Crack Cocaine: Miami remains the primary source of cocaine HCl procured by crack cocaine trafficking organizations for transport and conversion within their areas. Distribution generally centers around public housing developments and inner city areas. Organizations typically employ minors as lookouts and runners, who re-supply the street dealers from stash locations.

The United States is a major consumer of cocaine while Colombia is a major supplier yet Colombian do not have interest in consuming the cocaine based on united nations data. Here is a table from that source.

Mortality Statistics. Mental and Behavioral Disorders Due to use of cocaine (per Capita) (most recent) by country Showing latest available data.

Rank	Countries	Amount  (top to bottom)
#1	Luxembourg:	4.2683 deaths per 1 million peo
#2	Panama:	2.2293 deaths per 1 million peo
#3	Puerto Rico:	2.04551 deaths per 1 million peo
#4	United States:	1.23084 deaths per 1 million peo
#5	Costa Rica:	0.996016 deaths per 1 million peo
#6	Estonia:	0.750188 deaths per 1 million peo
#7	Netherlands:	0.548546 deaths per 1 million peo
#8	Slovenia:	0.497265 deaths per 1 million peo
#9	Moldova:	0.448934 deaths per 1 million peo
#10	Latvia:	0.436681 deaths per 1 million peo
#11	Uruguay:	0.29274 deaths per 1 million peo
#12	Canada:	0.274348 deaths per 1 million peo
#13	Ecuador:	0.224484 deaths per 1 million peo
#14	Croatia:	0.22242 deaths per 1 million peo
#15	Brazil:	0.198804 deaths per 1 million peo
#16	Kyrgyzstan:	0.194326 deaths per 1 million peo
#17	Finland:	0.191461 deaths per 1 million peo
#18	Denmark:	0.184094 deaths per 1 million peo
#19	Israel:	0.159312 deaths per 1 million peo
#20	Paraguay:	0.15753 deaths per 1 million peo
#21	Mexico:	0.131823 deaths per 1 million peo
#22	Sweden:	0.111086 deaths per 1 million peo
#23	Germany:	0.109182 deaths per 1 million peo
#24	Poland:	0.10374 deaths per 1 million peo
#25	Australia:	0.099552 deaths per 1 million peo
#26	Spain:	0.0991547 deaths per 1 million peo
#27	Romania:	0.0895656 deaths per 1 million peo
#28	Peru:	0.0716178 deaths per 1 million peo
#29	United Kingdom:	0.0661802 deaths per 1 million peo
#30	Chile:	0.0625743 deaths per 1 million peo
#31	Argentina:	0.0505842 deaths per 1 million peo
#32	Venezuela:	0.0394089 deaths per 1 million peo
#33	Colombia:	0.0232807 deaths per 1 million peo
#34	Korea, South:	0.0205588 deaths per 1 million peo
	Weighted average:	0.5 deaths per 1 million peo

DEFINITION: Total for all ages and sexes. Database compiled January 2004. Total of figures for:

Mental and behavioral disorders due to use of cocaine

Mental and behavioral disorders due to use of cocaine, acute intoxication

Mental and behavioral disorders Per capita figures expressed per 1 million population.

SOURCE: World Health Organization Statistical Information System via Nation Master

There is no one explanation for the variations seen in the table above. The table brings many questions. Why is the United States rank high in this table and Colombia (number one producer of cocaine) low on the list of mortality. I propose the following highly probably explanations

1. The lower cost of cocaine wholesale (Figure 1)

2. The purity of cocaine has risen along with its potency to induce faster addiction rates. The average purity of cocaine at consumer level is high, varying in 2004 from 24 % to 80 %, with most countries reporting purities of 40 % to 65 % (Table PPP-7 part (i)). Data available for 1999 to 2004 show an overall decrease in the average purity of cocaine in most reporting countries. If you compare the table pp7 with the rates of mortality you will notice that in Luxembourg not only has the highest purity but also the highest death rate compared to table 1 above.

3. Stress is an important association with cocaine use. Cocaine dependent individuals, particularly women, frequently cite psychological stress/negative mood as reasons for relapse to drug use. However, there is little understanding of how stress/negative mood increases the risk of relapse in men and women. The Yale Research Project 2: SCOR  is revealing interesting data on stress and higher incidence of cocaine addiction. I am currently in the process of publishing a proposed neural pathway explaining the relation to stress and cocaine as well as other addictions.

4. Cocaine causes biochemical lesions in the brain of rats. These lesions cause reduction in dopamine and DOPAC levels (McGregor, et al)  These finding may explain why cocaine is so addictive that it requires repeated use to maintain the levels of dopamine in the brain.  Dopamine is a necessary chemical needed in many functions of the brain especially in regards to mood and sense of pleasure.

The binding ability of a drug component in Prometa to GABA receptors may explain the immediate response seen in patients after the administration of the medications. In my practice, Prometa Treatment Program continues to be the most effective method to stop the cravings from cocaine in my practice. GABA receptors are playing an important role as to how this neurotransmitter is part of the addiction process.

Cocaine treatment with Prometa is now available in South Florida and Naples. The treatment of cocaine no longer requires hospitalization. Prometa convened with an intense outpatient program can be done in South Florida and Naples. Visit my website and make an appointment with Dr. Lado.  He is affiliated with The Willough at Naples if a more intense inpatient treatment of cocaine is necessary. Cocaine addiction recovery does not require time away from work.