Newspaper Page Text
April 23. 1988
THE MERCER CLUSTER
Pace 6
Drug Seminar Successful
by David Sibley
Escape to No Where, the seminar on drug abuse spon
sored by A Ph A — GPhA Student Chapter Southern
School of Pharmacy Mercer University, and Smith. Kline,
French Pharmaceutical Co. was attended by several hundred
students, faculty, and local residents on the afternoon of
April 16.
Dr. Ermutlu discusses Hal-
Despite the length of the pro
gram (three and one half hour*)
most of the audience remained
throughout the afternoon. Modera
ted by Oliver M. Littlejohn, Ph.D.,
Dean of the Southern School of
Pharmacy of Mercer University,
the seminar included three sepa
rate addressee, and was concluded
by a panel discussion with ques
tions from the audience.
Norman Doorenbos, Ph.D.,
opened the program with a dis
cussion entitled Smoking and
Health. Though the question of
health hazards from smoking has
become worn. Dr. Doorenbos’ tech
nical and realistic presentation
seemed to have an appreciable ef
fect on the audience. According
to Dr. Doorenbos, smoking tobac
co is a form of drug abuse. He
added that the correlation between
smoking and disease is not ne
cessarily a now concept Over a
century ago a paper was published
by .a French physician suggesting
that smoking tobacco might be
harmful. The Frenchman found
a remarkable correspondence be
tween patients with cancer of the
oral cavity, and patients who
smoked. It was in 1949 that the
American Cancer Society first
spoke out against cigarettes as a
direct cause of lung cancer.
Trimble questions imprison
ing alcoholics.
In order to simplify his discus
sion, Dr. Doorenbos divided it in
to three sections according to spe
cific diseases. Speaking first of
cancer, he said that the lungs, oral
cavity, and bladder were the areas
most susceptible to cancer. Among
several of the frightening facts he
included were: 1. approximate
ly twenty chemicals in cigarette
srnoks cause cancer; 2. twenty oth
er chemicals in the smoke also
causa cancer when connected with
the first twenty; 3. every person
who has smoked a pack of ciga
rettes a day for twenty years has
pre-cancer cells; 4. smoking a pack
af cigarettes a day shortens the
person’s life span four bourn for
every day. Ha other two ailments
on which he spoke wan
me and canho-vascular
In Dr. Deamnbos morbid
ly dsarrihsd several cases of di-
Several interesting questions a-
rose during the question and an
swer period after Dr. Doorenbos’
talk. When asked what would take
place should a person stop smok
ing, he answered that within five
to seven years the lungs would be
come completely clear of tar, and
the pre-cancer cells would die off.
Another question concerned drugs
which are intended to aid a person
to stop smoking. The doctor com
mented that there definitely were
drugs which are intended to aid
a person to stop smoking, by ful
filling the smoker’s desire for nic
otine.
Following Dr. Doorenbos, Ilhan
Ermutlu, M.D., addressed the au
dience on hallucinagenic drugs. Ac
cording to Dr. Ermultu, a hallu
cinogenic drug is one which causes
a change in the state of conscious
ness or perception. Hallucinogenic
drugs have a long history, prob
ably dating back as far as early civ
ilized man. Contrary to the im
pression given by press sensa
tionalism, Dr. Ermutlu said that
statistics show only about 1% of
the student bodies which have
been questioned have taken LSD,
and about 6% have smoked mari
juana.
Since there are forty known sub
stances which are considered psy
chedelic (mind expanding). Dr. Er
mutlu chose to concentrate on
three. DMT, which is made from
the ingredients in the seeds of a
tropical plant, is usually smoked,
turns on the partaker immediately,
and lasts twenty to thirty minutes.
LSD was introduced into the Uni
ted States in 1949, and during the
following years it was kept in the
hands of scientific researchers.
In the early sixties two Harvard
professors were responsible for
initiating non-scientific experi-
mediation with the drug. LSD,
which is taken in extremely small
quantity, begins to affect the user
twenty to thirty minutes after in
gestion. and lasts approximately
twelve hours.
Although LSD, taken in proper
quantity, is neither poisonous nor
physically habit-forming, it is psy
chologically habit forming. During
the question and answer period
following Dr. Ermutlu’s lecture,
it was learned that evidence points
to genetic defects resulting from
the use of LSD, but he emphasized
that insufficient research has been
conducted thus far to confirm
this theory. Marijuana is a rela
tively mild hallucinogen which was
first introduced in Europe about
1600 B.C., and in the U.S. about
sixty years ago. It is usually
smoked, and the effects last from
three to five hours. The greatest
controversy of the seminar cen
tered on the relative danger of
marijuana as opposed to alcohoL
Dr. Ermultu conceded that as far
as is known today, marijuana is
not physically habit forming
(which alcohol is), and it is less
harmful to the body than either
cigarettes or alcohol. Naturally,
the students questioned its illega
lity. ; •• •, ' ..
In summation Dr. Ermultu listed
the physical and af
fects of hallucinogens in general.
Physically they may cause ^dixxi-
naas, dry mouth, and hot and cold
flashes. Psychologically they may
cause perceptual distortions, time
distortions, mood changes, rapid
snccsasioh of thoughts, delusions,
abnormal body ssneetioas, impaired
Dr. Lopez speaking on Al-
cohoL
of hallucination without drugs
(called acid flashes); panic; ex
tended period of psychosis; and
unpredictability of behavior. Al
though there is some therapeutic
valur in hallucinogens for psycho
logical disorders. Dr. Ermultu add
ed that they are usually taken out
of curiosity or a desire for social
ization.
The final speaker was Vicent
Lopez, Ph.D., who spoke on am
phetamines, and alcohol. Amphe
tamines, he said, were closely re
lated to natural substances found
in the human body which enable
a person to function under stress.
In addition to medicinal effects.
Dr. Lopez cited overcoming con
fusion, increased motor and speech
activity, feeling of euphoria, and
overcoming sleepiness as other de
sirable effects. He emphasized the
fact that these drugs did not in
crease a person's ability to per
form work. Dr. Lopez also added
that cafeine, which has no side
effects and is not an amphetamine,
would increase ability to perform
work. Harmful side—effects in
curred by the use of amphetamines
of motor movement TVs undesir
able effects stated were the pot-
whom he knew per sflrihty of ctwvnhhun; psychologl-
Interested student • s k s
question.
are that they are toxic, that they
can cause many physical side-ef
fects, and that they can increase
homicidal and suicidal tendencies.
Dr. Lopez lashed out at another
use for these drugs, which is curb
ing obesity. Why he asked, should
a person who must have a crutch
to reduce overeating choose drugs
with all their side-effects?
Concerning alcohol. Dr. Lopez
re-emphasized its well-known haz
ards, such as over-indulgence, di
seases of the kidneys and liver,
and attack on the central nervous
system. He also pointed out sev
eral lass publicised facts. For in
stance, alcohol is a depressant, not
a stimulant, and it can cause respi
ration to cease. An interesting de
bate occurred btween Mm and Dr.
Doorenbos when Dr. Lopez advo
cated the use of alcohol in mode
ration. Dr. Doorenbos wss ada
mantly oppaaad to any use of al
cohol, no doubt brightening the
day of many Mercer administra
tors. ■
When Dr. Lopaa had concluded,
a panel diocusston took place in
which the audience had the oppor
tunity to qoestiuu the authorities.
A* a result of this discussion, the
’ (Contfamed on Page 9)
The Washington Riots;
An Eye Witness Report
(Four Mercer students and a professor
tional Forensic Conference of Delta Sigma
Fanatic Conference of
an honorary forensic fratemit
The following article
rnity, on April 7-
written
by Allen Wallace
On the outskirts of Washington smoke could still be
rising from the section of the city which had been the see
looting and burning on the previous two nights. By noon on
Sunday the Army had restored some semblance of order and
the firemen were extinguishing the last of the more than 760
fires that had been ignited by the rioters.
Washington no longer looked
like the capital of a democratic
nation. Soldiers in jeeps patrolled
the streets; there were soldiers on
almost every comer, and they worn
ready for any recurrence of trail- is a tense city, and that ,
ble. Their bayonets had bean fixed
to their rifles. A 4:00 pjn. curfew
had been imposed by the mayor,
and “anyone found on the streets
after this time is subject to arrest”
announced the loud speakers in
the patrol cars. Freedom of move
ment had been curtailed in order
to prevent further disorder.
The following night from our
eighth floor hotel we were watching
the four soldiers at the intersec
tion below stopping the few cars
that were on the streets despite
the curfew. Suddenly four jeeps
pulled up on the* curb, these were
soon joined by two D. C. patrol
cars and three motorcycle police
men. Three policemen appeared
around the side of the building
opposite us just as two track
loads of additional troops arrived.
The searchlight was scanning the
twelve stories of the building when
a group of the soldiers unexpect
edly turned and looked up at our
window. Nonchantly my roommate
waved to them. Shortly the men
below left, apparently having sat
isfied themselves that no trouble
was imminent; and the situation
returned to “normal”.
Three hours later a shot was
fired from our hotel. The few
soldiers below dropped to the side
walk and then sought cover be
hind the columns of the building.
Almost immediately soldiers rushed
into the hotel and searched two
rooms in the area where the shot
appeared to have been fired, but
by that time the sniper had dis
appeared. The excitement soon
dissipated; and many people in Rw
hotel were not oven aware that
anything bad bappsnad, since it
had occurred so rapidly.
A city that has been ton by riots
becomes a part of
then. Foot becomes a primary
motion. Carpenter* could bo mm
on the sidewalks cutting plywood
to place over store windows. Fbo-
plo innocently looking at die Whits
Hone were atad to “move along;
the Secret Sondes doesn't want
anyone congregating hers.” I my
self felt a moment of panic when
a car pulled
I was walking in o relatively de
serted section of the city near the
Capitol. Even though the driver
only asked directions to a certain
building, the experience woe net
soon forgotten.
The pictures and reports on tele
vision of what was happening is
Washington hod seemed like a mod
era parallel to Orson Welles' rodie
enactment of “The War of tbs
Worlds” in the 1990’s until we saw
the smoking buildings, until ws
saw the slogan “Cops breed vio
lence” written on sidewalk, until
we sensed die tendon and (w
ourselves, until we saw —f^-i
outside the White House, the Capi
tol, the Lincoln Memorial
The absurdity of the rituatiaa
became apparent only as peopit
stopped to take pictures of tin
newly bines timing tulips, or as tour
ists trying to indelibly
“non-riot” impression of Washing
ton into their minds clustered a-
round President Kennedy’* grave
and snapped their pictures, or M
an elderly lady approached a group
of soldiers and politely asked direc
tion*. How different is the day
from the night
Obscene Scenes
The Moonshine Bar and Grill i
very quiet last night. In fact I was
about to bead back to ole Worm
wood Hall when suddenly the door
flew open and soma entertainment
slithered in. I looked at the amus
ing new face* at the bar and con
cluded that either everyone had
just come from a party at Mr.
Rosey’s apartment or faculty meet
ing had just adjourned. With no
further delay, I shall now relate to
you (as closely as is here permis
sible) the interesting conversation
which I was so privileged to over-
' Brother Humble,” said Dean
Limrix, "Why do you think we've
had so many Panty Raida and how
in the H-B-C-K can w* stop than?”
“Well, Foe, perhaps this new gen
eration of boys is just very child
ish," spoke Dean Thimble bouncing
a little red ball on the dirty con
crete floor.
“I think it all
sexual frustrations.'
Blooper as she dropped
in the Juke Box.
jAt this point, Rufus the bartend
er brought each of the new arrived*
a bottle of Bud and said, “It’s on
the House!”
“Where the Hell have you basn,"
raked Dean Sotto. “I haven't seen
you-around hare lately ”
“Well, I've base to South Africa,
too,* replied ta fat bar-
Placing • straw into Mo bottle,
Dean Lsmrix sold. “Now back *
the subject of Panty Raida”
At this point Heddy NuBanvoif
emerged from Mo ofaoouro cavern of
silence “Doan TWuihls." ho sold,
“I disagree with you. PMfeeopM-
colly speaking, we a
logically uschfa fat the
who participate physically in the«
Panty Raids are mentally searchhg
for the ultimate reality.” He ffaritjr
lit the Cigarette which h* had hem
using to aapharise I
point
“Yes, yes, quite right
right” exclaimed Dr. Twain
ding his little head.
“Well, I know on* thing.”
Officer Really. “I'm going to atari
carrying two bullets if they
up like this.”
“Honestly, I just do not know
how to handle this kind of sttae-
tfam. Others, yea But tide one, no
What does one say to thorn?” aakef
Doan Lsrarix. Dr. fetto woo
family.
“WoQ, jnst ae I once aoid—'
the bartender interrupted.
“Rode, Undo," said Ratal “Yra
t ura language lta tat is
my bar.” With this he fans
the bar and patted Dr. Sotte on rigid
who fiat
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