Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION
WRHA issues tainted cocaine warning
DAVID LIPNOWSKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS ARCHIVES Enlarge Image
Const. Jacqueline Chaput displays 7 kilograms of cocaine seized from an arrest last November.
The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority issued a warning this afternoon about tainted cocaine.
Two adults were recently hospitalized in Winnipeg after suffering from ‘neutropenia’ (also known as agranulocytosis), a serious illness that affects patients’ immune systems, leaving them unable to fight off infections.
In severe cases, if left untreated, the disease can be fatal, the WRHA said in a news release.
The health authority said it believes both patients, known cocaine users, became ill as a result of using cocaine adulterated with levamisole.
Dr. Pierre Plourde, WRHA Medical Officer of Health urged current users of cocaine and crack cocaine to stop or reduce use of the drug.
And he encouraged those who continue to use the drug to be vigilant for any signs of fever or infection. The range of potential infections caused by neutropenia includes wounds and sores (ulcers), bladder (urinary tract) or lung (pneumonia).
Levamisole is a drug used by veterinarians to rid animals of internal parasites, but is not used in humans. No one knows why it has been added to cocaine.
"Even a dealer you trust may have tainted drugs and not know it," Plourde said. "If you do continue to use, then please keep an eye out for fever and unusual infections in yourself or other users and immediately seek medical help. Without medical treatment, the condition can lead to death."
Anyone who suspects they know someone who may be suffering from neutropenia or who wants more information can call Health Links – Info Santé at 788-8200.
Plourde said there were many cases of severe neutropenia (or agranulocytosis) in Alberta and British Columbia in 2008 and 2009 that were related to levamisole adulterated cocaine.
Both Winnipeg cases (one confirmed; one suspect) were admitted to hospital over the last two weeks. One has since been discharged home.
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PREVIOUS
24 Comments
Posted by: ggpow2
February 6, 2010 at 4:48 PM
Yes, it's always as black and white as "don't do drugs!" My eyes are rolling so far back I can see the back of my head...
Seriously, I still find it so entertaining that when any sort of story dealing with illegal drugs is printed it elicits all sorts of comments about how "stupid" people who take drugs are and yet I wonder how many of the people making these comments smoke cigarettes and drink alcohol(which are easily the most destructive and dangerous drugs in our society and kill scores more people each year then all illegal drugs combined by FAR)? Quite a few I'm thinking. But hey, I guess somehow those drugs being legal(and provided to you by the biggest drug dealer in the country-your government) somehow makes them less stupid to use? Yeah, ok...
Posted by: ManitobaResident
February 6, 2010 at 10:15 AM
I have no sympathy for these people. At some point, they chose to use an illegal substance - and in this day and age with all the information we have about the dangers of substance abuse - they know the risks, they should suffer the consequences. I'm tired of my tax dollars going to save people who are set on self-destruction.
People should get one chance at rehab on the taxpayers dime... after that they should have to pay for their own health care. If they are snorting, injecting or consuming something that WILL (not might, not could, but WILL) cause physical damage and health problems, then they have chosen to take the risk, and should suffer the consequences of their actions.
Why should I have to pay for the morons of this world?
Posted by: WinCityGirl
February 6, 2010 at 9:57 AM
Don't be stupid by using drugs in the first place! Wow...what a novel idea.
Posted by: riskybusiness76
February 6, 2010 at 8:29 AM
acrc99
joe
tally9
whatithink
(Edited) Just wait till some kind of drug or alcohol affects you or you family, or maybe it already has, you're just too unaware to know. but i'm sure you and yours are perfect.
ps, i don't symapthize much with cokeheads, most of them are thie kind of people i quite dislike... but i do enjoy reading freud.
Posted by: DJ
February 6, 2010 at 2:59 AM
hmmmm seems strange to think that drug dealers know about this. I mean.. it is money out of their pockets it sales are down. No? Actually a good way to stop all the casual users if not the addicts don't it?
Posted by: Tired Of The BS
February 5, 2010 at 10:13 PM
Stop all the negativity people . Stop and think what it would be like to be addicted to something. Addictions can be from food, booze, exercise, drugs, sex and so on. It is a sickness and the world has many of those. Maybe your the lucky one and it has not happened to you or anyone in your family. Yet there are thousands of families it does happen to. Stop being judgmental of others. Your not God, nor will you ever be the one in his shoes. So live your lives the best you can. Be sympathetic to those who need it, and understand that this is a sickness. People can be helped. Stop and think for one moment, I am sure you did things you regret in your life you wish you could go back and change. You can't go back to the past but you can change what the future holds. If you answer No to this your a lair, everyone has done something, because none of us are perfect, and if we were it would be a perfect world.
Posted by: Joe
February 5, 2010 at 9:17 PM
Ok...the next time someone who is stoned on cocaine, crack, marijauna or any other illegal substance t-bones you, or a loved one of yours, and kills that loved one, only for the junkie to walk away unscathed, will you have the same feelings?
An addict is an addict, a junkie, a user.
It doesn't matter if they are the rich & famous, or from skid row, they are users & should be classified as such. Why & how did they start in the first place? Were they forced to do it?
The answer for how the wealthy started would possibly be from being at a social event, in the back room, and not wanting to disappoint his/her peers, injected/snorted the coke. On the street it would be easier to receive, and no peer pressure.
But, will you be ok with the next junkie who steals from someone to pay for their habit? What about the wealthy who may suffer from not having any, and get caught in a sting?
Is this ok by you?
Posted by: get serious
February 5, 2010 at 9:00 PM
For all of you that make excuses for people using cocaine...there is always a choice. Don't take the drug and you wouldn't have a problem. I am tired of people giving excuses like addiction. I am sure before they ever started they knew what they were getting themselves into.
Posted by: down with EE
February 5, 2010 at 6:36 PM
So, charging 300$ a pop for antibiotics for my cat isn't enough to keep the vet business going? Now, they're dealing in cocaine?
Hmmmm.............
Posted by: Chris Buors
February 5, 2010 at 5:44 PM
dogger
What about all the stupid people who ride their snowmobiles too fast and hurt themselves? Tough luck.
How about all the people who ski and get hurt.....tough luck!
Lots of boating accidents too.
How about the stovetop that send plenty of people to the hospital?
Stupid people falling off ladders and slipping on icy streets... tough luck.
We don't put any of those stupid people to a means test to see if they fund those outrageous WHRA salaries so why pick on drug users?
So long as you are going to have a system of social medicine person who abuse drugs will stand in line in their turn just like everybody else, unless you can afford private treatment like that Newfoundland Premier along with Jean Chretien and former MP Ron Duhumel, may he rest in peace, too.
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