Italian river 'full of cocaine' (the equivalent of 40,000 doses a day....

BBC ^

[Sub-Driver]

Italian river 'full of cocaine' Scientists have found large quantities of cocaine residue in a river in northern Italy - suggesting consumption is much higher than previously thought.

They say they found the equivalent of 40,000 doses a day in the Po valley, home to about five million people.

The study, published by the UK's Environmental Health magazine, tests sewage and rivers for levels of a by-product of cocaine metabolism.

The team say the test has to be refined before being applied on a vast scale.

The chemical found in the urine of cocaine users is called benzoylecgonine, or BE.

It is produced only metabolising cocaine.

'Staggering'

The new report suggests that past studies of cocaine use in Italy - mainly based on population surveys and crime statistics - had been optimistic.

According to official estimates, people living around the Po consume about 15,000 doses of cocaine a month.

But the research claims more than three time as much cocaine is used in the area.

The team, led by Dr Ettore Zuccato from the Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research in Milan, said they were taken aback by their findings, whose economic impact they described as "staggering".

[Sub-Driver]

hoolywood actors have no comment....

[AliVeritas]

Whoa!

[Army Air Corps]

Move over Whiskey River...

[TexasTransplant]

Recycling may save the City

[humblegunner]

But the research claims more than three time as much cocaine is used in the area.

Rusty Pelican ping.

[digger48]

How much is a "dose"?

And does all their p!ss go straight to the river?

[AntiGuv]

It would be interesting to have these type of studies conducted in the U.S.

[bk1000]

I'm calling BS. It takes a LOT to show up in a river. Or it ain't much of a river.

[Charles Henrickson]

about 15,000 doses of cocaine a month. But the research claims more than three time as much cocaine is used in the area.

No wonder they're Po folk.

[Servant of the 9]

"The large amount of cocaine (at least 1,500 kg/3,307lb) that our findings suggest are consumed per year in the River Po basin would amount... to about $150m (£84m) in street value," the scientists wrote in the journal.

A million and a half grams consumed.
Three times estimates.

When this test becomes available here, we will have accurate numbers on how much coke is consumed in this country. Find out how much was confiscated and we will have some accurate percentages for the effectiveness of the War On Drugs.

I have a feeling we will find out it is way less effective than anyone, even the skeptics thought.

So9

[Enchante]

How close is George Clooney's estate?? I understand that lots of Hollyweirds come and go from his Italian villa...

[cripplecreek]

Mama Mia!

[TexasTransplant]

They have, on Hundred Dollar Bills. Any Drug Dog will alert on you if you have more than 2 $100.00 Bills, because the odds that a used 100.00 bill that doesn't have Coke residue on it is minuscule.

Amazing Study

Reason 454 that the "Fair Tax" be enacted soon!

[Delta 21]

Time to re-calibrate.

[LibWhacker]

Clever!

[international american]

*snort*

[HereInTheHeartland]

Remind mer not to fish there when I visit Italy.

[TexanToTheCore]

This is what the future of the EU looks like...

[bigfootbob]

I'm with you. I've heard the same nonsense concerning land theft actions disguised as "saving the salmon." A certain liberal group sued in order to try making everyone on a certain watershed pay for an needless public works sewer project to reduce a hormone "they" said was stifling salmon egg fertilization pissed out by women taking the pill.

[antienvironmentalist]

What sort of mathmatic model do they use to come up with theses numbers. I'm betting they pull them from their a$$.