Pubdate: Wed, 18 Oct 2006
Source: Gainesville Sun, The (FL)
Copyright: 2006 The Gainesville Sun
Contact:  http://www.sunone.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/163
Author: Deborah Ball

UPTICK IN COCAINE DEATHS FOUND

After a Period of Decline, Cocaine Is Back.

University of Florida researchers said Tuesday that a  rise in 
cocaine-related deaths in wealthy communities  and college towns in 
Florida - including Gainesville -  could mean a recurring epidemic of abuse.

New data from UF and the Florida Department of Law  Enforcement shows 
that the number of cocaine deaths per  100,000 people in the state 
has nearly doubled in the  past five years, from 150 in 2000 to 
nearly 300 in  2005. The steepest per capita rise in death rates 
was  in college towns like Gainesville and Tallahassee and  wealthy, 
upper-class seaside communities, such as  Melbourne, West Palm Beach 
and the Florida Keys,  according to the data.

In the 8th Judicial Circuit, which includes Alachua,  Baker, 
Bradford, Gilchrist, Levy and Union counties,  medical examiners 
reported that cocaine-related deaths  jumped from 17 in 2000 to 48 in 2005.

What's happening in Florida isn't an isolated  phenomenon, said Dr. 
Mark Gold, a professor with the  UF's College of Medicine. Gold said 
Tuesday that the  data shows that the country is in the "early stages 
of  a new cocaine epidemic."

"With death reports, there is no fudge factor," Gold  said. "(The 
epidemic) is being led by the rich and  famous and students with 
large amounts of disposable  income and that is responsible for more 
emergency room  visits and more cocaine-related deaths than we have 
seen at any time since the last cocaine epidemic (in  the 1980s)."

Cocaine, which is derived from coca leaves in South  America, is a 
strong central nervous system stimulant  that is highly addictive, 
Gold said. The drug  constricts blood vessels and increases 
temperature,  heart rate and blood pressure. Cocaine can be smoked, 
snorted or injected in various forms.

For law enforcement, fighting cocaine use and  distribution has been 
an ongoing struggle.

Lt. Bart Knowles, commander of the Narcotics Unit at  the Gainesville 
Police Department, said cocaine is one  of the most abused, illicit 
drugs available.

"It affects everyone, every race, every socioeconomic  group and 
every gender," Knowles said.

"In a college town like Gainesville where there's a lot  of students, 
there's a significant demand that's always  in need of a supply. (For 
law enforcement), it's  overwhelming sometimes because so many people 
are using  drugs," Knowles said.

Researchers believe the resurgence in popularity of the  drug is due, 
in part, to its highly publicized use  among celebrities in the media 
such as runway models,  actors and athletes, Gold said.

"We have a celebrity-centric culture and people look to  celebrities 
for just about everything," Gold said.  "Cocaine and drug use is just 
another aspect of  celebritydom and (average) people see that there 
are  few consequences for them."

But for most people, there are consequences -  especially when it 
comes to the law, Knowles said.

"We'll eventually catch up with you," Knowles said of  cocaine and drug users.

"But stop for yourself and your family, not because  you're afraid of 
the law," Knowles said.
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