Special reports cocaine, conspiracy theories and the cia in. Jan 05, 2015 in the interview, ross tells of how he managed to build a cocaine empire by shrewdly saving and investing his profits, pioneering new business models, and switching from powder cocaine to crack. From postmodern novels to the xfiles and from gangsta rap to feminist polemic, there is a. Documenting the ravages of the 1980s crack epidemic al. The uk reported an increase of 74% in seizures of crack cocaine in drug raids between 2000 and 2006. This resulted in a number of social consequences, such as increasing crime and violence in american inner city neighborhoods, as well as a resulting backlash in the form of tough on crime. Episode info in the 1980s, a superpotent new form of cocaine swept through the streets of america, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. Crack epidemic fuels rise in violent crime uk news the. Possession of crack was punished way more harshly than cocaine. The manual of adolescent substance abuse treatment calls it the most addictive form of cocaine. Attorney for the northern district of indiana, thomas l. Brett gunner left the secret service behind him years ago, or so he thought.
The article gives a statistic of 80% of african americans are in jail due to crack cocaine while 70% latinos and whites hold the jail sentence for powder cocaine. Conspiracy theories can often ring true the washington post. According to new york magazine, the contracocaine story smugly dubbed the last great conspiracy theory of the twentieth century started with the claim by crack kingpin ricky ross that he was working with a nicaraguan cocaine supplier, oscar danilo blandon, who had ties to the contras who, in turn, had ties to the cia. The infamous 100 to 1 crack powder disparity became law and a mere five grams of crack resulted in an automatic fiveyear prison. Crack cocaine, also known simply as crack or rock, is a free base form of cocaine that can be smoked. The crack cocaine epidemic had enormous associated violence. Crack cocaine was popularized because of its affordability, its immediate euphoric effect, and its high profitability. Ciacontracrack cocaine controversy department of justice. Contracocaine was a real conspiracy sagacious news. At the same time, the reagan administration was doing business with drug traffickers all over latin america, and turning a blind eye to the chaos. According to new york state statistics, there were 182,000 regular cocaine users in new york city in 1986. A commonheld belief was that the cia flooded the black community with crack so.
Webbs series led to three federal investigations, none of. Conspiracy theories are everywhere in postwar american culture. While the powdered form of cocaine is simply referred to as cocaine or coke, the rock form is often referred to as crack or crack cocaine. Blandon and meneses were said to have used their drug trafficking profits to help fund the contra armys war effort. How the cias crackcocaine controversy destroyed journalist gary webb schou, nick on. In its refined form, it presents as a white powder at one end of a rolledup hundred dollar bill, of which the other end is inserted in ones nostril. The use of crack cocaine reached epidemic proportions in this country at the end of the 1980s. This creates a short high, followed by tiredness, depression, panic, anxiety, and brain damage. In 1996, a bombshell report by journalist gary webb claimed that the central intelligence agency cia supported cocaine trafficking into the u. Based primarily on the firstperson accounts of four famous dealersturnedrappers, the film also widens its lens at points to show how crack. Dec 31, 2004 crack, the cia and black americas drug crisis. His book cocaine true, cocaine blue documents the brutal realities facing communities affected by the drug.
Webbs series led to three federal investigations, none of which found evidence of any conspiracy by the cia or its employees to bring drugs into the united states. Crack cocaine is commonly used as a recreational drug. The american crack epidemic was a surge of crack cocaine use in major cities across the united states between 1982 and the early 1990s. Amongst webbs fundamental problems was his implication that the cia lit the crack cocaine fuse. What is crack cocaine differences between crack and cocaine.
The invention of crack represented a technological innovation that dramatically widened the availability and use of cocaine in inner cities. Cia involvement in contra cocaine trafficking wikipedia. Aug 30, 2012 one of the most talked about conspiracy theories of the mid80s and early 90s had to do with the crack epidemic. This resulted in a number of social consequences, such as increasing crime and violence in american inner city neighborhoods, as well as a resulting backlash in the form of tough on crime policies. Mar 19, 2007 remembering the crack epidemic as a young man, freelance writer kenji jasper watched the crack epidemic destroy some of the people he grew up with. Based on a yearlong investigation, reporter gary webb wrote that during the 1980s the cia helped finance its covert war against nicaraguas leftist government through sales of cutrate cocaine to south central l. Government is the biggest drug dealer in the world. Mar 23, 2014 renowned documentary photographer eugene richards bore witness to the ravages of the crack epidemic that gripped the northeast in the 1980s. A series of expose articles in the san jose mercurynews by reporter gary webb told tales of a drug. With michael howe, david bowles, alecky blythe, rachel omeara. Small doses of it are smoked into the lungs and delivered quickly to the brain. The crack epidemic the history of crack cocaine drugfree. One of the most talked about conspiracy theories of the mid80s and early 90s had to do with the crack epidemic.
Due to the unique characteristics associated with crack addiction and the populations that use it, the epidemic created a host of new problems for the public health and drug treatment commu nities. The crack epidemic had particularly devastating effects within the african american communities of the inner cities by causing the increase of addictions, deaths, and drugrelated crimes. Behind the uproar is a threepart series, dark alliance, that. In 1996 the agency was accused of being a crack dealer. Dec 05, 20 according to new york magazine, the contracocaine story smugly dubbed the last great conspiracy theory of the twentieth century started with the claim by crack kingpin ricky ross that he was working with a nicaraguan cocaine supplier, oscar danilo blandon, who had ties to the contras who, in turn, had ties to the cia. The cia, contras, gangs, and crack institute for policy. Measuring crack cocaine and its impact harvard university. The crack epidemic the history of crack cocaine drug. Narrated and executive produced by icet, planet rock. A commonheld belief was that the cia flooded the black community with crack. The charges of cia involvement in contra cocaine trafficking were revived in 1996, when a newspaper series by reporter gary webb in the san jose mercury news claimed that the trafficking had played an important role in the creation of the crack cocaine drug problem in the united states.
In august 1996, pulitzer prizewinning journalist gary webb stunned the world with a series of articles in the san jose mercury news reporting the results of his. Cia allegations of cocaine trafficking conspiracy crack. Cocaine is a hydrochloride salt in its powdered form, while crack cocaine is derived from. Over the years, african americans have been accused of being a culturally suspicious group to a fault. Its initial effect is to release a large amount of dopamine, a brain chemical inducing feelings of euphoria. Now, fxs new show snowfall is bringing this period of time and all of its complex issues. Kirsch ii, announced the return of a 19count indictment against 9 individuals for conspiracy to distribute cocaine and other offenses. Feb 16, 2002 the use of crack cocaine is soaring to epidemic levels, particularly among 14 to 18yearolds, fuelling the recent dramatic rise in violent street crime and driving the price down to a record low. The crack cocaine epidemic of the 80s was a horrible plague that devastated the african american community but not only in the way addiction affected people but in the larger effects of feeding the war on drugs and prisonindustrial complex. Crack cocaine is from the government of the united states of america.
Government spread crack cocaine in the black ghetto, a recent headline said. Sep 27, 2011 possession of crack was punished way more harshly than cocaine. Over time, africanamericans distrust of mainstream institutions and authority figures has been manifested in a variety of conspiracy theories. On august 18, 1996, the san jose mercury news published the first installment of a threepart series of articles concerning crack cocaine, the central intelligence agency cia, and the nicaraguan contra army. I was at ground zero on detroits cass corridor during the epidemic and it was a frightening place. Behind the uproar is a threepart series, dark alliance, that appeared in the mercury news in. The crack epidemic had particularly devastating effects. Jul 07, 20 the american crack epidemic refers to the surge of crack cocaine use in major cities across the united states between 1984 and 1990. These claims have led to investigations by the united states government, including hearings and reports by the united states house of representatives, senate, department of justice, and the cias office of the inspector general.
Crack cocaine makes a paris neighborhood hell for users and residents five squalid acres at the edge of the city are home to frances largest openair crack market an apocalyptic. After 3 years, crack plague in new york only gets worse. It is one of the most highly additive and destructive drugs in the world. Crack epidemic united states history 1980s britannica. The infamous 100 to 1 crack powder disparity became law and a mere five grams of. Freeway rick ross on how he introduced crack to the u. Feb 20, 1989 crack more than tripled the number of cocaine users in the city since 1986. Crack more than tripled the number of cocaine users in the city since 1986. In 1996, san jose mercury news writer gary webb published a story saying that the cia was complicit in selling cocaine to l. This article examines the metastory surrounding gary webbs 1996 dark alliance series as a moment of crisis in mainstream journalism. The crack epidemic in the united states was a surge of crack cocaine use in major cities across the united states between the early 1980s and the early 1990s.
Behind the uproar is a threepart series, dark alliance, that appeared in the mercury news in midaugust. Crack epidemic, the significant increase in the use of crack cocaine, or crack, in the united states during the early 1980s. Cocaine is a hell of a drug refined from the coca plant specifically erythroxylum coca var. A number of writers have alleged that the united states central intelligence agency cia was involved in cocaine trafficking during the 1980s. The story of hip hop and the crack generation is the first documentary to focus specifically on the connections between crack and hiphop. Effects of crack cocaine include euphoria, supreme confidence, loss of appetite, insomnia, alertness, increased energy, a craving for more cocaine, and potential paranoia ending after use.
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