The Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics (OBN) recently held a public forum in Poteau to discuss the drug problems facing Oklahomans.
Topics included the marijuana outlook, methamphetamine, heroin and prescription drug use.
According to Chief Woodward, who was one of the speakers at the forum, 20 years ago meth labs were the big deal but now meth is coming from Mexico because it has become more cost effective and we’re seeing very few meth labs.
According to Craig Williams with the Prescription Drug Diversion team, Oklahoma has seen a spike in heroin use caused by opioid and pain medicine addicts turning to street drugs to supplement their addiction.
OBN presented a flyer with information on Cocaine, Heroin and Methamphetamine.
The following is information from the flyer
What is cocaine?
• Cocaine is a powerfully addictive stimulant.
• Cocaine is made from the leaves of the coca plant native to South America.
• As a street drug, cocaine looks like a fine, white, crystal powder or in white rock form.
• Cocaine can be snorted, injected or smoked.
Long-Term Effects
Some long-term health effects of cocaine depend on the method of use and include the following:
• snorting: loss of smell, nosebleeds, frequent runny nose, and problems with swallowing
• smoking: cough, asthma, respiratory distress, and higher risk of infections like pneumonia
• consuming by mouth: severe bowel decay from reduced blood flow
• needle injection: higher risk for contracting HIV, hepatitis C, and other blood borne diseases, skin or soft tissue infections, as well as scarring or collapsed veins.
What is heroin?
• Heroin is an opioid drug
• Heroin is made from morphine, a natural substance taken from the seed pod of the various opium poppy plants grown in Southeast and Southwest Asia, Mexico, and Colombia.
Heroin can be a white or brown powder, or a black sticky substance known as black tar.
Heroin can be injected, snorted, or smoked
Long-Term Effects
People who use heroin over the long term may develop:
• insomnia
• collapsed veins for people who inject the drug
• damaged tissue inside the nose for people who sniff or snort it
• infection of the heart lining and valves
• abscesses (swollen tissue filled with pus)
• constipation and stomach cramping
• liver and kidney disease
• lung complications, including pneumonia
• mental disorders such as depression and antisocial personality disorder
What is methamphetamine?
• Methamphetamine is a stimulant.
• Methamphetamine is usually used as a white, bitter-tasting powder or a pill.
• Crystal methamphetamine is a form of the drug that looks like glass fragments or shiny, bluish-white rocks.
• Methamphetamine can be injected, snorted, ingested or smoked.
Long Term Effects
Long-term methamphetamine use has many negative consequences, including:
• extreme weight loss
• severe dental problems (“meth mouth”)
• intense itching, leading to skin sores from scratching
• anxiety
• confusion
• sleeping problems
• violent behavior
• paranoia-extreme and unreasonable distrust of others
• hallucinations-sensations and images that seem real though they aren’t
Source: National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
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