SPOTLIGHT NOW ON LEGAL OPIATE DODA

Doda, or dried poppy flower powder, may finally be on the way to
officially being recognized as a drug in Canada, and banned from being
sold in retail outlets.

The first shot against the opium family derivative was fired last week by
Peel Police, when they raided a meat shop in Brampton and charged a man
who was allegedly selling pure opium along with powdered poppy flower.

More interestingly, after years of what had been widely accepted as a
narcotic by community members, the government apparatus is finally taking
a closer look at the dried poppy flowers, widely sold over the counter by
meat shops throughout the GTA, particularly in the Region of Peel.

Significantly, the Region of Peel is also urging Canada add poppy powder
to the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.

"At this time there is no safe level of usage for poppy powder," Peel
Public Health spokesperson Allison Imrie told SA Focus.

The moves come after Brampton City Councillor Vicky Dhillon this summer
began to take a lead role in spearheading the fight against doda by
seeking to raise public awareness about the manner in which the narcotic
was being abused by residents, particularly by some in the South Asian
community, among whom doda is widely considered a narcotic.

Community leaders say the dried poppy flower powder is in particular
abused by cabbies and by truck drivers plying long-distance routes, since
doda is supposed to keep a person going for long hours while enabling him
to stay focused on the job.

It is, however, turning many in the community into drug addicts, they add.
Worse, the problem is now spreading into our high schools, and to our
children.

Awareness that the matter needs to be studied more carefully is now
spreading.

Imrie agrees: "Poppy powder is a growing issue in Peel. We recommend
taking precautions when it comes to this substance since this belongs to
the opioid family which forms the base for heroin, morphine, and
prescription drugs like Tylenol 3."

She indicated Peel would advocate further scrutiny into doda, while
emphasizing there is at present "no safe level of usage" given the limited
documented information about poppy powder and its effects.

Police Action

The officials certainly mean business, judging by the police action
against Nath Meat and Chicken Deli last week.

Morality Bureau officers raided the store in Brampton's north-east last
week and seized more than $10,000 worth of opium pods along with 38.4
kilos of doda, said Peel Const. Wayne Patterson.

The doda seized has been sent to Health Canada for analysis, and details
are awaited. But regardless of the level of opiate in the powder,
Patterson said police are alleging pure opium was being sold from the
store.

"Ashwani Bhangal, 42, has been charged with three counts of drug
trafficking and one count of drug possession for the purpose of
trafficking," he told SA Focus.

The police raid and a subsequent search warrant at a Brampton house were
the result of an investigation sparked by community complaints.

Stressing the use of doda is a serious problem, Councillor Dhillon noted
Brampton is known as the Flower City, but we cannot afford poppy flowers,
which would prove too heady an opiate.

Poisoning Society: Dhillon

"Most people are aware opium is an illegal drug. Most people are also
aware that opium is derived from a variety of the poppy flower," he said.

"Poppy flower powder is available in a number of meat shops and flea
markets. Various outlets are openly selling poppy flowers to our children,
at an eminently affordable price of $10 for 10 grams- and just two
tablespoons of this powder, swallowed with a glass of water, is enough to
make a person super hyper.

"I have discovered that local meat shops in Brampton are also mixing some
additional chemicals into the poppy powder to make it even stronger and
more potent," he added.

Further, some abusers reportedly mix doda with alcohol, making for a heady
cocktail-but one which could have long-term health ramifications.

While more research needs to be conducted into poppy powder, Dr. Steven
Black of Malton Medical Group had earlier said while commenting on the
manner of its usage in Peel: "The symptoms are the same as opium and, if
you took what these guys are taking, you will probably die. It's very
difficult to get off."

Dhillon urged Region of Peel inspectors be empowered to assist our
community in monitoring and deterring these local shops from producing,
selling and poisoning our society.

"The challenge facing us now is to raise more awareness, help our
community and support our children in making healthy choices," he added.

The Loophole

- Doda, or poppy powder, is made by grinding seeds and buds from poppy
plants. The poppy plant yields opium, which contains varied levels of
codeine and morphine.

- At present, there exists no verifiable documentation on the level of
codeine or morphine in the powder.

- While the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act by Health Canada makes it
illegal to produce, possess or sell opium and its derivatives, except
poppy seeds, poppy husk or powder is not enlisted in the banned drug items
as per the Canadian Anti-Drug laws.

- The physical and cognitive effects of poppy powder have been reported to
include quick, intense feelings of pleasure, followed by a sense of
well-being and a calm drowsiness; red eyes; slurred speech; mood swings;
constipation; impotence; body aches; loss of appetite and ability to
concentrate; potential breathing problems; reports that users can 'stay up
longer'; addiction; and even death.