Welcome to AJ215-Vice and Narcotics

Please print this page and complete the required sections. The recommend text is California Criminal Law Concepts, Derald D. Hunt, Minnesota: Burgess International Group, Inc., the publisher at telephone number; 612-820-4561, fax number; 612-831-3167 and address is; Burgess International Group, Inc., 7110 Ohms Lane, Edina, Minnesota, 55439-2143. The text is also available from Amazon.Com. There are no CD's/Audios Required! Please complete the discussion question for each unit. When you have completed your assignments, please submit your work to your instructor. The preferred method of submission is email. However, if you are mailing your assignment:

Mail to:

Rio Hondo College
Department of Public Safety
3600 Workman Mill Road
Whittier, CA 90608

 

Course Description: This course covers code and case law of vice and narcotics focusing on the detection, suppression, apprehension, and prosecution of violators. Special emphasis is given to laws dealing with gambling, prostitution, sex crimes, narcotic identification, and search and seizure as pertains to these types of investigations.

Course Assignments 
Unit 1- email your instructor and acknowledge due dates for completed work and final exams.

Unit 2 - Overview of Vice and Narcotics.  Describe the role of Vice and Narcotics enforcement as they impact the community.

Unit Overview: A noted doctor (in the field of drug abuse) told me that many doctors are prescribing prescription drugs to patients rather than dealing with and/or identifying the exact ailment. In other words, rather than helping the patient with the exact cause of their pain (for an example) they give them a pain-relieving pill. The reason for the pain might be a splinter in ones foot. The correct way to help this patient would be to remove the splinter, instead of prescribing drugs. This might account for why prescription drugs is in the top five items sold in the United States. There is a lot of profit in this area. It is a billion- dollar industry.

The above information also concurs with the belief that we as a society have a “feel good” attitude.  The belief: if it feels good and if it does not hurt any one, it is okay. Look at some of the top company logos: Nike says, “just do it”, Burger King says, “you can have it your way” and McDonalds says, “you deserve a break today.”  This type of an attitude is why anti-depressant prescription drugs are on the top of the most abused drugs on the market. People just want to feel good so they go to their doctor and tell him what they want. In return he prescribes them drugs, rather than (an example) have the patient go to counseling and deal with why they feel depressed or like they do.

Everyone knows that where there is a buck to be made, there is a person to try to rip you off. People have already been caught trying to fraudulently make fake “Viagra” pills (Phifers company newest drug to help impotency), which has just hit the sales market. This is the most important reason for the controls is to guarantee that what we buy, is what we are getting. Could you imagine a company selling birth control pills that did not work? This is why all prescribed drugs are investigated and thoroughly tested, by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) before being released to the public for mass consumption.

You may know of people going to another country to get treatment for cancer or AIDS. Why is this? Most of the other countries do not have the strict controls the U.S. has on prescription drugs. This is in my opinion for the best, so not to allow “quacks” or “fake” drugs into the United States. Unfortunately when a person is affected with a terminal illness they will go to all lengths to try to hang on to life, allowing fraudulent doctors from other countries to take advantage of them.

During this lesson you will review further the development of controls, by reviewing the Harrison Narcotic Act of 1914 and the current Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970, Title 11 of which is more familiarly known as the Controlled Substance Act. This will enlighten you on the methods and reasons for controls which we have governing us today.

The following questions will be necessary to understand as we proceed through our lessons:

What is a “drug?” This word has different meaning to different people. Funk & Wagnall’s dictionary describes a drug as: “Any chemical or biological substance other than food, intended for the use in the treatment, prevention, or diagnosis of disease.” Also described as “a narcotic.”

A traffic law enforcement officer would use the definition of section 312 of the California Vehicle Code which states: “A drug is any chemical substance, natural or synthetic which, when taken into the human body, can impair the ability of the person to operate a motor vehicle safely.”

Another broad definition a doctor might use is: “Any absorbed substance that changes or enhances any physical or psychological function in the body.”

What is “vice?” Described by Funk & Wagnall’s dictionary as: “An immoral habit or trait.” “A slight personal fault.” “Habitual indulgence in degrading or harmful practices.”
In the field of law enforcement this deals with prostitution, sexual exploitations, and gambling of all types.

History notes:

Opium: is the dried extract of the incised seed capsule of the opium poppy plant, known as Papaver somniferum.  It is known as an analgesic (painkiller). Grown in Southwest Asia (Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran) , Southeast Asia (Burma, Laos, and Thailand) in an area known as the Golden Triangle, and Mexico (Sinaloa, Chihuahua, and Durango). It is documented to have been around for approximate 4000 years.

Morphine and Codeine: are two analgesic alkaloids of opium and are known as narcotic analgesics.

Heroin:  known as diacetylmorphine, is a derivative from morphine first made in 1874 in Germany. It was a cough suppressant and pain reliever.

Cocaine:  a local anesthetic and a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant alkaloid. It is obtained from the leaves of the South American shrub Erythroxylon coca.   Grown in Peru, Bolivia, Columbia, and other South American countries. In the period 1200-1300, the Incas venerated the plant as an agent for communicating with the gods. Cocaine was an ingredient in the very first Coca-Cola product in about 1886. In 1906 it was removed and caffeine was added instead.

Marijuana: comes from the leaves and flowering tops of the Cannabis sativa plant. Marijuana has been around a long time, documented in one case about 5000 years ago. The most active euphoric item in marijuana is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). It can be grown almost anywhere, expect in the real cold and hot areas.

Peyote: is also known as a mescal button from a cactus produces hallucinogenic effects when ingested or smoked. Grown mostly in the Southwest part of North America it has been documented being used by the Aztec Indians in 1692.

Phencyclidine (PCP): was developed in the late 1950’s as an intravenous anesthetic, an analgesic (pain- killer), and for the treatment of mental disorders. In 1963 Parke, Davis and Company patented it in the U.S. as a drug named Sernyl. It was discontinued in 1967 for humans, but in 1968 became available to veterinarians for an animal tranquilizer. It currently is made illegally in “under-ground” style laboratories, anywhere, by mixing numerous chemical precursors, which are all very hazardous.

Methamphetamine and/or amphetamine: is a compound, which affect the central nervous system as a stimulant, accelerating it activities. In 1919 a Japanese chemist made the first synthetic substance known as Methylamphetamine. The true chemical compound name is Alpha-methyl-phenethyl-amine, a.k.a.: amphetamine or methamphetamine. Amphetamine is sold and made in the U.S. as a medically prescribed drug used for weight loss aid and a decongestant. Methamphetamine often abused, used as an “upper” by abusers. When it is not obtained legally, it is manufactured in clandestine labs in the U.S. and Mexico.

Unit 3 - Narcotic Identification.  Explain the facts pertaining to the drugs most commonly abused today.

Unit Overview:  

Unit 4 - Narcotic Identification, Packaging & History.  Discuss three different drugs and their symptoms and common packaging methods.

Unit 5 - Narcotic Laws.  Discuss and identify the most common violations.

Unit 6 - Identification of a Drug User.  Identify and discuss three types of drug users and the characteristics associated with the type of drug used.

Unit 7 - Suppression/ Apprehension Techniques for Traffickers.  Describe and discuss methods used to deter and apprehend the traffickers on the land, in the air and at sea.

Unit 8 - Gambling, Prostitution and Sex Crime Investigations.  Describe and discuss the California laws relating to gambling, prostitution, and sex crimes, which will assist them in handling these types of investigations.

Unit 9 - Search and Seizure & Courtroom Procedures and Testimony.  Discuss search and seizure and the 4th Amendment issues and warrant and non-warrant requirements.

Final Examination: Your grade for the course will be weighted as follows: Written Assignments = 50%, Final Exam = 50%. In order to successfully complete the course you MUST complete the written assignments and, take the final examination. If you live within 50 miles of the campus, you MUST take the final examination on campus. You may contact the Learning Assistance Center at (562) 692-0921 x 4016 or 3169 to schedule taking the final exam. The Learning Assistance Center is located at the Police Academy which is on the main campus on Canyon Drive. If you live over 50 miles from the college the exam may be proctored at your location. Contact your instructor for details.

If you experience any difficulty or need any further clarification, contact the Online Coordinator, Carley Mitchell at mitchellcarley@hotmail.com or in an emergency call him at (801) 953-6173.

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