Drugs, Disparity, and the Untold Stories?

Drugs, Disparity, and the Untold Stories?

·                   We lost an Icon:

·                   The Movies will never be the same

·                   One of the best ever walked the stage

·                   He commanded the stage 

These are most of the stories that described his life:

Disparity: Shortly after the U.S. born, Actor, and Oscar winner, Phillip Seymour Hoffman premature death stemming from substance abuse.  The media   and his supporters mourned his death.  He was a great actor and even if you were not familiar with his work.

Crowd gathered in front of his home “How could this happen?” they asked.  It appeared that he was gunned down in front of his building such as John Lennon, former Beatles group member, and or robbed.    

 Two years earlier, February 2012, the country lost another star Whitney Houston of the music industry.  Here are some of the headlines posted in media circle

·                   We knew it was coming

·                   This was based on the life she lived

·                   She was out of control

·                   She refused treatment

·                   It was only a matter of time.

Some in the same media made it seemed as if she died in a shoot-out as an active member of a gang.

The underlying issues here is that the untold story surrounding substance often ended the same way if not treated despite how it is viewed by culture, race, and notoriety. This has been a major problem in the entertainment industry, it has been on a rise in the Caribbean region, and more attention is needed.

The Untold Stories: Often in the Caribbean region(s), when substance abuse is talked, more than likely, it faces rejections, scorned on the surface as taboo.  Sometimes it is simple lack of awareness, such as in the early stage of AIDS epidemic and the anti-gay sentiments. The only these issues gained traction when it finally reached home as close family and loves died from the disease

Illegal drugs are not a stranger to the Caribbean regions from the hillsides, in the small districts, to the hotels and down the beautiful rivers and on the white sands hovering the blue waters.  Furthermore, it has penetrated all genres of music, old & new from, Reggae, Soca, and Calypso, Rock, Pop, and others. Moreover, several songs have been recorded in support for continuous use of marijuana

Often when a popular Caribbean artist has been arrested, it is more than likely it occurred outside his or her native land.  Example: Buju Banton received a 10-year sentence after he was convicted for Cocaine trafficking. Sean Paul, Reggae Festival in Sweden one weekend in August 2008. Recently, Andrew Davis, aka Flippa Mafia, and previously Denroy Morgan,

We cannot blame it on Bob Marley’s notoriety of Reggae, Drug Rock, and Roll when his name is mentioned.  The new trends of several artists over the past 6 years are associated with new federal charges, and pending court case. What messages are they sending to the next generation?

I am not re-trying these cases and there are still disparities in sentencing laws especially in the U.S., and in some cases in the Caribbean where money can buy justice at a reasonable price on possession of illegal substances:  

Furthermore, we cannot ignore the religious aspect and the views that marijuana use is part of some rituals. In addition, the passing of new marijuana law in some States in the U.S. for limited use and medical purposes have given more credit to some of the user’s consciousness for acceptance. 

When entertainers are under the influence of drugs, especially in the Caribbean region, often the final analysis assumed that it is simple Marijuana. Although sometimes urinalysis reports are not made available to confirm what type of drug(s) used.  However, as someone who has worked alongside counselors, treatment providers, and in law enforcement, it is not a difficult task to have an understanding of the treatment modality that might be needed.

Some lawmakers throughout the Caribbean countries have begun to review some of its Marijuana policies; whether to make it legal, or reduce the criminal elements for small possession. Notwithstanding,  we still have to be informed that any exposure to marijuana at an early age, makes it more than likely that one  will  migrate to much harder substance such as  heroin, opiates, crack, cocaine, PCP, LSD and even prescription drugs.

Any form of illegal substance can alter one’s mental ability to perform. 

Several people before Whitney and Phillip died from exposure:  Jimi Hendricks used LSD, marijuana, speed, and sleeping pills.  The report stated that he died because of taking sleeping pills and alcohol, which later caused asphyxiation by his own vomit while sleeping.

It was well noted that late Singer, Gregory Isaacs have had issues with substance abuse before his death, and several others. What is sad, the taboo still lingers in the region as this issue continues to be top secret.

After Phillips Hoffman’s death, law enforcement took a relentless manhunt to capture the people, or should call them terrorist who sold him the drugs.  The last report I read three were arrested.  Today, I am asking, what happen to Whitney’s dealer and many others drug dealers who are still roaming the streets not in the U.S. alone but throughout the Caribbean?

Taking drug dealers off these streets and beaches are always good for the community safety. It reduces crime in general, and overall promotes healthier life style.   Equally important, what happen when the names are less known?

Far too often, our society only has a sense of sadness when it affects them personally.  The dealers who sold poor people Crack, Cocaine, PCP and Heroin and other illegal substances still lives in the same buildings on the beach, and back stage at major concerts.  

Some stars were fortunate to rebound from substance abuse issues, and were rehabilitated before it was too late.  We must treat entertainers who are addicts as they are, and not based on their socioeconomic status, how many hit songs they have, or their wealth.  I am not implying that we should leave them in a junk yard after they have passed or need.

What Are These Drugs:   Glen R. Hanson, Ph.D., D.D.S., the Acting Director, National Institute on Drug Abuse, NIH, U.S. H.H.S., provided testimony on February 25, 2002, that Cocaine, in any form, produces the same effects once it reaches the brain. It produces similar physiological and psychological effects, but the onset, intensity, and duration of its effects are related directly to the method of use and how rapidly cocaine enters the brain.

The intake process is the same, and it cuts across all color line.

 

Here is why drug has no color, sex, notional origin, race, gender, or type of music

According to Hanson, a drug user snorting powder cocaine begins to feel the high within 3-5 minutes, the blood level peaks at 10-20 minutes, and fades within 45-60 minutes.  Intravenous use, or injection – for which powder cocaine is also used – results in a cocaine “rush” within 30-45 seconds and the drug’s effects last for 10-20 minutes.  Inhalation, or smoking – i.e., using crack – produces the quickest and highest peak blood levels in the brain.  The user experiences the “high” within only 8-10 seconds.   There is no difference based on race:

These hard-core and schedule II drugs produces the same physiological and psychotropic effects on the brain.

We must move from the mindset of promoting one type of drug in this industry, and under the radar down play the use of crack, and cocaine and other illegal substances being used as if it is not dismantling in these communities.   There are plenty of addicts brazing stages, and the only start to rehabilitation is to take personal responsibility.

Imagine how many concerts would have been cancelled if we were to conduct a drug test screening before several artists grace the stages, and or, if being clean was the only approval to perform that day.

Finally, when we mourn our entertainers death stemming from substance abuse or related causes, we have to balance the approach, promote more education, cut the disparity in sentencing for first time offenders, and impose more treatment.

Let’s continue to dance together, and ensure that from Aruba to Trinidad and worldwide when these entertainers in our communities needs help, promoters, managers, and publicists must take responsibility to develop treatment plans before it it’s too late. Sometimes their estates generate more money after death, but a new album or movie is priceless.

About the Author

Derrick Miller holds a Bachelor of Science degree in economics and finance, an MBA degree in global management and a Master of Science in criminal justice & leadership. He has been a part law enforcement/criminal justice field for over 14 years.
 

 

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