Pubdate: Thu, 12 May 2005
Source: Mission City Record (CN BC)
Copyright: 2005 The Mission City Record
Contact:  http://www.missioncityrecord.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1305
Author: Cheryl Wierda

DOCTOR ASKED ABOUT DRUG, ALCOHOL EFFECTS

Cocaine and alcohol mixed with a number of prescription drugs could
cause a real disturbance to the effect of the medication, impact the
body's "fight or flight" response, and lower the threshold for
seizures, said Dr. Sidney Katz.

A member of the pharmacology and toxicology faculty at the University
of British Columbia, Katz was called by defence lawyer Jim Heller to
testify at Jamie Kokotailo's murder trial in B.C. Supreme Court in New
Westminster Tuesday.

Katz was asked to give an opinion on the effect of various substances
presented in a hypothetical situation where a 38-year-old man did
lines from two "8 balls" of cocaine between Thursday and Sunday
afternoon at 4 p.m., drank two to three ounces of liquor on Saturday
night and another four ounces around 3:30 p.m. on Sunday. In addition,
the man took his daily dose of two tablets of tegretol, an
anti-convulsive used to treat epilepsy; one or two tablets of valproic
acid, used to treat seizures; two pills of atenolol, used to treat
high blood pressure and angina, and one pill of zocor, which is a
prescription drug used to treat cholesterol.

When asked about the effect of the various substances at 7:30 p.m. to
8:30 p.m. on Sunday night, Katz said the blood alcohol levels would
likely be below the legal limit and cocaine would still be present in
the blood, although it would not be at the peak level. The cocaine
could "obviate" the effect of prescription drugs and could increase
the incidence and severity of the side effects of the prescription
drugs, he said.

Under cross examination, Crown counsel Wendy Dawson pressed Katz for
the dosages of the drugs, which Katz felt was not relevant.
"Concentrations themselves don't matter," he said, stating that
knowing what the person was taking, whether the dosage is in the
appropriate range, and the effect of the drug is relevant.

Katz also said it is not always easy to detect if someone is under the
effect of cocaine.

Kokotailo, now 41, is accused of stabbing his wife, Lori, to death on
Sunday Dec. 1, 2002. Previous witnesses have been questioned about
whether Kokotailo appeared to be under the influence of cocaine that
weekend, and at least one of Lori's daughters saw Kokotailo drinking.

The trial continues. 
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