|
Thursday, March 18, 2004
Mongaya: Talking with the cardinal
By Anol Mongaya
THE seized 60 drums of ephedrine now at the Cebu International Port (CIP) could have been used for a variety of things, one of which is to manufacture shabu.
A quick search in the Internet showed that ephedrine comes from the plant called ephedra. According to www.ephedrine-ephedra.com, ephedra “is a shrub-like plant found in desert regions in central Asia and other parts of the world…Ephedra is a stimulant containing the herbal form of ephedrine, an FDA-regulated drug found in over-the-counter asthma medications.”
“In the United States, ephedra and ephedrine are reportedly sold in health food stores under a variety of brand names. Ephedrine is widely used for weight loss, as an energy booster, and to enhance athletic performance. These products often contain other stimulants, such as caffeine, which may have synergistic effects and increase the potential for adverse effects. Ephedra is often touted as the ‘herbal fen-phen.’”
“Ephedra's main active medical ingredients are the alkaloids ephedrine and pseudoephedrine. The ephedras also contain various tannins and related chemicals. The stem contains 1-3% total alkaloids, with ephedrine accounting for 30-90% of this total. The concentrations of these alkaloids depend upon the particular species of Ephedra used.”
“Ephedrine alkaloids are amphetamine-like compounds used in OTC and prescription drugs with potentially lethal stimulant effects on the central nervous system and heart. The FDA has received more than 800 reports of adverse effects associated with use of products containing ephedrine alkaloid since 1994.”
“These serious adverse effects include hypertension (elevated blood pressure), palpitations (rapid heart rate), neurophathy (nerve damage), myopathy (muscle injury), psychosis, stroke, memory loss, heart rate irregularities, insomnia, nervousness, tremors, seizures, heart attacks, and death. The agency has proposed to prohibit the marketing of dietary supplements containing eight milligrams or more of ephedrine alkaloids per serving.”
***
Some quarters want to claim credit for the apprehension of the ephedrine. This can be observed from people that preened in front of television cameras yesterday.
I learned from the customs grapevine that the actual apprehension occurred last week yet. But some bright boys wanted bosses from Manila to be present when the drums are opened. Unfortunately for them, Mayor Tomas Osmeña beat them to the draw.
Other sources said the shipment was supposed to be quietly transferred for safekeeping to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) when word spread around about it yesterday. Then Osmeña showed up at the CIP with reporters and television crews.
***
But Osmeña’s media scoop should not draw us away from earlier reports he proposed letting kids taste illegal drugs to cure their curiosity. The mayor made the statement before three high school students who interviewed him for a class project. This stunned the students, who are from the Don Sergio Osmeña Memorial National High School.
Many kids precisely got hooked because they wanted to satisfy their curiosity. This is because illegal drugs immediately spark chemical reactions in the brain.
***
The NBI-Tacloban report to the Visayas Ombudsman on the smuggling case involving slain Hindang, Leyte mayor Roy Jumao-as listed over a dozen names of people. This should make it easier for the local police to look for leads on the mastermind. But then, according to the customs grapevine, those in the list are formidable, with strong police connections.
Moreover, more information is surfacing related to the other cases in the Jumao-as assassination. One of these is about “Mat-mat,” known in the underworld as somebody close to a known jueteng personality in Luzon.
(e-mail: Superbalita@ sunstar.com.ph or anol_cebu@hotmail.com; cell phone: 0917-9761193)
(March 18, 2004 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
WEEKEND
|
