‘We Will Revive’: addiction,spiritual warfare,and recovery in Latin America’s cocaine production zone

Abstract

Once a key site in the War on Drugs against cocaine, the Upper Amazon in northeastern Peru has lately seen an increase in addiction to coca paste, a toxic by-product of the cocaine manufacturing process. Unregulated and coercive Pentecostal ministries, founded and administered by recovered pastors, constitute the main form of addiction treatment in the Upper Amazon today. Based on ethnographic research in nine ministries and using the example of the ministry ‘We Will Revive,’ this article suggests that Pentecostal ministries re-articulate addiction as demonic possession. Accordingly, ministries treat addiction through spiritual warfare against the Devil. In so doing, Pentecostal ministries change the locus of the War on Drugs from trade networks to sinful bodies.     

The detection and persistence of Cannabis sativa DNA on skin

The presence of Cannabis sativa DNA was detected on the skin of persons who have recently handled both leaf and resinous material. The persistence of C. sativa DNA was examined on the skin. The subjects were asked to either repeatedly rub their hands on their trousers, place their hands repeatedly into their pockets or wash their hands in soap and water. After rubbing the hands on trousers or placing them in pockets C. sativa DNA could still be detected. No DNA could be detected after washing the hands.     

浅议易制毒化学品的法律规制

近年来,化学合成类毒品的出现对传统的毒品构成冲击,其原料的非原生性和生产的便捷性使之异军突起。中国作为易制度化学品的生产大国,面临的形势更为严峻。目前我国规制易制毒化学品的法律法规存在诸多不足,应加强对易制毒化学品行政处罚的法律位阶,不断完善管制的易制毒化学品的种类。     

Sibling Abuse in Nature and Culture

This essay reflects on an article by Katy Butler in the Science Section of the New York Times of February 28, 2006. It argues that Butler discusses sibling abuse mainly as a biologically rooted phenomenon and does not clarify its social sources and dynamics. The essay presents the social causes of sibling abuse and suggests approaches toward its short‐term reduction and long‐term prevention.     

Drug Films,Justice, and Nationhood 1

This paper examines how drug traffickers, enforcement, nationhood, and space are represented in illegal drug films. Drawing from a sample of films produced in the United States between 1916 and 2005, this paper examines several drug films in order to explore how past and contemporary films on illegal drugs reflect conventional ideologies about law and order, the nation, and imperialism. Censorship and illegal drug films that challenge and rupture conventional ideologies will also be discussed.     

Technology transfer perspectives in globalising India (drugs and pharmaceuticals and biotechnology)

The paper briefly outlines the status of technology transfer related issues in drugs & pharma and biotechnology sectors in India. The paper also outlines the contemporary business strategies including R&D and technology transfer models. The study indicates that present technology transfer policies and mechanisms are weak and need to be restructured. The current fiscal incentives and tax concessions etc. available for R&D in industry seem to have outlived and are no longer attractive because of continuous lowering of tariff rates and tax rates in the context of WTO and liberalization of policies. Moreover, the issue of R&D support to industry is not covered in the WTO as in case of subsidies. Therefore, it is advisable for the government to revisit the existing promotional measures for R&D. FDI policies also need to be tailored to encourage Technology transfers and capability building. Recommendations are made for making Technology Transfer more effective for the growth and competitiveness of the industry. A technology transfer management model is suggested.      

Distribution of drugs of abuse within specific regions of the human brain

Since concentration of drugs of abuse found in the brain better reflect drug concentration at their site of action, brain specimens are useful in the determination of the role of drugs of abuse in the cause of death. In order to allow for the routine use of brain specimens in this field, a comprehensive database with reliable reference values is needed and should include both post-mortem data for cases where drugs have been taken in therapeutic doses as well as for cases of overdose. In this study, a semi-automated extraction procedure, in combination with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC–MS) using stable isotope internal standards was applied to yield reproducible, quantitative results which could be used to investigate the distribution patterns of drugs of abuse within specific regions of the brain, by analyzing several segments of both medulla oblongata and cerebellum. A homogenous distribution of unconjugated morphine, dihydrocodeine, and benzoylecgonine within the investigated segments of medulla oblongata or cerebellum could be found. However, when these two brain regions from the same case were compared to each other, significantly higher concentrations of unconjugated morphine, dihydrocodeine, and benzoylecgonine were found in the cerebellum than in the medulla oblongata.     

试论制造毒品案件的侦查

当前我国制造毒品案件的特点有:组织严密,分工明确;精心选择制毒地点;境内外勾结突出。对其侦查的措施和手段有公开和秘密两种方式。前者包括现场搜查、现场勘查、毒品检验、调查访问、袭击行动;后者包括刑嫌调控、技术侦查和内线侦查。     

发展替代产业 推进澜沧江——湄公河次区域合作

本文论述了澜沧江———湄公河流域国家面临的毒品问题及其对次区域合作的负面影响，探讨了发展替代产业对遏制毒品泛滥和推进次区域合作的作用和意义，介绍了有关各国发展替代种植、替代产业的情况，并从国际环境、地理、人文、经济互补性等方面分析了当前发展替代产业所具备的有利因素，最后就次区域发展替代产业的资金引进、合作机制、合作范围、发展层次等问题提出了建议