Sunday, May 11, 2008

Law Enforcement Career Inside The Meth Epidemic - What Every Police Officer Should Know

By: Josh Stone

Ask almost any law enforcement officer what drug is the most troublesome for their job, and they'll most likely respond "methamphetamine". Marijuana, cocaine, and heroin all have to be grown, and for the most part are imported. Most of the heroin control starts at the border, before it ever reaches the police officer's beat. But methamphetamine is synthetic, derived from cooking industrial chemicals, and so it comes from... almost anywhere.

Meth addiction starts out similar to cocaine. The addict is looking for an "upper", a powerful stimulant. It is regularly available everywhere, so it isn't hard to find. Typically, the "rocks" of methamphetamine are chopped into a powder and aspirated through a straw similar to cocaine. But the high sensation starts immediately, within seconds of dosage, and lasts for days.

Of all drugs, perhaps meth has the strongest withdrawal period, a potent post-high letdown. The after affects are a potent depression and paranoia, a dangerous mix that leaves the addict in a volatile, violent state similar to PCP. The only recovery for it is to re-dose with meth again, which will produce another high not quite as peaked, but with a post-high letdown twice as bad. And so on. Generally, an addict who has been "up" on meth qualifies as a violent psychopath, pure and simple.

The effects of a meth buzz have a number of physiological effects. Chief among them is the inability to sleep while on it. It is nothing for the addict to stay awake for an entire week, which is called a "run". Another factor is loss of appetite. Meth and the ingredients of many over-the-counter appetite suppressants in fact have some chemical roots in common. A meth addict on a run will even gag if they try to force themselves to eat. Because of this effect, women who are sensitive to their weight and would be prone to anorexia anyway are especially susceptible to psychological addiction.

Another side effect is "cotton mouth", the exceeding dryness of the salivary glands. A meth user on a run will be constantly drinking a beverage, but since they have little taste, they will constantly pick sugary drinks as the only thing palatable. As a result, dental decay is so common among meth users that the condition of having many advanced cavities at once is often called "meth mouth".

The psychological effects of the high are tremendous. A meth dosage essentially showers the brain with dopamine, norepinephrine, serotonin, and adrenalin all at the same time, resulting in a euphoric state of hyper-excitement.

Addicts under the influence will talk rapidly, have uncontainable energy, and will sometimes become instantly obsessive and compulsive. It is common for a meth addict on a run to start some ambitious task, such as remodeling their house or re-assembling their car, only to be unable to finish the job when they come down three days later. More likely, they will strike out on some kind of quest-like pursuit, obsessing on that task and nothing else. Sometimes the motivations for this will be a paranoid, delusional fantasy.

The street slang: Meth itself goes most frequently by the names of 'crystal', 'meth', 'speed', 'crank', and 'go-fast'. Quantities are most frequently an '8-ball' (an eighth of an ounce, the price of which is the scale for all transactions), a 'baggie' or 'bag' (whatever the amount you can get for $20), and of course a 'line' or 'rail' (the amount dosed in one sitting). The addict who is on a run will be described as 'tweaked', 'sketching', or 'wired', and on the withdrawal side as 'coming down', 'burning', 'crashing', or 'spun'. Many other slang terms will be introduced by region and local dialect variations.

During the withdrawal state, the addict may experience suicidal depression, intense paranoid delusions, a sense of panic and desperation, hallucinations, and intense emotions. The addict might believe in highly fanciful conspiracy theories, be on the run from imaginary oppressors, have an elaborate revenge plot against someone they think has wronged them, might be convinced they've been kidnapped by a UFO, and so on. If relief is sought by redosing, it is important to note that the symptoms of withdrawal do not go away, but are merely masked by the new high.

The cycle repeats as many times as the addict can possibly lay their hands on the substance. When "crashing" finally occurs, the addict may sleep for as long as 48 hours, and hopefully eat a few hearty meals upon awakening before beginning another run.

Ephedrine and amphetamine is extracted from other drugs, most frequently cold remedies, cough syrup, and prescription drugs used to treat ADD. The process of 'cooking' meth is done in the famous 'meth labs', which are a smelly, flammable operation. Meth labs may be set up on-the-fly in a hotel room or car, or frequently located in a shack out in the desert away from prying eyes and curious noses. The volatile substances and the jerry-rigged nature of the cooking equipment (such as a hotplate), combined with the shaky nerves of the preparer as they repeatedly sample their own product, combine to make it extremely likely that a massive fire will start.

The impurity of the cooking process combined with the common practice of mixing in other chemicals to cut the potency of the mixture (and hence make more money selling it, referred to as 'stepping on it'), ensure that a large percentage of addicts will have significant health problems. Skin lesions, rashes, sores, ulcers, and a host of medical problems will afflict long-term addicts as the cocktails of random chemicals they've been ingesting literally eats them from the inside out.

This is only the beginning of the study of meth culture and its detrimental effects on society. The studious law enforcement professional is advised to get an in-depth working knowledge from the standard educational resources, and even if they don't deal with drug enforcement itself, awareness of the pervasiveness of the problem is always a good thing to have. You never know exactly where it will pop up, but the odds are good you will meet a few meth addicts before long if you work in any kind of law enforcement capacity.

Article Source: http://articles.directorygold.com


Freelance writer for over eleven years. Security Uniforms Formal Wear Uniform Scrubs

Immigration Law For The Kingdom Of Thailand

By: Wolfgang Jaegel

There are certain laws imposed by governments of various countries to the people who are immigrating. These laws are in common named as the Immigration Laws. The Immigration Law for the Kingdom of Thailand is a set of laws concerning the immigration of people across the globe in to the kingdom. It is to be understood by any person intending to travel to Thailand even if as a tourist. The Immigration Law for the Kingdom of Thailand is to be followed by each and every person and are liable to be legally questioned if found guilty of breaking any of the set of laws. Immigration applications are handled by Immigration Bureau of the Royal Thai Police Department, Ministry of Interior, according to the immigration act of 1979.

Most people who are planning for a vacation need not worry about the problems of having a visa and other such legal licenses. Except a few countries, all people from all over the world are allowed to be guests in the kingdom of Thailand. The Immigration law of Thailand allows a person to stay in Thailand without a visa for a period of about 30 days. This law is very much helpful for tourists as most tours do not exceed a time limit of 30 days. This avoids the strain of running for visas when we are planning for a vacation. An extended period of 15 days may also be approved by the government on applying for it in the immigration office. Thus tourists are saved from these complicated steps to be undergone for getting visas and all, by the government itself.

But if a person wants to stay in Thailand for a long period of time as a settler then he or she will have to clear out all the norms put forth by the government. The Immigration law for the Kingdom of Thailand imposes rigorous punishments upon immigrants leading up to extend of giving death sentences. Immigrants may be of many types such as tourists, visitor transit, non- quota immigrant, non immigrant, and immigrants. People must apply for a visa in order to stay at any country for a longer time. Visas are of many types such as Non immigrant visa, tourist visa, etc. Non immigrant visas are taken by people who have other motives for being in Thailand rather than being a tourist. Other relevant documents may also be needed for non immigrants.

As per the immigration law for the Kingdom of Thailand, any 'application' is considered just as a request for staying in Thailand on a temporary basis. An official staff advised by the Commissioner General of the Thailand police headquarters only has the right to provide permit to people for a temporary stay. As per the immigration law of Thailand, any person having a valid passport may apply for the visa and if the application is rejected, then he or she may ask for the reason and the official concerned will have to give satisfactory explanations. Then he or she can resubmit the application again. The Thai Government can provide extension for staying at Thailand but it must not exceed 30 days and within this period the person concerned must get a license to stay at Thailand.

For people who plan to migrate to Thailand for the purpose of business, jobs, etc, permission may be granted which will not exceed a time period of one year. In most of the cases such as enrollment in a government institution, office, family member of a resident family, etc, the period will never extend one year at a time.

There are many procedures to be followed while submitting the application and it need not be accepted even though almost all details given in the application are most perfect. Sometimes the officials may find out some problem in granting the permission. The rules laid by the immigration law of the Kingdom of Thailand are rather complicated and might seem to be confusing for outsiders. Most Thai officials try not to cause problems and so immigration to the kingdom of Thailand is considered much strain less. The Immigration Law of the Kingdom of Thailand provides one of the vast studies upon the rules imposed on immigration. It is to be studied by all people planning to immigrate to the kingdom.

Article Source: http://articles.directorygold.com


For nearly 30 years, Bamrung Suvicha Apisakdi Law Associates (BSA Law) has focused on providing reliable legal advice and services to the Thai and foreign business community in Thailand. We provide international standards of legal services while retaining the customs of the Thai business culture.

Tough California Dog Laws Means Your Dog Must Be Given Dog Training In California

By: Roland Parris Jefferson III

California is a state where strict laws are enforced to dog owners, making them liable for any damages created by the dog. This means if someone is bitten or property is damaged, dog owners can expect at the very least to pay a hefty fine. In many cases, if a person is bitten, the dog that is held responsible will no longer be allowed to live.

Because of very strict laws in California when it comes to owning a dog, it’s important to take steps in making sure you won’t end up being forced to deal with a tragedy your dog may create. It’s also important to keep in mind that any breed of dog can find themselves creating trouble, so whether you own a Golden Retreiver or a German Shepard, there are always risks that come with having them around other people and their property.

Your Dog Must Be Taught Not To Bite Others

With such laws in place, dog training in California is absolutely essential, and every dog must be taught how not to bite others. If an owner chooses to partake in obedience training with their dog, it’s the best thing they can do for the entire family.

If you wish to find a professional for dog training in California there are plenty of places to try out, and you can choose between dog training schools as well as having a trainer come to your home. The important thing is that whoever is hired must understand the value of your dog in relation to your home and should ensure that it is taught to live and behave like a responsible family member.

Dog training in California means touching on every aspect of training including products as well as services to keep the dog in good health as well as happy. It can also mean taking your pet to an agility class to learn to cope with new challenges, or helping it overcome the problem of nuisance barking, or even chewing things and destroying anything that comes into its mouth.

Dog training in California should be performed preferably by someone that has years of experience even if it is just simple obedience, Frisbee training, or puppy training. You may want to enroll your dog in a dog training group class that is taught one or more times a week so that your dog learns techniques as well as skills required for your dog to be transformed from an unruly canine into becoming an enjoyable member of the family.

You can put your young puppy into a puppy kindergarten, which is dog training California, for a low fee of fewer than seventy dollars. You can also find a dog training class for about seventy-five dollars for an eight-week course spanning five months of training. There are dog training classes in California, many available in different towns and cities. If you wish not to have to pay damages to persons affected by your dog and also wish for a well-behaved dog at home, you must check out the different dog training California resources before it is too late to train your dog.

Article Source: http://articles.directorygold.com


My name is Roland Parris Jefferson III and I'm an online publisher working out of Santa Monica, California. You can find the latest information and news on dog training by visiting my Dog Training Supplies Resource.

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