From: (Eboka)
Newsgroups: alt.drugs.hard
Subject: Re: Comments: "P-Dope" article (attn: Eboka)
Date: 16 Apr 1998 04:30:03 GMT

In a message dated, Wed, Apr 15, 1998 15:10 EDT, (Samson) writes:

>Once I got by the title, "Heroin from Hell", I found this
>article unusually even-handed and sober for a story about >heroin.
>Indeed, as the author points out, addicts are given to >hyperbole --
>and then so are journalists, and usually the effects are >additive,
>but Gay does a pretty good job of reporting in this case.

>I remain skeptical of the central premise: that adding >procaine and/or
>lidocaine to heroin significantly enhances the effect. >Perhaps the 
>initial rush is boosted -- I understand that IV procaine >does have a
>rewarding effect. Beyond that, I'd like to see more >research done.

[...]

My discussion with Mr. Gay were based principally on two observations  of
heroin addicts in the mid 1960s.  In one case one group obtained pharmaceutical
grade heroin and did not like it at all.  They claimed it had no effect and
didn't rush.  The heroin was part of a pharmaceutical shipment from whence it
came I know not but, eventually the owners cut it with morphine and dilaudid to
get it to rush and put on the most dynamic bag anyone had seen.  

In a second case during the Vietnam war the price of quinine which had been the
principal cut in heroin rose in price from $6 an ounce to $36 dollars an ounce
as supplies were being earmarked for Nam driving the price up.  Apparently
major wholesalers were not getting the response they wanted from their clients
when they started cutting with manitol so they got so chemists to mix up a
batch of cut that included dibucaine for a rush and heptobarbital to moderate
the toxicity of IV dibucaine.  The cost factor would be of particular
significance to wholesalers who would require 100 pound loads of cut.

Every addict I knew at the time shot heroin for the rush and pure smack just
does not rush or at least not in the manner the shooters wanted.

I don't know if Mr. Gay credited me but, I am also the person who put in the
good word for methadone explaining its value in removing heroin addicts from
harm's way.

Hope that answers your questions.  Parker suggested Gay speak to me as I had
supported Parker's needle exchange programs including participating in
demonstrations in front of the New York Courts pursuant to his arrests and had
a modest background in the scene as well as a layman's understanding of some of
the science.

It is not a matter that lido/procaine enhance heroin but, that they simply add
a rush and when, excuse the language, most junkies stick a needle in their arm
they want the stuff to rush.  The dope has to stand on its own but, the rush is
the rush.

Howard
http://www.ibogaine.org

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