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Heroin Makes a Comeback

Price falls, availability surges for drug

By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 5, 2009 5:00 PM CDT
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(Newser) – The last 2 weeks have seen authorities seize huge amounts of heroin across the country—a combined 510 pounds in California, plus 17 more in New York. The drug hasn't been this readily available since the 1970s, reports the Christian Science Monitor, and authorities are worried because today's version is cheaper, more potent, and ending up in the hands of younger users.

"One thing with higher purity is that kids can get hooked much faster," says a drug enforcement official in California. Most of the heroin in the US comes from Mexico, with an ounce going for $250, down from $800 a decade ago. Adding to the problem: a powdered form is now available to snort for those who want to avoid needles.

A needle found on the streets of San Francisco.
A needle found on the streets of San Francisco.   (©permanently scatterbrained)
This photo taken in Dallas on Feb. 11, 2006 and released by the Dallas Independent School District Police Dept. shows cheese herion wrapped in school notebook paper.
This photo taken in Dallas on Feb. 11, 2006 and released by the Dallas Independent School District Police Dept. shows cheese herion wrapped in school notebook paper.   (AP Photo/Dallas Independent School Districe Police Dept., Jeremy Liebbe)
A heroin addict holds a used syringe in his mouth after shooting up in an abandoned lot in San Juan, Friday, July 31, 2009.
A heroin addict holds a used syringe in his mouth after shooting up in an abandoned lot in San Juan, Friday, July 31, 2009.   (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 30 comments
WallyEFunk
Aug 7, 2009 12:15 PM CDT
When herion was first stopped in the 1900's it was taxed heavly, from what I understand. On a side note LOOKING for any info on such. I found this which makes an argument ( from http://www.druglibrary.org/sch... ), I think one answer to this is to look at the right of privacy which is protected by the 9th Amendment and extended to the states by the 14th. The right has been invoked to protect privacy in such areas as family planning -- birth control -- and, at least so far, the right of privacy seems to be protecting a woman's choice whether or not to have an abortion. Furthermore, this same right should apply in matters involving an individual's decision to consume, privately, a recreational drug in his or her home. MMMmmm my own home do what I want , that only effects me. Radical thinking....
pg13
Aug 7, 2009 9:50 AM CDT
Snort heroin? No way! I don't want to end up like Uma Thurman, with a needle in my chest. Better to smoke it, like they did in "Traffic". /I get all my drug info from hollywood.
DaytonAve.
Aug 6, 2009 11:24 AM CDT
Your right I should invest in Jesus so I can be a cool headed rational thinker like you. HAHAHAHAHA what a fucking joke

 
California • War on Drugs • New York • heroin • overdose • opiates • narcotics

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