Fact Sheet (2002) Amphetamine and Ecstasy Use in the Caribbean Region
What are amphetamines and others. Its adverse consequences ecstasy? comprise fatigue, anxiety, restlessness, nausea and a rise in Amphetamines are addictive blood pressure. stimulants that dramatically affect the central nervous system. Large doses of MDMA can lead to Amphetamines are a class of drugs, hyperthermia, dehydration, urinary that in chemical terms, are closely retention, seizures, strokes, heart related to each other. This family attacks, cardiac arrythmias, of drugs includes amphetamines paranoia and hallucinations. sulfate, dexamphetamines and methamphetamine. Long-term effects
The principal active ingredient in Continued use of Amphetamines Ecstasy is MDMA (3-4 methyl- leads to the development of enedioxymethamphetamine) physical dependence. MDMA also is a synthetic, psychoactive drug with both Long-term effects of amphetamines stimulant (amphetamine-like) and comprise disorientation, apathy, hallucinogenic (LSD-like) prop- exhaustion, strong psychological erties. The most common street dependence and with continued name for MDMA is ecstasy, XTC. use, a state similar to paranoid psychosis may develop. Short-term effects The long-term effects of MDMA are Amphetamines work by stimulating difficult to identify as Ecstasy the release of various neuro- tablets are often adulterated with a transmitters (dopamine, range of psychoactive substances. noradrenaline and serotonin). They boost the central nervous system Although physical dependence on activity leading to an increase in MDMA does not seem to develop, physical activity, heart rate, blood physical dependence on the other pressure and body temperature substances contained in Ecstasy and decreased appetite. They tablets (e.g. amphetamines) may cause feeling of euphoria, well- occur. being and confidence in users. There are concerns that MDMA (ecstasy) may have toxic effects on Similar to amphetamines, the the brain and other organ tissue in sought-after effects of ecstasy are users. increased physical energy. In addition, users experience the feeling of emotional closeness to
Supported by the UNDCP Global Assessment Programme on Drug Abuse (GAP). 1 For further information visit the GAP website at www.undcp.org, email [email protected] or contact: Demand Reduction Section, UNDCP, P.O. Box 500, A- 1400 Vienna, Austria. Mode of administration age 12- 20 years in the Dominican Republic (2000) 1.2% used ecstasy Different types of amphetamines in their lifetime and 1% lifetime can be administered via snorting, use was reported among students smoking, swallowing and injections. aged 12-18 years in Aruba (2001). In the Cayman Islands, 1.6% Ecstasy is available in tablet form among 16-year olds in the Cayman and administered via swallowing. Islands used ecstasy in their life (2000). Demand of amphetamines and ecstasy in the Caribbean More research needed
Although there are only a few Due to the fact that amphetamines systematic measures of the belong to a family of different consumption of ecstasy and types of drugs, which have amphetamine use in the Caribbean different addictive potential, further region as expressed in lifetime use research should investigate what among school children, there is a type of amphetamines youths are growing concern of its spread in taking. the region nurtured by recent findings from surveys and data Supply of amphetamines and from law enforcement agencies. ecstasy in the Caribbean
Several surveys showed that In addition to drug demand data, amphetamines are used among indicators of supply from law young people in the Caribbean. In enforcement agencies also the Cayman Islands 2.3% (2000) contribute to the growing concern of students aged 12-18 years that ecstasy will enter the local reported lifetime use of “ice” markets in Caribbean countries. (crystal methamphetamine). In Jamaica, a study among post According to the Central Police primary students showed that Department in Aruba, the most 3.4% of eleventh graders have (at significant trend over the last few least once) used amphetamines years has been the increase of (prescribed and non-prescribed) in confiscated ecstasy tablets. In their lifetime (1997). The highest 2001, 58,795 ecstasy tablets were prevalence was found in a study seized among aircraft passengers among street children in Haiti arriving and departing from Aruba. (2000). Last month prevalence Another factor that may contribute rates were 9.5% among all street to its spread to the local market in children age 11-19 years and Aruba is its price. While in the US among those aged 15-18 years last an ecstasy tablet is sold for 25 month prevalence was estimated at US$, consumers in Aruba can 11.7%. purchase a table for 25 Florine Lifetime use of ecstasy in the (14.4 US$). Caribbean ranges from 1-2% For example, among school students
Supported by the UNDCP Global Assessment Programme on Drug Abuse (GAP). 2 For further information visit the GAP website at www.undcp.org, email [email protected] or contact: Demand Reduction Section, UNDCP, P.O. Box 500, A- 1400 Vienna, Austria. Similar, data from law enforcement first known MDMA laboratory. The agencies in Curacao show that in trafficking organization responsible 2000, 39.294 tablets containing for this laboratory had a ecstasy were seized. distribution network throughout In 2000 the local police in Jamaica Colombia, as well as in Mexico and made the first reported seizure of in Miami, Florida. According to the ecstasy tablets (5,070 in total). DAS, this trafficking organization Despite the fact that such figures was able to manufacture 3,000 could be misleading as a guide to tablets every eight days. Since then the level of increasing local usage other laboratories were detected in as the tablets were about to be Colombia, the last one in May exported, there is evidence that the 2002. drug is also used locally, especially at uptown “rave parties” and night clubs (The Jamaica Gleaner Summary (Thursday February 14, 2002). Although the Caribbean is at Other countries where ecstasy was present not experiencing an seized in 2000/2001 include epidemic of amphetamines and Bermuda, the Bahamas, Cuba, the ecstasy use as seen in the United British Virgin Islands, the Cayman States and Europe, stimulants are Islands, the Dominican Republic, posing an increased danger Puerto Rico, Guadeloupe, Guyana, because they are gaining popularity and Suriname (CCM, Illicit Drug among teenagers in the Caribbean Trends Reports 2000/2001). as revealed in recent drug surveys. In addition, stimulants of this The origin of ecstasy tablets nature are increasingly available destined for the US market is due to the fact that trafficking thought to be Europe. Due to a routes originating in Europe are strong air traffic link between passing through the Caribbean and Aruba and the Netherlands Antilles the increased possibility of tablets these countries seem especially that were produced in South destined as trafficking points for America (i.e. Colombia). Availability ecstasy entering the U.S. of the drugs combined with Amphetamines are relatively simple increasing popularity may very to produce which might enable new likely reinforce local markets and clandestine laboratory operators to thus pose a new threat to start activities in this field. Of Caribbean youth. particular concern are newly discovered illegal laboratories for For further information please the production of synthetic drugs, contact: including ecstasy in Colombia that United Nations International Drug will very likely increase the Control Programme (UNDCP), availability of amphetamine and Regional Office, Barbados; ecstasy in the Caribbean. In Telephone: (246) 429 2521; February 1999, the Department of Facsimile: (246) 437 8499 Administrative Security (DAS) in Cali (Colombia) seized Colombia's Supported by the UNDCP Global Assessment Programme on Drug Abuse (GAP). 3 For further information visit the GAP website at www.undcp.org, email [email protected] or contact: Demand Reduction Section, UNDCP, P.O. Box 500, A- 1400 Vienna, Austria.
In February 1999, the Department of Administrative Security (DAS) in Cali seized Colombia's only known MDMA laboratory. The trafficking organization responsible for this laboratory reportedly had a distribution network throughout Colombia, as well as in Mexico and in Miami, Florida. According to the DAs, this trafficking organization was able to manufacture 3,000 tablets every eight days and to sell each tablet on the black market for the equivalent of US$23. This may denote an experimentation phase of MDMA production in Colombia. On August 17, 2000, British authorities seized a parcel containing 3,900 MDMA tablets at Heathrow International Airport. The parcel arrived on a British Airlines flight from Bogota, Colombia. Each pill contained 18% MDMA, which is lower purity than a typical MDMA pill. It has not been confirmed at this time if the MDMA was produced in Colombia.
Sección: INFORMACION GENERAL Publicación: BOGOTA
Sábado 1 de Junio de 2002 En una operación conjunta de la Policía Nacional, el FBI y la DEA fueron incautadas más de 120.000 pastillas de la droga sintética éxtasis.
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Supported by the UNDCP Global Assessment Programme on Drug Abuse (GAP). 4 For further information visit the GAP website at www.undcp.org, email [email protected] or contact: Demand Reduction Section, UNDCP, P.O. Box 500, A- 1400 Vienna, Austria.