Three commonly abused substances and their effects
It is with no doubt that a sizable number of people engage themselves in illicit utilization of substance for both personal and commercial use. The most frequently abused substances are cocaine, heroin and PhenylCyclohexylPiperidine (shortened as PCP). These substances normally have different business and street names depending on location. It is also important to note that the names could vary from one location to another (Doweiko, 2006).
Cocaine is a type of a stimulant. It is usually introduced directly into the blood system through needle jabs. It can also be rolled up with tobacco or alone as a type of a cigarette. Similarly it can be inhaled in its dust form. The short term effects include the following: an abnormal rise in body temperature, an amplified heart beat pace, metabolism and elevated blood pressure. However, the good effects are momentous upshot in moods, rejuvenated vigor as well as improved mental attentiveness. On the negative side, it could cause chest and intestinal pains, cardiac arrests, reduced desire for food as well as stroke. These effects vary from one user to the next (Doweiko, 2006).
Administration of cocaine is another problem area. Particularly, the injection mean has raised a number of concerns among health experts because most abusers tend to share needles. This on its own is a predisposition to other human diseases like HIV/AIDS. It should also be noted that even if these effects are evident in the immediate time, prolonged use of cocaine become addictive. If a user is not able to raise money to purchase the subsequent intake, the next logical step is to meet this end, the means notwithstanding. Some steal while others threaten people for money.
Heroin is a type of a morphine family drug. It is one of the most scarce and expensive drugs in the world. In many countries, its use by individuals is illegal so is its distribution. Usually, it can be injected to the blood system, inhaled or smoked just like cocaine. Its immediate meditative results include temporary pain liberation ability and feelings of elation. On the other hand, it hampers the functions of the respiratory system as well as causing gastronomic upsets. Similarly, it could cause heightened bewilderment, extreme forbearance to pain and occasional loss of consciousness. The major concern about heroin as far as crime is concerned is its proliferation, distribution or trafficking and associated issues like tax evasions and gun running (Carpentier
PCP is another regularly abused substance. Though it widely used in the medical field for anesthetic purposes for surgery, it has found its way to the streets and drug lords consider dabbling in it a worthwhile venture. It was most famous in the 1970’s but it is still widely available albeit in different forms. In its liquid form, PCP can be introduced into the blood system through intravenous inoculation while the tablet forms are ingested or smoked. Just like cocaine and heroin, its short term results are a rise in both the heart pace but blood pressure could either go high or low. Additionally, PCP has reportedly been associated with bizarre violent behavior amongst its users. There is also a tendency of the users to succumb to gloominess and intermittent memory lapses.
A situation where a crime was committed by a person under the influence of cocaine
Before we take an in depth look at some situations, it would be prudent to differentiate between two types of drug related crimes. There are instances of drug-related crimes and psychopharmacological crimes. In the latter, a crime is committed by an individual under the control of some drug(s) while in the former a drug could cause a crime to be committed or a crime could lead to drug use (Carpentier, 2007).
A remarkable situation in which a crime was committed by a person under the influence of cocaine was in the case of Leonel Marin Torres. Torres is a Cuban citizen who resided in Seattle before he was handed an incarceration of sixteen years in 2nd of March this year for having cocaine in his custody and acting offensively under the its influence. Torres was immediately detained when a woman notified the police after he decided to stay in her house against her will. It was also found out that he had beforehand put her in danger by sticking a gun to her torso. He was also guilty of other crimes.
The prosecutor asked the court to hand Torres a long term since he was not only a drug buff but a criminal who hunted other addicts and molested them. To make sure he succeeded, he targeted the defenseless in the society and coerced them to get whatever he desired as well as perpetuating terror on them.
A situation where a person is mostly responsible for the crime
Florencio Villa-Cruz was imprisoned for a decade on 11th June this year in a Seattle court for scheme to dispensing cocaine. According to the prosecution team, Villa-Cruz was an operative engaged with a bigger trafficking network. When he was taken into custody, he was found with over a pound of cocaine, other undisclosed mass of PCP and over 56,000 dollars in currency in all his homes (Durkan, 2010).
He was reportedly said to be an experienced trafficker and had been deported back to his native Mexico but somehow managed to get back to the United States where unperturbed, he kept on dabbling in drugs.
References
Carpentier, C. (2007). Drugs in focus. sLisbon: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities. Web.
Durkan, J. A. (2010). Renton Resident Sentenced to Ten Years in Prison for Cocaine Trafficking. Western District, Washington: U.S. Department of Justice. Web.
Durkan, J. A. (2010). Repeat Offender Sentenced to 16 Years in Prison for Drug and Gun Crimes. Western District, Washington: U.S. Department of Justice. Web.
Doweiko, H. E. (2006). Concepts of chemical dependency. 6th Ed. New York: Cengage Learning.