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. Narrated by the addict, the stories unfold and reach from the experiences of a persons darkest moment to their ultimate triumph. 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 cia s office of the inspector general. Published on may 19, 20 bbc documentary originally broadcast in 1992 which examines the increase of crack cocaine use in the uk. Documenting the ravages of the 1980s crack epidemic al. It refuted charges that cia officials knew that their nicaraguan allies were dealing drugs. Measuring crack cocaine and its impact harvard university. A jailed drug barons wife attempts to carry on the family business. Just like afghanistan, mujahideen, taliban, al qaeda, 911 and more. This non12step mens facility in canada offers individualized and comprehensive addiction treatment which leads to personal transformation. Ross used the cocaine imported by the cia to set up a cocainedistribution network in major cities throughout the united states.
This is an extremely interesting and eyeopening documentary of cia experiments performed on unwitting human candidates throughout the 1960s. Special reports cocaine, conspiracy theories and the cia. These events led to what is known as the crack epidemic in the. The effect on the crack epidemic in the 80s helped the youth of today, to make better choices in life concerning this addictive drug. Watching the freeway documentary about crack in the us on. But i do not believe the cia caused the crack epidemic. Mar 23, 2014 renowned documentary photographer eugene richards bore witness to the ravages of the crack epidemic that gripped the northeast in the 1980s. According to the series, blandon was the johnny appleseed of crack in californiadistributing thousands of kilos of colombian cocaine to black dealers like ricky ross. I has destroyed african american people, culture, and communities. Outraged at cia role in drug trade duke university. In this case, the cia s activities led to the crack epidemic in americas inner cities, which caused american citizens much pain and misery. Crack epidemic stories disappeared almost as suddenly as they had appeared. Id love to hear back on your impressions of the documentary.
Cia involvement in contra cocaine trafficking wikipedia. 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. Small doses of it are smoked into the lungs and delivered quickly to the brain. Crips to sell crack in cincinnati in 1987 and that he sold cocaine. 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. In a scene from the new movie kill the messenger, investigative. Over two thousand tons of highly sensitive and valu. The crack epidemic the history of crack cocaine drugfree. According to one article, the cocaine that flooded in through blandons drug ring helped spark a crack explosion in. Renowned documentary photographer eugene richards bore witness to the ravages of the crack epidemic that gripped the northeast in the 1980s.
Did the cia play a role in launching the crack cocaine epidemic. Jul 06, 2014 former washington post crime reporter ruben castaneda has admitted to being addicted to crack cocaine while covering washington, d. Ciacrack cocaine scandal resurfaces in new film, documentary. His book cocaine true, cocaine blue documents the brutal realities facing communities affected by the drug. Gary webb linked the cia to americas introduction to crack cocaine. Most popular crack cocaine movies and tv shows imdb. But trumps characterisation of the source of the opioid crisis was more disturbing. Allegations of a cia connection to crack cocaine epidemic. Crack addiction documentary hitting rock bottom is a docudrama webseries that tells true stories of addiction and recovery. Teddy mcdonald carter hudson, a cia operative running from a.
On a recent day, a group of crack users gathers at one center to watch a documentary and talk about drugs and society. The documentary series then delves into the rise of the cocaine cowboys, a secret island cocaine base, the cias connection to the crack epidemic, the history of the cartels and their murderous tactics, the era of just say no, the negative effect of nafta, and the unlikely career of an almost famous midwest meth queen. The true story of the 1980s crack epidemic is still untold. Did the cia play a role in launching the crackcocaine epidemic. Webb also alleged that this influx of nicaraguansupplied cocaine sparked, and significantly fueled, the widespread crack cocaine epidemic that swept through many u. The cia and the cocainecrack epidemic unknown binding january 1, 1993 4. Webbs story made the extraordinary claim that the central intelligence agency was responsible for the crack cocaine epidemic in america. There is a documentary called freeway rick ross that details the cia s involvement. The true victim was the crackaddicted infant one of the drug dealers.
Former washington post reporter admits being crack addict. By 2002, the united kingdom was experiencing their own crack epidemic, with the number of crack addicts seeking help climbing nearly 50% that year. It is one of the most highly additive and destructive drugs in the world. Usually the cia s activities have harmful effects on innocent civilians in foreign countries. Heres how the crack epidemic brought a city to its knees. The uk reported an increase of 74% in seizures of crack cocaine in drug raids between 2000 and 2006.
A powerful series by investigative reporter gary webb of the san jose mercury news says the answer may be yesand the charge. The answer is the same as it was a decade ago following a central intelligence agency cialed invasion of afghanistan. It has long been known that the cia has illegally toppled foreign governments. A powerful series by investigative reporter gary webb of the san jose mercury news says the answer may be yes. Crack cocaine was popularized because of its affordability, its immediate euphoric effect, and its high profitability. Feb 04, 2018 it is obvious that the cia supported the drug traffickers who supported the contras. The crack epidemic had particularly devastating effects. The crack epidemic started by the assistance of the f. The crack epidemic in the united states was a surge of crack cocaine use in major cities across. Crack epidemic united states history 1980s britannica. Caught and then convicted to life in prison during the mid90s, freeway rick reduced his sentence to 20 years an extremely rare feat. By 1985, cocainerelated hospital emergencies rose by 12 percent, from. A series of expose articles in the san jose mercurynews by reporter gary webb told tales of a drug.
The igs report cleared the cia of complicity with the innercity crack cocaine trade. A commonheld belief was that the cia flooded the black community with crack so. This creates a short high, followed by tiredness, depression, panic, anxiety, and brain damage. Oct 11, 2014 back in 1996, gary webb of the san jose mercury news broke a story stating not only that the nicaraguan contras supported by the united states in a rebellion against their leftleaning government were involved in the us crack cocaine epidemic of the 1980s, but also that the cia knew and turned a blind eye to the operation. The us government cia is responsible for the crack epidemic. Decadesold cia crackcocaine scandal gains new momentum rt.
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. Webbs story became notable as the first major journalism cause celebre on the newly emerging internet. It is more a fall out effect of typical cia meddling. In the article there is a story told to banks by a police officer where he states he had arrested a 9yearold for stealing food from a liquor store and then found that the boy was trying to feed his three young. Now part of 5,529 documentaries online and counting. Cia and cocaine how the cia sparked the crackepidemic. People in the us and outside pay a high price for the way the cia operates.
The invention of crack represented a technological innovation that dramatically widened the availability and use of cocaine in inner cities. In 1996 the agency was accused of being a crack dealer. A conservative judge is appointed by the president to spearhead americas escalating war against drugs, only to discover that his teenage daughter is a crack addict. Former washington post crime reporter ruben castaneda has admitted to being addicted to crack cocaine while covering washington, d. A number of writers have alleged that the united states central intelligence agency cia was involved in cocaine trafficking during the 1980s. Ciacontracrack cocaine controversy department of justice. As extreme as some cocaineinduced behaviors can be, they are relatively mild when compared with the behavior induced by crack, a derivative of cocaine. The then first lady made not a jot of difference to the crack epidemic in the 1980s. Teddy mcdonald carter hudson, a cia operative running from a dark past. Panorama crack cocaine uk documentary 1992 youtube. Aug 30, 2012 one of the most talked about conspiracy theories of the mid80s and early 90s had to do with the crack epidemic. Mar 09, 2017 ross used the cocaine imported by the cia to set up a cocainedistribution network in major cities throughout the united states. Welcome to the largest and best curated collection of documentaries on the planet. In 1989, 64 percent of the public had said that drugs were.
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