Coca Leaves

This information package presents the results of an international study on cocaine executed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and funded by the United Nations lnterregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI). The material included does not represent the official views of WHO or UNICRI. Conclusions of the study require careful interpretation, particularly when making comparisonsbetween different substances of their harmful health consequences. In no way should it be read that WHO or UNICRI endorse the use of any psychoactive substance. It is recognized that there are risks associated with the use of all such substances.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We would like to express our thanks to the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) and to thegenerous contribution of the Italian Ministry of Interior. The following researchers participated at the WHO/UNICRI Cocaine Project: First Meeting of Project Advisers, Geneva, 24-28 August 1992 Dr Wilson Acuda. Zimbabwe Professor Francesco Bruno. Italy Dr Peter Cohen. The Netherlands Dr Patricia Erickson. Canada Dr Erik Fromberg, The Netherlands Dr Michael Gossop, United Kingdom Mr Anthony Henman,United Kingdom Dr David C. Lewis. USA Dr Michael MacAvoy. Australia Professor Michael Olatawura, Nigeria Dr John Saunders, Australia Dra Elvia Velasquez de Pabon. Colombia

The implementation and development of the WHO/UNICRI Cocaine Project was under the charge of the following researchers: Advisory Committee Ms Maria Elena Andreotti, UNICRI Dr Mario Argandoña, WHO/PSA1 Dr Andrew Ball, WHO/PSAProfessor Francesco Bruno, Rome, ltaly Dr David Lewis, Providence. USA Dr Michael MacAvoy,Sydney,Australia Dr Michael Olatawura, Ibadan, Nigeria Dr Hernan Olivera, Cochabamba, Bolivia

Research Coordinators For the Key Informant Study & Country Profile: Ms Julie Hando, Sydney, Australia Mr Bruce Flaherty, Sydney, Australia Dr Ruthbeth Finerman, Memphis, USA For the Natural History Study: Mr AurelioDiaz, Barcelona, Spain Ms Mila Barruti, Barcelona, Spain

For the Review on Current Knowledge on Cocaine: Professor Francesco Bruno, Rome. Italy Dr Giancarlo Bascone, Rome, ltaly Dr Giuliano Bestiaco, Rome, Italy Dr Iliana Bona, Rome, Italy Dr Dr Dr Dr Gianfranco Costanzo, Rome, ltaly Francesca Fasoli, Rome, Italy Paola Medde, Rome, ltaly Paolo Di Pasquale, Rome, Italy

Principal SiteInvestigators Dr Wilson Acuda, Harare, Zimbabwe Dr. Bruce Alexander,Vancouver, Canada Dr Al Sayed Al Kott, Cairo, Egypt Dr Bengt Andersson, Lund, Sweden Dr Bert Bieleman,Groningen,The Netherlands Dr Marcela Butron. Cochabamba, Bolivia
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Dr Elson Lima, Rio de Janeiro. Brazil Dr Michael MacAvoy, Sydney, Australia Dr Vinicio Moreno, Quito, Ecuador Dr Solange A. Nappo, Sao Paulo. Brazil Dr Rafael Navarro,Lima, Peru Dr Michael Olatawura, Ibadan, Nigeria

WHO's Programme on Substance Abuse

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E.A. Carlini. Sao Paulo. Brazil Dr Hernan Olivera. Cochabamba. Bolivia Don Des Jarlais, New York, U.S.A. Dr Arturo Ortiz, Mexico DF, Mexico Galina A. Korchagina. St Petersburg, Russian Fed.Dr Craig Reinarman, San Francisco. U.S.A. Ibrahim Latheef, Male, Maldives Dr Tony Toneatto,Toronto. Canada Ho Young Lee. Seoul, Republic of Korea Dr Robert Trotter, Flagstaff, U.S.A. David Lewis. Providence. USA Dr Kerstin Tunving2, Lund. Sweden

PSA Secretariat Mr Hans Emblad, Director, PSA Dr Mario Argandoña, Chief, TAC3 Dr Andrew Ball. Medical Officer, TAC Ms Penny Ward, Secretary, TAC Ms Luz Bancale. Secretary, TAC

Preparation of Brief Summaries Mr Dave Burrows, Sydney, Australia DrRuthbeth Finerman, Memphis. USA Ms Aimee Gilliland, Memphis. USA Ms Hanni Hudson. Memphis, USA Ms Cynthia Martin, Memphis. USA Mr Scott Rutter, Memphis. USA

This work has only been possible with the collaboration of many cocaine users and key informants, whose contributions are very much appreciated.

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Dr Tunving died in 1994 & her valuable contribution to the project will be...