Irelands Cocaine fuelled Cardiac Disease Timebomb

bayern282

When you think of the recent Cocaine epidemic of the Celtic Tiger era, now thankfully in decline, I think there'll be a huge spike in early cardiac related deaths in the next 10-15 years when this generation enters their middle years.

Mixed with alcohol a substance is created ( cannot recall it's Latin medical term ) that causes damage to the arteries, and as you can guess, this being Ireland, alcohol would have featured heavily whenever Cocaine was used.

Anyone had any thoughts along these lines ( no pun intended ).

Kevin Duffy

But hookers are still safe, right?

Lux23

Do you not have to be using an awful lot for that to be a significant problem and sure obseity and alcohol abuse is probably a bigger issue.

Adamisconfused

Hopefully, most of them will have private health insurance.

Marty McFly

I think your spot on OP I personally know of one person who at 25 has been told by a doctor to stop doing cocaine as he has an enlarged heart from prolonged and excessive use of it, and when you think of the amount of people in Ireland who do coke every weekend there bound to be a lot more like him out there.

Anita Blow

OP should write TV3 Documentary titles

Del2005

If there was decent coke around I'd be worried.

It is the stuff that they cut it with that'll do the damage now, not year's from now.

Kevin Duffy

Anita Blow OP should write TV3 Documentary titles

mattjack

luvbulmers01 wrote: »

I think your spot on OP I personally know of one person who at 25 has been told by a doctor to stop doing cocaine as he has an enlarged heart from prolonged and excessive use of it, and when you think of the amount of people in Ireland who do coke every weekend there bound to be a lot more like him out there.

I know of two deaths from excessive cocaine use,enlarging/inflammation of cardio vascular creating problems for the heart .Brothers of the two dead men actually told us what caused their deaths.

Nolanger

bayern282 wrote: »

Anyone had any thoughts along these lines ( no pun intended ).

F*ck 'em.

johngalway

bayern282 wrote: »

Anyone had any thoughts along these lines ( no pun intended ).

Yep, let them who abuse illegal substances pay for treatment themselves or piss off and die quietly somewhere.

Mike 1972

Adamisconfused wrote: »

Hopefully, most of them will have private health insurance.

Does private health insurance cover conditions deemed to have been caused/aggrivated by drug use ?

mattjack

Mike 1972 wrote: »

Does private health insurance cover conditions deemed to have been caused/aggrivated by drug use ?

yeah VHI does..up to 90 days every 5 years for alcohol and substance abuse.

ceadaoin.

The substance created by mixing the two is called coca ethylene...theres an article about it here

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2009/nov/08/cocaine-alcohol-mixture-health-risks?INTCMP=SRCH

I think there will be more of a health problem in the future caused by alcohol abuse on it's own tbh

looky loo

I think diabetes linked to obesity is going to be a major cardiac problem in Ireland. The amount of overweight/obese people is seriously on the increase.

Kevin Duffy

mattjack wrote: »

yeah VHI does..up to 90 days every 5 years for alcohol and substance abuse.

Just curious, but the fact that it's a time allowance would mean it's for addiction treatment, not medical treatment for side effects, yeh?

df1985

christ "fcuk off and die" is a bit harsh on people who may have dabbled, no?

I think most people though wont have done enough high quality cocaine for it to cause serious problems (could obviously be way off too). A lot were getting glorified talcon powder.

mikom

bayern282 wrote: »

Mixed with alcohol a substance is created ( cannot recall it's Latin medical term )

Ryanitis?

Dont be at yourself

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Drug_danger_and_dependence.png

Let's just stick to acid and mushrooms.

Mike 1972

df1985 wrote: »

I think most people though wont have done enough high quality cocaine for it to cause serious problems

Could low quality cocaine not be far worse ?

ceadaoin. wrote: »

The substance created by mixing the two is called coca ethylene

TBH I suspect it may be a bigger issue than a lot of people realise.

The risks of mixing coke and alcohol are not that widely known and understood by the general public. Because the risks of drug use in general are so overblown and exxagurated the result for many people is that information regarding well founded concerns and risks tends to get lost in the noise or dismissed as cries of wolf.

johngalway

df1985 wrote: »

christ "fcuk off and die" is a bit harsh on people who may have dabbled, no?

No. I pay for enough things without adding other peoples stupidity to the list as well.

Phill Ewinn

Plenty of cause for concern, but epidemic? I dunno about that. Probably woulda been a victim meself if only I could afford it

Monty Burnz

Nolanger wrote: »

F*ck 'em.

Yup. People who do coke should know the risks. They are already funding murderous gangs in this country and abroad, so f*ck'em. What goes around comes around.

mattjack

Kevin Duffy wrote: »

Just curious, but the fact that it's a time allowance would mean it's for addiction treatment, not medical treatment for side effects, yeh?

Sorry Kevin,I read your post wrong...when I answered I was talking about addiction treatment,I,m only guessing here but I would imagine your health cover would provide for a certain amount of treatment for medical conditions...I couldnt imagine you being covered if you keep on abusing alcohol or drugs after initial treatment.I suppose you would be depending on the public health services then.

df1985

Mike 1972 wrote: »

Could low quality cocaine not be far worse ?

Ill be 100% honest and say i dont know the answer to that question but from reading things before a lot of cocaine was cut with caffeine powder, crushed up painkillers etc. Certainly not healthy for the heart but not as bad as high quality stuff that sends your heart mental very quickly after snorting it, Id imagine anyway.

ScumLord

Luckily what Irish people call cocaine just isn't really cocaine.

What are you basing this assumption on?

df1985

johngalway wrote: »

No. I pay for enough things without adding other peoples stupidity to the list as well.

You could apply that attitiude to a lot of people doing stupid things, illegal or otherwise. If you think you wouldnt know anyone affected then you are severly underestimating the use of cocaine in this country in the boom years.dont think you would want those people to "**** off and die."

Monty Burnz

df1985 wrote: »

f you think you wouldnt know anyone affected then you are severly underestimating the use of cocaine in this country in the boom years.

Based on the crazy wasting of money that was going on, and people handing over half a million for a shoebox apartment in the international backwater city of Dublin, and the delusional attitudes of people when it was pointed out to them that we were in the middle of an epic bubble, I assumed that most people must be on it.

7sr2z3fely84g5

looky loo wrote: »

I think diabetes linked to obesity is going to be a major cardiac problem in Ireland. The amount of overweight/obese people is seriously on the increase.

Same applies to fat kids.

ceadaoin.

johngalway wrote: »

Yep, let them who abuse illegal substances pay for treatment themselves or piss off and die quietly somewhere.

johngalway wrote: »

No. I pay for enough things without adding other peoples stupidity to the list as well.

What about people that have diabetes or other health problems caused by being obese? People that break a red light and crash their car? Don't wear a seat belt? Smoke?

Those are all things that people know can be dangerous or unhealthy, should they piss off and die too?

mattjack

df1985 wrote: »

You could apply that attitiude to a lot of people doing stupid things, illegal or otherwise. If you think you wouldnt know anyone affected then you are severly underestimating the use of cocaine in this country in the boom years.dont think you would want those people to "**** off and die."

I dont agree with johngalways views at all..but I have heard in a discussion a number health professionals ,nurses paramedics raise the point about treating people with addiction/alcohol issues within the public health service..they were making the point about the strain they put on an already stretched service,often using A and E as an example ,nevermind long term care where wards are clogged up already.

Monty Burnz

ceadaoin. wrote: »

What about people that have diabetes or other health problems caused by being obese? People that break a red light and crash their car? Don't wear a seat belt? Smoke?

Those are all things that people know can be dangerous or unhealthy, should they piss off and die too?

I can't speak for him, but I'd say 'yes' in the sense that they should pay (financially!) for stupid behaviour that makes them sick. Anybody can be hit by illnesses that are not their fault. But if you spend your life doing dangerous stuff that you know is dangerous, please don't expect the rest of us to pay for it when it goes tango uniform in the rhubarb.

Mike 1972

Monty Burnz wrote: »

Based on the crazy wasting of money that was going on, and people handing over half a million for a shoebox apartment in the international backwater city of Dublin, and the delusional attitudes of people when it was pointed out to them that we were in the middle of an epic bubble, I assumed that most people must be on it.

Sadly a lot of people are well capable of making stupid decisions without needing drugs.

Monty Burnz wrote: »

I can't speak for him, but I'd say 'yes' in the sense that they should pay (financially!) for stupid behaviour that makes them sick. Anybody can be hit by illnesses that are not their fault. But if you spend your life doing dangerous stuff that you know is dangerous, please don't expect the rest of us to pay for it when it goes tango uniform in the rhubarb.

Why not extend this to things like sports injuries too ?

Dont exercise = No healthcare for you.
exercise = No healthcare for you.

mattjack

Monty Burnz wrote: »

I can't speak for him, but I'd say 'yes' in the sense that they should pay (financially!) for stupid behaviour that makes them sick. Anybody can be hit by illnesses that are not their fault. But if you spend your life doing dangerous stuff that you know is dangerous, please don't expect the rest of us to pay for it when it goes tango uniform in the rhubarb.

do you not pay for hospitals stays and A and E at the moment ?

ScumLord

mattjack wrote: »

I dont agree with johngalways views at all..but I have heard in a discussion a number health professionals ,nurses paramedics raise the point about treating people with addiction/alcohol issues within the public health service..they were making the point about the strain they put on an already stretched service,often using A and E as an example ,nevermind long term care where wards are clogged up already.

Have specialised rehab centres, I don't see why the government insist on putting everything through A&E, it's not surprising it's over stretched.

Monty Burnz

Mike 1972 wrote: »

Why not extend this to things like sports injuries too ?

Dont exercise = No healthcare for you.
exercise = No healthcare for you.

Because sport is a social and economic good? The cost of paying for sports injuries is less than the cost of the same person sitting on their arse getting fat and weak and sick.

mattjack

ScumLord wrote: »

Have specialised rehab centres, I don't see why the government insist on putting everything through A&E, it's not surprising it's over stretched.

thats a good point Scumlord....but then you are in danger of a three tier health system..private,public and public rehab and where would you treat an alcoholic with a need a liver transplant or any other medical issue.As far as I know public rehab treatment in Ireland heavily over subscribed.

Irishpimpdude

ScumLord wrote: »

Luckily what Irish people call cocaine just isn't really cocaine.

What are you basing this assumption on?

Yea i know we call real cocaine PURE

7Sins

I always find it funny how they say people are living longer nowadays because of the people in their 90's now who used spend most of their times working healthily outdoors, ate spuds and veg everyday and generally lived a healthy lifestyle...

Oh yes! thank you very much mister statistical person in a suit, I'm gonna live longer too am I? Me and my buddies that spend most of our time indoors sat in front of a computer, eating burgers, chips and every concievable sugary rubbish known to man while going out and getting absolutely sh*tfaced for fun :pac:

ScumLord

Monty Burnz wrote: »

Because sport is a social and economic good? The cost of paying for sports injuries is less than the cost of the same person sitting on their arse getting fat and weak and sick.

We should just drop the health service for all but the most valuable in society, you have stupid people out there getting themselves in accidents. Normally that would be natures way of ensuring only the fittest and smartest survive and we're just ruining the species by helping them survive.

The health service is there to help sick people, what's the point in having it at all if your not going to help the sick people?

mattjack

Monty Burnz wrote: »

Because sport is a social and economic good? The cost of paying for sports injuries is less than the cost of the same person sitting on their arse getting fat and weak and sick.

Monty im just wondering do you know anybody at all with alcohol or a drug problem

Irishpimpdude

I really don't see why people create threads like this to moan and moan and ****ing moan some more, Its just the way things are just accept it, live your life and stop whinging. People are going to drink, do drugs and smoke,people are going to die from alcohol,drug,smoke related deaths and that is never going to change.

You don't like that fact? then go fck yourself!

Monty Burnz

ScumLord wrote: »

The health service is there to help sick people, what's the point in having it at all if your not going to help the sick people?

The health service is there to help whoever we say it is to help. It wasn't handed down by god or something. I can understand why people who engage in behaviour that is prejudicial to their health might make the argument you make, but I reject it. I'm happy for people to get treatment for things they caused themselves as long as they pay extra for it.

Other things are not the fault of the victim, and should be treated at no extra cost.

You could extend your argument to car insurance: why should 18 year old guys in high-powered cars pay extra? It's so unfair!

Monty Burnz

mattjack wrote: »

Monty im just wondering do you know anybody at all with alcohol or a drug problem

I may. I don't see why it's relevant though?

mattjack

Monty Burnz wrote: »

I may. I don't see why it's relevant though?

yes or no.....

Monty Burnz

mattjack wrote: »

yes or no.....

This is After Hours, not Guantanamo Bay.

johngalway

df1985 wrote: »

You could apply that attitiude to a lot of people doing stupid things, illegal or otherwise. If you think you wouldnt know anyone affected then you are severly underestimating the use of cocaine in this country in the boom years.dont think you would want those people to "**** off and die."

ceadaoin. wrote: »

What about people that have diabetes or other health problems caused by being obese? People that break a red light and crash their car? Don't wear a seat belt? Smoke?

Those are all things that people know can be dangerous or unhealthy, should they piss off and die too?

What you two choose to forget is that this thread is about the abuse of an illegal drug possibly leading to serious health problems in later life. Serious health problems that I and others may have to pay for in part.

If you can't argue your case on that point, then please stop trying to blow smoke up my arse with utterly unrelated hypothetical nonsense.

mattjack

Monty Burnz wrote: »

This is After Hours, not Guantanamo Bay.

you engaged in a discussion, now you wont talk...God forbid should it happen to you or a close family member would you adopt the same routine...make em pay or let them suffer.

Hannibal

The problem is the present government and the previous one are so out of touch with what goes on in normal peoples lives in Ireland that they will never understand the cocaine epidemic or be able to tackle the drug gangs and supply lines that bring the drugs in.

People think of drugs they think of the visible heroin addicts you do see wandering around the streets and the heroin epidemics that have decimated working class neighbourhoods.

What they don't understand is the people in well paid jobs who do cocaine and are funding drug gangs. There's two drug dealers on my road, the Garda don't give a f**k because they need too much evidence to actually get a conviction it's near impossible. The two said drug dealers both get cheques every week from the Vincent de Paul and a bag of coal every week in winter months. I know of another fella who is 26 and driving a top of the range BMW while signing on and having never once worked.

Drugs have a hold because the kids think it's cool to fit in with the people in the flashy cars, it's engrained in our society and it's not going to end anytime soon.

Take the major top top dealers you see in the papers, I have seen two of them regularly parked up in their 4x4's talking to the unmarked detectives. Most of them stay on the streets by grassing up people lower down the food chain, which is how there's so many known "gang bosses" walking around when they should be locked up.

I've known several republicans who were imprisoned in the 80's and 90's on the say-so of a high ranking Garda so why can't drug dealers and barons be treated in the same way? Their actions will have a longer lasting and deeper impact on the lives of our civilians than those actions of republicans who got the book thrown at them ever have or will.

Monty Burnz

mattjack wrote: »

you engaged in a discussion, now you wont talk...God forbid should it happen to you or a close family member would you adopt the same routine...make em pay or let them suffer.

If it's fair for a stranger (who is someone else's family member) it's fair for my family. I don't see why you should have to pay for my brother's cocaine habit.

mattjack

Monty Burnz wrote: »

If it's fair for a stranger (who is someone else's family member) it's fair for my family. I don't see why you should have to pay for my brother's cocaine habit.

your brothers treatment ?.. I was in a similar position till the person died