| THE DREAM SELLING SHOPS 17/02/2010 |
| Last updated: 2010-02-18 13:27 EET |
The phenomenon flourished, that is, until the media and civil society became better informed about the increasing numbers of consumers of these kinds of substances. Many of these substances have no botanical basis and are not natural at all, as psychiatrist Eugen Hriscu explains:
“We are actually talking about hallucinogenic substances, newly synthesised drugs and those derived from common drugs such as cannabis and amphetamine. They have been slightly modified in order to dodge the prohibited substance list and make it onto the legal market.’’
These drugs include Special Gold, which has been sold as ‘’bath salts’’ in the head shops and on the internet. Adrian is a young heroin addict. He has also used Special Gold and talks about its price and effects:
‘’A 25-gram sachet cost 50 lei at the beginning. Then the price started to go down. A sachet now sells for 30 lei. After taking this drug, you get in the mood for chatting, walking and looking for company. It’s not that much fun if you’re on your own. But this state is short-lived, it lasts about 15 to 20 minutes. I would then start to feel irritated and depressed. I had to run around to get money and buy some more.’’
Adrian resorted to the Integrated Addiction Assistance Center in the Obregia Hospital in Bucharest where psychiatrist Eugen Hirscu works. He was given methadone treatment in order to curb the drugs’ devastating effects:
“Addiction to Special Gold is more pronounced and more damaging than cocaine. There are people who had given up heroin, but when Special Gold appeared on the market they actually preferred it to heroin. They thought it was better. I wouldn’t know, because I used to take it along with heroin.’’
Of the approximately 200 drug addicts registered at the Integrated Addiction Assistance Center, about 50 to 60% have admitted to having used such substances, either on their own or in combination with other drugs. The effects noted by doctors confirm the description made by Adrian. Psychiatrist Eugen Hriscu has more:
‘’These amphetamine increase metabolism activity, giving way to feelings intense euphoria. The person taking it has the feeling that he or she is able to do many things and feels very close to other people. The problem is these states last between an hour and an hour and a half, and come to an abrupt end. As a result, the consumer feels the need to continue taking the substance so as to avoid the deep depression that follows the disappearance of these substances. In the medium run, the consumer loses weight, which can be accompanied by psychiatric disorders, such as depression, anxiety and hallucinations. It is hard to tell what happens in the long run, since these are newly introduced drugs.’’
A number of deaths are believed to have been caused by these substances, but for the time being there is no forensic evidence in Romania to prove this hypothesis.
How could such dangerous substances be sold legally? The authorities and specialists say that obtaining hallucinogenic substances through chemical synthesis is typical for the drug market. Robert Ancuceanu, the vice president of the National Agency for Medicines, explains:
“It happens everywhere in the world. A list of banned substances was last created in Romania in 2005. Afterwards, people turned to substances that were not banned. So new synthetic substances were created, which at that time were unheard of in Romania. Many of these substances were brought from abroad.”
The list of forbidden substances has not been updated since 2005, but the authorities have their explanations ready. Robert Ancuceanu:
“The 2005 law stipulated that the updating of the list be made at the recommendation of European and international bodies. However, right now we are facing a local phenomena for which there were no such international recommendations. We took the opportunity to include the specification that a possible change in the list be made at the recommendation of the Health Ministry, even when the European recommendations were not yet made.”
Last week the government adopted an emergency ordinance, banning 36 plants and substances that were included in the drugs category. Through this ordinance, people are banned from possessing or selling 27 substances and plants with hallucinatory effects. Yet all these measures might come a bit too late. “Head Shops” already have developed a customer base hoping to satisfy their cravings, illegally, or otherwise.
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2010-09-06
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