrey Adam him, the suspect Yaslowitz opened fire EOW: 1/24/2011 and barricaded himself in the attic. Sergeant Thomas Baitinger was shot and killed while trying to rescue the wounded officers. Sergeant He was part of Thomas John the entry team Baitinger assigned to rescue EOW: 1/24/2011 Officer Yaslowitz and a Deputy Marshal. Sergeant Baitinger was also shot by the suspect.

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Law Enforcement Officer Deaths: Mid-Year 2011 Report

Firearms-related Fatalities: Mid-Year 2011 In the first half of 2011, firearms-related fatalities reached a 20-year high, with 40 officers killed by gunfire — a 33% increase from that same point in 2010, when only 30 officers were fatally shot.

Firearm-related Fatalities: Mid-Year 1961-2011

Eleven officers — 28% of firearms-related fatalities — were shot and killed in January, the deadliest month for gunfire deaths this year. In one 24-hour period, 11 officers were shot, with three killed and eight wounded. Circumstances of Fatal Shootings: Mid-Year 2011 Three multiple-fatality, “cluster-killing” incidents (when two or more officers were shot and killed) have occured in 2011— two in Florida (St. Petersburg and Miami-Dade) and one incident in Grundy, VA. Seven officers were killed when attempting arrest in a non-burglary/robbery situation, followed closely by fatalities while responding to domestic disturbance calls. Four officers, respectively, were killed during burglaries, and while investigating suspicious persons and activities.

Traffic-related Fatalities: Mid-Year 2011

Mid-Year Average Traffic Fatalities per Decade: 1960-2010

For the first time in five years, traffic-related fatalities were lower than firearms-related fatalities, with 35 officers killed in the first six months of 2011, compared to 42 during the same time frame in 2010. Twenty-one officers were killed in automobile crashes, seven were struck and killed, five were killed in motorcycle crashes, and two were struck and killed by a train while in an automobile. Traffic-related Fatalities: Two-Year Comparison Since 1960, traffic-related fatalities have steadily increased each decade. Mid-year 1979 had the lowest number of trafficrelated fatalities with 17, and they spiked in 2007 when 47 officers were killed in traffic-related incidents. 2 www.ncnarc.org

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Law Enforcement Officer Deaths: Mid-Year 2011 Report

Geographic Distribution of Officer Fatalities: Mid-Year 2011

States with four or more fatalities States with at least one fatality

Fatalities by State Thirty-two states lost a law enforcement officer in the first six months of 2011, with Texas and Florida experiencing the most fatalities in the nation. Closely following is New York with eight fatalities and Ohio, with seven. Tennessee, Michigan, and California had four officer fatalities. Nine federal officers have been killed in the first half of 2011; matching the entire 2010 total. Eighteen states (AK, CT, DE, HI, ID, KS, MN, MT, NV, NH, NM, ND, OK, RI, UT, VT, WV, and WY) and the District of Columbia did not lose an officer in the first half of the year.

FL 10 TX 10 NY 8 OH 7 CA 4 MI 4 TN 4 AZ 3 LA 3 MO 3 VA 3 AL 2 CO 2 GA 2

MD NJ NC OR SC WA AR IL IN IA KY ME MA MS

2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

NE PA SD WI

1 1 1 1

Federal

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Law Enforcement Officer Deaths: Mid-Year 2011 Report

Causes of Officer Deaths: Mid-Year 2011

A Closer Look: Correctional Officers Correctional Officer Casimiro Maximino Pomales New York State Department of Correctional Services EOW: 1/28/2011 Correctional Officer Pomales was killed in an automobile crash while transporting an inmate. Correctional Officer Jayme Lee Biendl Washington Department of Corrections EOW: 1/29/2011 Correctional Officer Biendl was strangled to death by an inmate who attempted to escape from the Washington State Reformatory.

Traffic and firearms-related fatalities accounted for 77% of all law enforcement fatalities in the first half of 2011. Sixteen officers died from physical-related job injuries. One officer lost his/her life due to each of the following: aircraft accident, beating, electrocution, officer falls to his/her death, bomb blast, crushed, and strangled. Demographic Profile: Race/Ethnicity

Gender

Caucasian

Female

African American Hispanic

8 10

Native American

Asian American

Jurisdiction 8

Municipal Officers 50

Male

County Officers

Average Age

State Officers

Average Years of Service

Federal Officers

Rank

Total Fatalities

Rank

Total Fatalities

Police Officer

Senior Police Officer

Deputy Sheriff

Special Agent

Trooper

Corporal

Sergeant

District Administrator

Correctional Officer

Game Warden Pilot

Captain

Investigator

Detective

Lieutenant

Border Patrol Agent

Master Patrolman

Chief of Police

Patrol Officer

Deputy Marshal

Public Safety Officer

Park Ranger

Senior Officer Specialist

Patrolman

Correctional Officer Greg Malloy Florida Department of Corrections EOW: 2/2/2011 Correctional Officer Malloy was shot and killed while searching for a suspect wanted for murder. Correctional Officer Ronald Edward Johnson South Dakota Department of Corrections EOW: 4/12/2011 Correctional Officer Johnson was assaulted and killed by inmates attempting to escape from the South Dakota State Penitentiary in Sioux Falls. Corrections Officer IV Craig Orrell Texas Department of Criminal Justice EOW: 5/12/2011 Corrections Officer Orrell died of a heart attack while jogging during an annual physical test.

This Research Bulletin was produced by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, in conjunction with Concerns of Police Survivors.

901 E Street NW Suite 100 Washington, DC 20004-2025 202.737.3400 info@nleomf.org www.LawMemorial.org Craig W. Floyd, Chairman & CEO

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Tactical Intelligence with Scott Stewart June 24, 2011

s U.S. interdiction efforts curtailed the Caribbean drug flow, and Colombian cartels were dismantled with U.S. help, Mexican cartels gained more prominence and power in the flow of cocaine and other drugs We talk to a lot of people in our effort to track Mexico’s criminal cartels and to help our readers understand the dynamics that shape the violence in Mexico. Our contacts include a wide range of people, from Mexican and U.S. government officials, journalists and business owners to taxi drivers and street vendors. Lately, as we’ve been talking with people, we’ve been hearing chatter about the 2012 presidential election in Mexico and how the cartel war will impact that election. In any democratic election, opposition parties always criticize the policies of the incumbent. This tactic is especially true when the country is involved in a long and costly war. Recall, for example, the 2008 U.S. elections and thencandidate Barack Obama’s criticism of the Bush administration’s policies regarding Iraq and Afghanistan. This strategy is what we are seeing now in Mexico with the opposition Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) and Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD) criticizing the way the administration of Felipe Calderon, who belongs to the National Action Party (PAN), has prosecuted its war against the Mexican cartels. One of the trial balloons that the opposition parties, especially the PRI, seem to be floating at present is the idea that if they are elected they will reverse Calderon’s policy of going after the cartels with a heavy hand and will instead try to reach some sort of accommodation with them. This policy would involve lifting government pressure against the cartels and thereby (ostensibly) reducing the level of violence that is wracking the country. In effect, this stratagem would be a return of the status quo ante during the PRI administrations that ruled Mexico for decades prior to 2000. One other important thing to remember, however, is that while Mexico’s tough stance against the cartels is most often associated with President Calderon, the policy of using the military against the cartels was established during the administration of President Vicente Fox (also of PAN), who declared the “mother of all battles” against cartel kingpins in January 2005.

While this political rhetoric may be effective in tapping public discontent with the current situation in Mexico — and perhaps obtaining votes for opposition parties — the current environment in Mexico is far different from what it was in the 1990s. This environment will dictate that no matter who wins the 2012 election, the new president will have little choice but to maintain the campaign against the Mexican cartels.

Changes in the Drug Flow

First, it is important to understand that over the past decade there have been changes in the flow of narcotics into the United States. The first of these changes was in the way that cocaine is trafficked from South America to the United Sates and in the specific organizations that are doing that trafficking. While there has always been some cocaine smuggled into the United States through Mexico, like during the “Miami Vice” era from the 1970s to the early 1990s, much of the U.S. supply came into Florida via Caribbean routes. The cocaine was trafficked mainly by the powerful Colombian cartels, and while they worked with Mexican partners such as the Guadalajara cartel to move product through Mexico and into the United States, the Colombians were the dominant partners in the relationship and pocketed the lion’s share of the profits. As U.S. interdiction efforts curtailed much of the Caribbean drug flow due to improvements in aerial and maritime surveillance, and as the Colombian cartels were dismantled by the Colombian and U.S. governments, Mexico became more important to the flow of cocaine and the Mexican cartels gained more prominence and power. Over the past decade, the tables turned. Now, the Mexican cartels control most of the cocaine flow and the Colombian gangs are the junior partners in the relationship. The Mexican cartels have expanded their control over cocaine smuggling to the point where they are also involved in the smuggling of South American cocaine to Europe and Australia. This expanded cocaine supply chain means that the Mexican cartels have assumed a greater risk of loss along the extended supply routes, but it also means that they

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Continued from previous page earn a far greater percentage of the profit derived from South American cocaine than they did when the Colombian cartels called the shots. While Mexican cartels have always been involved in the smuggling of marijuana to the U.S. market, and marijuana sales serve as an important profit pool for them, the increasing popularity of other drugs in the United States in recent years, such as black-tar heroin and methamphetamine, has also helped bring big money (and power) to the Mexican cartels. These drugs have proved to be quite lucrative for the Mexican cartels because the cartels own the entire production process. This is not the case with cocaine, which the cartels have to purchase from South American suppliers. These changes in the flow of narcotics into the United States mean that the Mexican narcotics-smuggling corridors into the United States are now more lucrative than ever for the Mexican cartels, and the increasing value of these corridors has heightened the competition — and the violence — to control them. The fighting has become quite bloody and, in many cases, quite personal, involving blood vendettas that will not be easily buried. The violence occurring in Mexico today also has quite a different dynamic from the violence that occurred in Colombia in the late 1980s. In Colombia at that time, Pablo Escobar declared war on the government, and his team of sicarios conducted terrorist attacks like destroying the Department of Administrative Security headquarters with a huge truck bomb and bombing a civilian airliner in an attempt to kill a presidential candidate, among other operations. Escobar thought his attacks could intimidate the Colombian government into the kind of accommodation being discussed in Mexico today, but his calculation was wrong and the attacks served only to steel public opinion and government resolve against him.

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Most of the violence in Mexico today is cartel-on-cartel, and the cartels have not chosen to explicitly target civilians or the government. Even the violence we do see directed against Mexican police officers or government figures is usually not due to their positions but to the perception that they are on the payroll of a competing cartel. There are certainly exceptions to this, but cartel attacks against government figures are usually attempts to undercut the support network of a competing cartel and not acts of retribution against the government. Cartel groups like Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion (CJNG) have even produced and distributed video statements in which they say they don’t want to fight the federal government and the military, just corrupt officers aligned with their enemies. This dynamic means that, even if the Mexican military and federal police were to ease up on their operations against drug-smuggling activities, the war among the cartels (and factions of cartels) would still continue.

The Hydra

In addition to the raging cartel-oncartel violence, any future effort to reach an accommodation with the cartels will also be hampered by the way the cartel landscape has changed over the past few years. Consider this: Three and a half years ago, the Beltran Leyva Organization (BLO) was a part of the Sinaloa Federation. Following the arrest of Alfredo Beltran Leyva in January 2008, Alfredo’s brothers blamed Sinaloa chief Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman Loera, declared war on El Chapo and split from the Sinaloa Federation to form their own organization. Following the December 2009 death of Alfredo’s brother, Arturo Beltran Leyva, the organization further split into two factions: One was called the Cartel Pacifico del Sur, which was led by the remaining Beltran Leyva brother, Hector, www.ncnarc.org

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..changes in the flow of narcotics into the United States mean that the Mexican narcoticssmuggling corridors into the United States are now more lucrative than ever.. and the other, which retained the BLO name, remained loyal to Alfredo’s chief of security, Edgar “La Barbie” Valdez Villarreal. Following the August 2010 arrest of La Barbie, his faction of the BLO split into two pieces, one joining with some local criminals in Acapulco to form the Independent Cartel of Acapulco (CIDA). So not only did the BLO leave the Sinaloa Federation, it also split twice to form three new cartels. There are two main cartel groups, one centered on the Sinaloa Federation and the other on Los Zetas, but these groups are loose alliances rather than hierarchical organizations, and there are still many smaller independent players, such as CIDA, La Resistencia and the CJNG. This means that a government attempt to broker some sort of universal understanding with the cartels in order to decrease the violence would be far more challenging than it would have been a decade ago. Even if the government could gather all these parties together and convince them to agree to cease hostilities, the question for all parties would be: How reliable are all the promises being made? The various cartels frequently make alliances and agreements, only to break them, and close allies can quick-

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ly become the bitterest enemies — like the Gulf cartel and its former enforcer wing, Los Zetas. We have heard assertions over the last several years that the Calderon administration favors the Sinaloa Federation and that the president’s real plan to quell the violence in Mexico is to allow or even assist the Sinaloa Federation to become the dominant cartel in Mexico. According to this narrative, the Sinaloa Federation could impose peace through superior firepower and provide the Mexican government a single point of contact instead of the various heads of the cartel hydra. One problem with implementing such a concept is that some of the most vicious violence Mexico has seen in recent years has followed an internal split involving the Sinaloa Federation, such as the BLO/ Sinaloa war.

From DTO to TCO

Fall, 2011

Another problem is the change that has occurred in the nature of the crimes the cartels commit. The Mexican cartels are no longer just drug cartels, and they no longer just sell narcotics to the U.S. market. This reality is even reflected in the bureaucratic acronyms that the U.S. government uses to refer to the cartels. Up until a few months ago, it was common to hear U.S. government officials refer to the Mexican cartels using the acronym “DTOs,” or drug trafficking organizations. Today, that acronym is rarely, if ever, heard. It has been replaced by “TCO,” which stands for transnational criminal organization. This acronym recognizes that the Mexican cartels engage in many criminal enterprises, not just narcotics smuggling. As the cartels have experienced difficulty moving large loads of narcotics into the United States due to law enforcement pressure, and the loss of smuggling corridors to rival gangs, they have sought to generate revenue by diversifying their lines of business.

Mexican cartels have become involved in kidnapping, extortion, cargo theft, oil theft and diversion, arms smuggling, human smuggling, carjacking, prostitution and music and video piracy. These additional lines of business are lucrative, and there is little likelihood that the cartels would abandon them even if smuggling narcotics became easier. As an aside, this diversification is also a factor that must be considered in discussing the legalization of narcotics and the impact that would have on the Mexican cartels. Narcotics smuggling is the most substantial revenue stream for the cartels, but it is not their only line of business. If the cartels were to lose the stream of revenue from narcotics sales, they would still be heavily armed groups of killers who would be forced to rely more on their other lines of business. Many of these other crimes, like extortion and kidnapping, by their very nature focus more direct violence against innocent victims than drug trafficking does. Another way the cartels have sought to generate revenue through alternative means is to increase drug sales inside Mexico. While drugs sell for less on the street in Mexico than they do in the United States, they require less overhead, since they don’t have to cross the U.S. border. At the same time, the street gangs that are distributing these drugs into the local Mexican market have also become closely allied with the cartels and have served to swell the ranks of the cartel enforcer groups. For example, Mara Salvatrucha has come to work closely with Los Zetas, and Los Aztecas have essentially become a wing of the Juarez cartel. There has been a view among some in Mexico that the flow of narcotics through Mexico is something that might be harmful for the United States but doesn’t really harm Mexico. Indeed, as the argument goes, the money the drug trade generates for the Mexiwww.ncnarc.org

can economy is quite beneficial. The increase in narcotics sales in Mexico belies this, and in many places, such as the greater Mexico City region, much of the violence we’ve seen involves fighting over turf for local drug sales and not necessarily fighting among the larger cartel groups (although, in some areas, there are instances of the larger cartel groups asserting their dominance over these smaller local-level groups). As the Mexican election approaches, the idea of accommodating the cartels may continue to be presented as a logical alternative to the present policies, and it might be used to gain political capital, but anyone who carefully examines the situation on the ground will see that the concept is totally untenable. In fact, the conditions on the ground leave the Mexican president with very little choice. This means that in the same way President Obama was forced by ground realities to follow many of the Bush administration policies he criticized as a candidate, the next Mexican president will have little choice but to follow the policies of the Calderon administration in continuing the fight against the cartels. 

About the author

Scott Stewart is STRATFOR’s VP, Tactical Intelligence. He is a former Diplomatic Security Service Special Agent who was involved in hundreds of terrorism investigations, most notably the 1993 World Trade Center bombing and the follow-on New York City bomb plot investigation, during which he served as lead investigator for the U.S. State Department. He led a team of Americans who aided the government of Argentina in investigating the 1992 bombing of the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires, and was involved in investigations following a series of attacks and attempted attacks by the Iraqi intelligence service during the first Gulf War.

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The Shifting Sands of a Drug Epidemic By Calvina Fay, Executive Director Drug Free America Foundation, Inc.

n case you missed the news headlines, prescription drug abuse is the nation’s fastest-growing drug problem and has been classified as an epidemic. Americans, constituting only 4.6% of the world’s population, have been consuming 80% of the global opioid supply, and 99% of the global hydrocodone supply, as well as two-thirds of the world’s illegal drugs. Nearly one-third of people aged 12 and over who used drugs for the first time in 2009 began by using a prescription drug non-medically according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Within one short decade, we have seen the misuse of prescription drugs, particularly opiods, skyrocket out of con-

trol, destroying families and communities, and putting a strain on healthcare systems, law enforcement, and judicial officials – a clear indication that legalizing more drugs could not possibly solve our nation’s drug problem! Retail sale of commonly used opiod medications such as methadone, oxycodone, fentanyl base, hydromorphone, hydrocodone, morphine, meperidine, and codein, have increased from a total of 50.7 million grams in 1997 to 126.5 million grams in 2007. This represents an overall increase in use of 149 percent with increases ranging from 222 percent for morphine, 280 percent for hydrocodone, 319 percent for hydromorphone, 525 percent for fentanyl base, 866 per-

Facts About Prescription Drug Abuse Medications can be effective when they are used properly, but some can be addictive and dangerous when misused. This chart provides a brief look at some prescribed medications that—when used in ways other than they are prescribed—have the potential for abuse and even addiction. Fortunately, most Americans take their medications responsibly. Addiction to prescription drugs is rare. However, in 2003, approximately 15 million Americans reported using a prescription drug for nonmedical reasons at least once during the year.

What types of prescription drugs are misused or abused? Three types of drugs are misused or abused most often:

More than 6.3 Million Americans Reported Current Use of Prescription Drugs for Nonmedical Purposes in 2003 3.0

■ Opioids—prescribed for pain relief

prescribed for anxiety or sleep problems (often referred to as sedatives or tranquilizers)

Millions of Americans

■ CNS depressants—barbiturates and benzodiazepines

Order NIDA publications from NCADI: 1-800-729-6686 or TDD, 1-800-487-4889

starting to take medications. ■ Ask your doctor or pharmacist about your medication,

especially if you are unsure about its effects.

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1.2

Stimulants

Sedatives and Tranquilizers

Pain Relievers

Past Month Use of Selected Illicit Drugs Among Youths, by Age: 2003

Percent Using in Past Month

■ Read the information your pharmacist provides before

1.9

1.0

Source: Office of Applied Studies, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2004.

■ Keep your doctor informed about all medications you ■ Take your medication(s) as prescribed.

1.5

How can you help prevent prescription drug misuse or abuse? are taking, including over-the-counter medications.

2.0

0.5

■ Stimulants—prescribed for attention-deficit hyperactivity

disorder (ADHD), the sleep disorder narcolepsy, or obesity.

4.7

2.5

18.0 16.0 14.0 12.0 10.0 8.0 6.0 4.0 2.0 0

12 or 13 14 or 15 16 or 17

15.6

7.2

6.1 4.1

1.0 Marijuana

1.8 Psychotherapeutics

1.4 1.4 1.0 Inhalants

0.2

1.0

1.9

Hallucinogens

Source: Office of Applied Studies, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2004.

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Shifting Sands, cont. cent for oxycodone, to 1,293 percent for methadone. The average sales of opiods per person have increased from 74 milligrams in 1997 to 368 milligrams in 2007, a 402 percent increase. At a time when state and federal governments are struggling with budget issues, the prescription drug problem is draining the coffers of Medicaid and Medicare. This is experienced through added health conditions, increased accidents and suicides or attempted suicides, and a resulting significant surge in emergency room visits. The estimated number of U.S. emergency room (ER) visits involving the nonmedical use of narcotic pain relievers rose from 144,644 in 2004 to 305,885 in 2008. This increase was driven by visits involving the three most reported narcotic pain reliever products – oxycodone (152 percent increase), hydrocodone (123 percent increase), and methadone (73% increase). One significant contributor to the increased ER visits is the boost in suicide attempts. In 2009, there were 77,971 ER visits for drug-related suicide attempts among males. According to SAMHSA, between 2005 and 2009, among males ages 21 to 34, the following increases were seen: ER visits for drug-related suicide attempts increased 54.6 percent (19,024 to 29,407); visits involving pain relievers increased 60.2 percent (from 7,185 to 11,509); visits involving antidepressents increased 155.2 percent (from 1,519 to 3,876); and visits involving drugs that treat anxiety or insomnia increased 93.4 percent (from 5,918 to 9,706). The surge in ER visits for drug-related suicide attempts, however, is not limited to 21-34 age group. Between 2005 and 2009, narcotic pain reliever involvement in ED visits for suicide attempts almost doubled among visits made by males aged 35 to 49 (from 2,380 to 4,270). It almost tripled among visits made by males aged 50 or older (from 882 to 2,589). And, of course, the problem is not a male only issue. In my home state of Florida, which has been dubbed the “Pill Mill Capitol” of the nation, an average of 7 people per day die from prescription drugs - mostly pain killers. The problem is so severe that Florida’s Surgeon General declared a public health emergency in the state. In the first six months of 2010, doctors in Florida prescribed nine times more oxycodone than was sold in the entire nation during that same period. Loosely operated clinics, known as “pill mills” have been abundant in Florida and have contributed to the

abuses of pain medication. In Broward County alone, more than 130 pill mills operated. Over a two-year period, pain clinic business owner Vincent Colangelo allegedly distributed more than 660,000 oxycodone pills, enriching him and his partners to the tune of $150,000 a day. Another physician, Dr. Zvi Peper, wrote scripts for 387,000 oxycodone tablets in six months at a Delray Beach pain clinic. The state is considered a significant supplier to addicts from other states and law enforcement officials estimate that about 60% of illegal pain pills in Kentucky come from Florida. This phenomenon is difficult to understand by some who question why prescription drugs that are developed to help people deal with health issues are so commonly abused and end up creating health issues. The answer is somewhat simple. There is a general perception that since they are legal, prescription drugs are safe. This answer actually correlates with the data from the national household surveys that we have studied for decades. When perception of harm is up, use of drugs is down. When perception of harm drops, use goes up. This concept has, of course, always been applied to illegal drugs but, obviously that same holds true with legal drugs. Another answer is that since prescription drugs are legal, they are easy to obtain. Yet another, and very unfortunate answer, is that long term legitimate use of prescriptions can, and often does, lead to dependency and addiction. Prescription drugs are commonly obtained through street dealers, fraudulent prescriptions, doctor shopping, pain clinics that excessively over-prescribe and encourage scripts for cash on premises (pills mills), and from friends and family members who share their prescriptions or who invite theft by failing to properly secure them. Another very common way for prescription drugs to be obtained is through the Internet. A research study was conducted in 2007 by CASA at Columbia University. A total of 210 hours was devoted to documenting the number of Internet sites dispensing selected prescription drugs. The researchers discovered that of the 187 sites found to be selling control prescription drugs, 157 (84 percent) did not require any prescription; 52 (33 percent) clearly stated that no prescription was needed; 83 (53 percent) offered an “online consultation”; and 22 (14 percent) made no mention of a prescription. Only 30 of the 187 sites found during the study required a prescription. Of these, 17 (57 percent) only required patients to fax a prescription;

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Continued from previous page 4 (13 percent) required that a patient mail the prescription; and 9 (30 percent) indicated that a doctor would be contacted prior to dispensing the drug. So, what can be done about this growing problem that will help to save the lives of family members and other loved ones? Lots but, it takes a collaborative effort. DOCTORS can do their part by obtaining knowledge about addiction and discussing the issue with their patients. They can drug test patients periodically if they suspect drug abuse or addiction. First, and foremost, though doctors can and should try alternative treatment before prescribing powerful pain medications that can addict their clients. PATIENTS can also play a part in prevention of prescription drug abuse. They can and should ask questions about their condition, treatment plan, recommended medications, and potential side effects. Patients should be very skeptical of multiple prescriptions and/or prescriptions that contain an unusually large quantity of doses. They should pay attention to the effects of the medication that they are taking, discuss them with their physician, and take their medication only as prescribed. Much pressure is brought to bear on physicians today who see patients in ERs, hospitals, and clinics to make the customers (patients) happy so that they will become repeat customers. Surveys are routinely sent out to customers following a visit to the facilities, asking if they were satisfied with the service/treatment that was rendered and specifically asking if the attending physician adequately responded to their need for alleviating their pain. As a result, these doctors frequently prescribe powerful pain medication when it may not be necessary. When this occurs, patients should question the need of such prescriptions. PARENTS play an extremely vital role in protecting their children from prescription drug abuse. When a child has dental surgery or suffers from a sports related injury, dentists and other doctors all too often prescribe strong opiod medications when perhaps something less potent and addictive such as Ibuprofen would suffice. They also frequently prescribe 30 or more doses when perhaps only 7 to 15 doses should be adequate to get the patient through the period of intense pain. These situations should always be questioned, especially when the patient is a young person. Parents should secure current medications in their home (regardless of who it is intended for) and talk to their children about the dangers of abusing or misusing these drugs. Parents need to help their children understand that just because they are legal, they are not harmless. Parents should

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familiarize themselves with the warning signs of drug abuse and intervene early when signs of abuse are present. Just as one would seek professional advice for other medical conditions, parents should seek out the advice and assistance of substance abuse professionals immediately when they suspect a child is abusing drugs â&#x20AC;&#x201C; illegal or legal. Parents should also ensure that all old medications are safely disposed by either dropping them off at legally sanctioned prescription drop off stations (frequently located at police stations) or grinding them up in cat litter or dirt before placing them in the trash. Medications should never be flushed down the toilet or drains and should never be left sitting around the house after they have expired or are no longer needed. FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS play an important role in preventing prescription drug abuse also. We all should secure our medications at all times. Obviously, for safety reasons they should be kept out of the reach of small children who might ingest them without understanding the danger. But, meds should also be kept away from older children who might be tempted to steal them for purposes of getting high. Even when you do not have children living in your house, you should be concerned about visitors such as grandchildren, nieces, nephews, children of friends, and neighbors. And, of course, there are the adults who come into your house that may be looking for opportunities to feed their addiction â&#x20AC;&#x201C; relatives, repairmen, friends, and neighbors. We all should remember that it is illegal and potentially dangerous to share our medication with others for any reason. We should make sure that all of our family members understand why sharing medication is wrong and can be harmful. Friends and family members are typically the first to recognize when an individual has developed a problem with drugs and can play a crucial role in conducting or arranging a supportive intervention with treatment options for any loved one that might need help. The signs of prescription drug abuse are similar to those of abuse of other drugs: dramatic changes in behavior; abrupt mood swings; personality instability; continued use; dramatic changes in appearance; excessive over the counter medicine use; always looking for money; family and friends missing money; escalating problems at school or work; neglecting responsibilities; problems with law enforcement; and abandoning favorite activities â&#x20AC;&#x201C; just to name a few. The sad thing is that by the time enough of these indicators become obvious to the average person, the individual typically is pretty far along in their addiction. LAWMAKERS can also be a part of the solution to this

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tragic problem of prescription drug abuse. They can pass laws and allocate funding to implement secure prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs) that track patient prescriptions to ensure multiple prescriptions for the same condition are not being obtained from different doctors. Currently, at least 35 states have operational PDMPs and 11 additional states and 1 U.S. territory have passed legislation authorizing the development of a program. Because all states do not have PDMPs and because data sharing and interoperability between states has not been implemented, the full benefit of PDMPs has not been realized but, this is a goal worthy of pursuit. Laws can and are being passed to require doctors to purchase secure prescription pads or to utilize secure online prescribing to deter prescription pad thefts and forgeries. Regulations and prescribing guidelines can and should also be implemented to tighten down on the operations of pain clinics. A logical requirement would be to prohibit physicians in most settings from dispensing addictive pain meds.

Another effective measure that can be taken is to track the type and quantity of drugs that pharmacies buy from wholesale distributors. And last, but certainly not least, efforts should be undertaken to better regulate online pharmacies to both reduce abuses and protect innocent customers from doing business with criminals who are producing poison in a bathtub and selling it disguised as a legitimate medicine. Requiring online pharmacies to be certified and requiring them to post their certification number which is routinely monitored by officials would help this situation. Clearly, no one action will fix this enormous problem that we face with prescription drug abuse but, if we all do our part, we can save one life at a time. I’m tired of being confronted on a regular basis by ordinary people who are heartbroken over the death of loved ones or struggling to save the lives of loved ones who are hooked on prescriptions and just cannot seem to get and stay sober. I’m tired of crying with them and wringing my hands and being unable to Continued on next page

Selected Prescription Drugs With Potential for Abuse Visit NIDA at www.drugabuse.gov Substances: Category and Name Depressants barbiturates benzodiazepines (other than flunitrazepam) flunitrazepam*** +

DEA Schedule*/ How Administered**

Examples of Commercial and Street Names Amytal, Nembutal, Seconal, Phenobarbital; barbs, reds, red birds, phennies, tooies, yellows, yellow jackets Ativan, Halcion, Librium, Valium, Xanax; candy, downers, sleeping pills, tranks

IV/swallowed

Rohypnol; forget-me pill, Mexican Valium, R2, Roche, roofies, roofinol, rope, rophies

IV/swallowed, snorted

Dissociative Anesthetics ketamine Ketalar SV; cat Valium, K, Special K, vitamin K

cocaine methamphetamine

Biphetamine, Dexedrine; bennies, black beauties, crosses, hearts, LA turnaround, speed, truck drivers, uppers Cocaine hydrochloride; blow, bump, C, candy, Charlie, coke, crack, flake, rock, snow, toot Desoxyn; chalk, crank, crystal, fire, glass, go fast, ice, meth, speed

methylphenidate

Ritalin; JIF, MPH, R-ball, Skippy, the smart drug, vitamin R

Other Compounds anabolic steroids

Anadrol, Oxandrin, Durabolin, Depo-Testosterone, Equipoise; roids, juice

II, III, V/injected, swallowed

III/injected, snorted, smoked

Opioids and Morphine Derivatives codeine Empirin with Codeine, Fiorinal with Codeine, Robitussin A-C, Tylenol with Codeine; Captain Cody, Cody, schoolboy; (with glutethimide) doors & fours, loads, pancakes and syrup fentanyl Actiq, Duragesic, Sublimaze; Apache, China girl, China white, dance fever, friend, goodfella, jackpot, murder 8, TNT, Tango and Cash morphine Roxanol, Duramorph; M, Miss Emma, monkey, white stuff opium laudanum, paregoric; big O, black stuff, block, gum, hop other opioid pain Tylox, OxyContin, Percodan, Percocet; oxy 80s, oxycotton, oxycet, hillbilly heroin, percs relievers (oxycodone, Demerol, meperidine hydrochloride; demmies, pain killer meperidine, Dilaudid; juice, dillies hydromorphone, Vicodin, Lortab, Lorcet; Darvon, Darvocet hydrocodone, propoxyphene) Stimulants amphetamines

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services National Institutes of Health

II, III, IV/injected, swallowed II/injected, smoked, snorted

Intoxication Effects / Potential Health Consequences reduced pain and anxiety; feeling of well-being; lowered inhibitions; slowed pulse and breathing; lowered blood pressure; poor concentration / confusion, fatigue; impaired coordination, memory, judgment; respiratory depression and arrest, addiction Also, for barbiturates—sedation, drowsiness / depression, unusual excitement, fever, irritability, poor judgment, slurred speech, dizziness for benzodiazepines—sedation, drowsiness / dizziness for flunitrazepam—visual and gastrointestinal disturbances, urinary retention, memory loss for the time under the drug’s effects increased heart rate and blood pressure, impaired motor function / memory loss; numbness; nausea / vomiting Also, for ketamine—at high doses, delirium, depression, respiratory depression and arrest pain relief, euphoria, drowsiness / respiratory depression and arrest, nausea, confusion, constipation, sedation, unconsciousness, coma, tolerance, addiction Also, for codeine—less analgesia, sedation, and respiratory depression than morphine

II, III/injected, swallowed, smoked II, III, V/swallowed, smoked II, III, IV/swallowed, injected, suppositories, chewed, crushed, snorted

II/injected, swallowed, smoked, snorted II/injected, smoked, snorted II/injected, swallowed, smoked, snorted II/injected, swallowed, snorted

III/injected, swallowed, applied to skin

increased heart rate, blood pressure, metabolism; feelings of exhilaration, energy, increased mental alertness / rapid or irregular heart beat; reduced appetite, weight loss, heart failure Also, for amphetamines—rapid breathing; hallucinations/ tremor, loss of coordination; irritability, anxiousness, restlessness, delirium, panic, paranoia, impulsive behavior, aggressiveness, tolerance, addiction for cocaine—increased temperature / chest pain, respiratory failure, nausea, abdominal pain, strokes, seizures, headaches, malnutrition for methamphetamine—aggression, violence, psychotic behavior / memory loss, cardiac and neurological damage; impaired memory and learning, tolerance, addiction for methylphenidate—increase or decrease in blood pressure, psychotic episodes / digestive problems, loss of appetite, weight loss no intoxication effects / hypertension, blood clotting and cholesterol changes, liver cysts and cancer, kidney cancer, hostility and aggression, acne; adolescents, premature stoppage of growth; in males, prostate cancer, reduced sperm production, shrunken testicles, breast enlargement; in females, menstrual irregularities, development of beard and other masculine characteristics

*Schedule I and II drugs have a high potential for abuse. They require greater storage security and have a quota on manufacturing, among other restrictions. Schedule I drugs are available for research only and have no approved medical use; Schedule II drugs are available only by prescription (unrefillable) and require a form for ordering. Schedule III and IV drugs are available by prescription, may have five refills in 6 months, and may be ordered orally. Most Schedule V drugs are available over the counter. **Taking drugs by injection can increase the risk of infection through needle contamination with staphylococci, HIV, hepatitis, and other organisms. ***Associated with sexual assaults. + Not available by prescription in U.S.

Printed September 2002, Revised April 2005

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Continued from previous page wave the magic wand to fix the problem. We must do more to prevent the problem from ever occurring. Addiction and deaths due to prescription drug abuse happen every day and happen to ordinary law-abiding citizens as well as the “bad” guys. No one, no family is immune. It is my problem and it is your problem! In closing, I want to point out that for the past couple of years, I have watched the growing abuse of prescription drugs and have worried that as we tighten down on this issue and make it more difficult for people to illegally obtain opiod prescriptions and to abuse them, we can expect to see many of thosea who are addicted switch over to heroin. As more and more states implement PDMPs, mandate secure prescribing, and regulate pain clinics, heroin will become a much easier drug to obtain than the prescriptions. Already we are seeing signs of increases in heroin use around the country. I feel the sands shifting under us and the potential for a heroin epidemic blowing our way!

We need your help to battle this epidemic. Here is what you can do: • Visit www.dfaf.org to learn more about the issue. • Join Save Our Society at www.saveoursociety.org to stay informed. • Communicate with your lawmakers; let them know that this is a problem that must be solved. • Talk with family members about the issues to prevent and to intervene when needed. • Dispose of old meds properly. • Lock up your meds. Search

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Save Our Society From Drugs (S.O.S.) is a 501(c)(4) national to establishing, promoting, and enabling sound drug laws and policies that will reduce illegal drug Login or register to post Save Our Society From Drugs (S.O.S.) is a 501(c)(4) national nonprofit organization committed to comments More use, drug addiction andsound drug-related illness death. Ouruse,purpose is to help Read Americans defeat establishing, promoting, and enabling drug laws and policies that and will reduce illegal drug drug addiction and drug-related illness and death. Our purpose is to help Americans defeat ballot ballot initiatives, statutory proposals and other attempts to “medicalize” unsafe, ineffective and initiatives, statutory proposals and other attempts to “medicalize” unsafe, ineffective and Legislative Report unapproved drugs such as marijuana, and crack cocaine. unapproved drugs such heroin, as marijuana, heroin, and crack cocaine. MORE We work educate our lawmakers activate grassroots anti-drug coalitions to combat grassroots anti-drug coalitions to Weto work tonation’s educate ourandnation’s lawmakers and activate drugs and the effects of drug use on our communities. combat drugs and the effects of drug use on our communities. S.O.S. advocates for abstinence-based drug prevention and treatment, and supports student and S.O.S. fordrugabstinence-based drug prevention and treatment, and supports student and employee drug advocates testing efforts, and court programs. employee drug testing efforts, and drug court programs. Staff ABOUT US

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CREMATION SERVICE Pia Parris

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Renderings by Squared Design Lab

The 9/11 Memorial was dedicated on September 11, 2011 the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks in a ceremony for victims’ families. It opened to the public on September 12, 2011.

the News The “Tribute in Light” memorial is in remembrance of the events of September 11, 2001, in honor of the citizens who lost their lives in the World Trade Center attacks. The two towers of light are composed of two banks of high wattage spotlights that point straight up from a lot next to Ground Zero. The “Tribute in Light” memorial was first held in March 2002. This photo was taken from Liberty State Park, New Jersey on September11, 2006, the five-year anniversary of 9/11. USAF photo by Denise Gould.

www.911memorial.org

New memorial

OPENED 9/11/12

www.ncnarc.org

North Carolina Narcotics Enforcement Officerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Association P.O. Box 266 Elizabethtown, NC 28337

ncnarc.org

Presrt Std U.S. P osta ge PAID Duluth, MN Permit No. 1003

Getled! fi o r P If you are interested in how to get your agency profiled in the next magazine, please find my contact info on our website @ NCNARC.org In fairness we will try to alternate agencies from east to west.

Spring 2011 Conference in Carolina Beach