52-666: The Pirus are a subset of the larger Bloods gang alliance, an organized crime group in the United States. The name "Piru" is derived from the Piru Street Boys, a gang which was founded in 1969 by Sylvester Scott and Vincent Owens in Compton . The Piru Street Boys are considered the forerunners to the Bloods, which is why the terms "Piru" and "Blood" are often used interchangeably. However, this interchangeable use of
104-660: A mandatory minimum sentence of five years without parole for possession of five grams of crack; to receive the same sentence with powder cocaine one had to have 500 grams. This sentencing disparity was reduced from 100-to-1 to 18-to-1 by the Fair Sentencing Act of 2010. In the United Kingdom, crack is a Class A drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 . In the Netherlands it is a List 1 drug of
156-590: A $ 1000–2000 fine and/or six months to a year imprisonment. In the United States, cocaine is a Schedule II drug under the Controlled Substances Act , indicating that it has a high abuse potential but also carries a medicinal purpose. Under the Controlled Substances Act, crack and cocaine are considered the same drug. The Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986 increased penalties for crack cocaine possession and usage. It mandated
208-434: A dog paw mark, represented by three dots, often burned with a cigarette on their right shoulder. Other UBN symbols include a bulldog and a bull. The Bloods gang is a network of individual chapters known as " sets ". These sets are often loosely connected, having their own leader(s) and operating independently from one another. Crack cocaine Crack cocaine , commonly known simply as crack , and also known as rock ,
260-493: A loosely structured association of smaller street gangs, known as "sets", that have a common gang culture. Each set has its own leader and generally operates independently from the others. Most Bloods members are African-American males, although some sets have recruited female members as well as members from other races and ethnic backgrounds. Members range in age from early teens to mid-20s, but some hold leadership positions into their late twenties and occasionally thirties. There
312-788: A membership of between approximately 15,000 and 20,000 active in 123 cities and in 33 U.S. states, primarily on the West Coast and, to a lesser extent, the Great Lakes region and the Southeast . Gangs including Bloods have been documented in the U.S. military , in both U.S. and overseas bases. Blood sets also operate in the Canadian cities of Montreal and Toronto . Bloods members identify themselves through various indicators, such as colors, clothing, symbols, tattoos, jewelry, graffiti, language, and hand signs. The Bloods' gang color
364-445: A person has been involved with a particular set. The ranks do not signify leadership or dominance over the set; they merely signify respect for those who have been in the set longer and have survived the longest. Those with a higher rank do not have a position of authority over those of lower rank. Bloods members commonly call themselves CKs (Crip Killer), MOBs (Member of Bloods), dawgs, or ballers (meaning drug dealers). The gang has
416-485: A person might binge for 3 or more days without sleep, while inhaling hits from a pipe. Use of cocaine in a binge, during which the drug is taken repeatedly and at increasingly high doses, leads to a state of increasing irritability, restlessness, and paranoia . This may result in total paranoid psychosis , in which the individual loses touch with reality and experiences auditory hallucinations. Large amounts of crack cocaine (several hundred milligrams or more) intensify
468-597: A primarily African-American street gang which was founded in Los Angeles , California. The gang is widely known for its rivalry with the Crips . It is identified by the red color worn by its members and by particular gang symbols , including distinctive hand signs. The Bloods comprise various subgroups known as " sets ", among which significant differences exist, such as colors, clothing, operations, and political ideas that may be in open conflict with each other. Since
520-444: A spoon. Once mixed and heated, the bicarbonate reacts with the hydrochloride of the powder cocaine, forming free base cocaine and carbonic acid (H 2 CO 3 ) in a reversible acid-base reaction. The heating accelerates the degradation of carbonic acid into carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) and water. Loss of CO 2 prevents the reaction from reversing back to cocaine hydrochloride. Free base cocaine separates as an oily layer, floating on
572-537: A stroke, irreversible brain damage, or a heart attack. An appreciable tolerance to cocaine's high may develop, with many addicts reporting that they seek but fail to achieve as much pleasure as they did from their first experience. Some users will frequently increase their doses to intensify and prolong the euphoric effects. While tolerance to the high can occur, users might also become more sensitive ( drug sensitization ) to cocaine's local anesthetic (painkilling) and convulsant (seizure-inducing) effects, without increasing
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#1732794272066624-540: A strong sense of commitment to their set and are extremely dangerous because of their willingness to use violence both to obtain the respect of gang members and to respond to any person who "disrespects" the set. "Associates" are not full members, but identify with the gang and take part in various criminal activities. To the extent that women belong to the gang, they are usually associates and tend to be used by their male counterparts to carry weapons, hold drugs, or prostitute themselves to make money for their set. Recruitment
676-570: Is a free base form of the stimulant cocaine that can be smoked . Crack offers a short, intense high to smokers. The Manual of Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment calls it the most addictive form of cocaine. Crack cocaine first saw widespread use as a recreational drug in primarily impoverished neighborhoods in New York City , Philadelphia , Baltimore , Washington, D.C. , Los Angeles , San Francisco , and Miami in late 1984 and 1985; this rapid increase in use and availability
728-445: Is commonly used as a recreational drug. Effects of crack cocaine include euphoria , supreme confidence, loss of appetite, insomnia , alertness , increased energy, a craving for more cocaine, and potential paranoia (ending after use). Its initial effect is to release a large amount of dopamine , a brain chemical inducing feelings of euphoria. The high usually lasts from five to ten minutes, after which time dopamine levels in
780-557: Is meant as an insult to the rival group and its symbols. Bloods members also have a distinctive slang. They greet each other using the word "Blood" and often avoid using words with the letter "C". Bloods use hand signs to communicate with one another. Hand signs may be a singular movement, like the American Sign Language letter "B", or a series of movements using one or both hands for more complex phrases. United Blood Nation (UBN) or East Coast Bloods initiates often receive
832-417: Is much more addictive when smoked must be reexamined." They argued that cocaine users who are already prone to abuse are most likely to "move toward a more efficient mode of ingestion" (that is, smoking). The intense desire to recapture the initial high is what is so addictive for many users. On the other hand, Reinarman et al. wrote that the nature of crack addiction depends on the social context in which it
884-578: Is no known national leader of the Bloods but individual Blood sets have a hierarchical leadership structure with identifiable levels of membership. These levels of membership indicate status within a gang. A leader, typically an older member with a more extensive criminal background, runs each set. A set leader is not elected but rather asserts himself by developing and managing the gang's criminal enterprises through his reputation for violence and ruthlessness and his charisma. The majority of set members are called "soldiers", who are typically 16 to 22. Soldiers have
936-432: Is often influenced by a recruit's environment. Bloods recruit heavily among school-age youth in poor African-American communities. Gang membership offers youth a sense of belonging and protection. It also offers immediate gratification to economically disadvantaged youth who desire the trappings of gang life, such as gold jewelry, cash, and expensive sports clothing. Blood sets have a loose structure of ranks based on how long
988-471: Is red. They like to wear sports clothing, including jackets that show their gang color. The most commonly used Bloods symbols include the number "5", the five-pointed star, and the five-pointed crown. These symbols are meant to show the Bloods' affiliation with the People Nation , a large coalition of affiliates created to protect alliance members in federal and state prison. These symbols may be seen in
1040-400: Is used and the psychological characteristics of users, pointing out that many heavy crack users can go for days or weeks without using the drug. A typical response among users is to have another hit of the drug; however, the levels of dopamine in the brain take a long time to replenish themselves, and each hit taken in rapid succession leads to progressively less intense highs. Nonetheless,
1092-486: The Controlled Drugs and Substances Act , crack is not differentiated from cocaine and other coca products. However, the court may weigh the socio-economic factors of crack usage in sentencing. As a guideline, Schedule I drugs carry a maximum seven-year prison sentence for possession for an indictable offense and up to life imprisonment for trafficking and production. A summary conviction on possession carries
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#17327942720661144-629: The Latin Kings and Ñetas who were targeting African-American gang members. UBN is a loose confederation of predominantly African-American street gangs. Once released from prison, UBN leaders went back to their New York neighborhoods, where they retained the Bloods name and started recruiting members. UBN has between 7,000 and 15,000 members in the Eastern US. It makes its income through various criminal activities, including distribution of crack cocaine and smuggling drugs into prison. Bloods are
1196-482: The United States ) crack falls under the same category as cocaine . In Australia, crack falls under the same category as cocaine, which is listed as a Schedule 8 controlled drug , indicating that any substances and preparations for therapeutic use under this category have a high potential for abuse and addiction. It is permitted for some medical use but is otherwise outlawed. As a Schedule I substance under
1248-560: The Bloods, as the members of this alliance called each other "blood". Eventually, more Piru sets would form. There are 15 known Piru sets within the Greater Los Angeles area. Piru sets have fought against each other. For example, the Mob Piru and Fruit Town Piru developed a rivalry by the late 1990s, which resulted in the murders of several Mob Pirus associated with Death Row Records . Bloods The Bloods are
1300-518: The Piru Street Boys were initially associated with the Crips , but later had a falling-out. However, other sources dispute any alliance, claiming that the Piru Street Boys were victimised by the Crips. Nevertheless, by the early 1970s, the Piru Street Boys formed an alliance with other smaller street gangs such as the Brims, Bishops and Denver Lanes, which also opposed the Crips. This alliance became known as
1352-535: The Pirus to create a new federation of non-Crips neighborhoods. This alliance became the Bloods. The Pirus are therefore considered the founders of the Bloods. By 1978, there were 15 Blood sets. Crips still outnumbered Bloods 3 to 1. To assert their power, the Bloods became increasingly violent. During the 1980s, Bloods began distributing crack cocaine in Los Angeles. Blood membership soon rose dramatically as did
1404-462: The affected people believe they have, or feel, parasites crawling under their skin (similar delusions may also be associated with high fever or in connection with alcohol withdrawal , sometimes accompanied by visual hallucinations of insects—see delirium tremens ). People experiencing these hallucinations might scratch themselves to the extent of serious skin damage and bleeding, especially when they are delirious. Paranoia and anxiety are among
1456-674: The baby to grow poorly. As a result, cocaine-exposed babies are more likely than unexposed babies to be born with low birth weight (less than 5.5 lb or 2.5 kg). Low-birthweight babies are 20 times more likely to die in their first month of life than normal-weight babies, and face an increased risk of lifelong disabilities such as mental retardation and cerebral palsy. Cocaine-exposed babies also tend to have smaller heads, which generally reflect smaller brains. Some studies suggest that cocaine-exposed babies are at increased risk of birth defects, including urinary tract defects and, possibly, heart defects. Cocaine also may cause an unborn baby to have
1508-625: The blood stream, and reaches the brain in eight seconds. Crack cocaine can also be injected intravenously with the same effect as powder cocaine. However, whereas powder cocaine dissolves in water, crack must be dissolved in an acidic solution such as lemon juice (containing citric acid ) or white vinegar (containing acetic acid ), a process that effectively reverses the original conversion of powder cocaine to crack. Harm reduction and public health agencies may distribute packets of citric acid or ascorbic acid (vitamin C) for this purpose. Crack cocaine
1560-581: The brain plummet, leaving the user feeling depressed and low. When (powder) cocaine is dissolved and injected , the absorption into the bloodstream is at least as rapid as the absorption of the drug which occurs when crack cocaine is smoked, and similar euphoria may be experienced. The short-term physiological effects of cocaine include constricted blood vessels, dilated pupils , and increased temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure. Some users of cocaine report feelings of restlessness, irritability, and anxiety. In rare instances, sudden death can occur on
1612-410: The dose taken; this increased sensitivity may explain some deaths occurring after apparent low doses of cocaine. Crack cocaine is popularly thought to be the most addictive form of cocaine. However, this claim has been contested: Morgan and Zimmer wrote that available data indicated that "smoking cocaine by itself does not increase markedly the likelihood of dependence ... The claim that cocaine
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1664-412: The edges when near a flame (crack vaporizes at 90 °C, 194 °F). Crack cocaine sold on the streets may be adulterated (or "cut") with other substances mimicking the appearance of crack to increase bulk. Use of toxic adulterants such as levamisole , a drug used to treat parasitic worm infections, has been documented. Sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO 3 , common baking soda) is a base used in
1716-548: The first "Bloods" gang. Owens subsequently established the West Piru gang. The Bloods was initially formed to provide members protection from the Crips. Many of the non-Crip gangs used to call one another "blood". On March 21, 1972, shortly after a concert featuring Wilson Pickett and Curtis Mayfield , 20 youths belonging to the Crips attacked and robbed Robert Ballou Jr. outside the Hollywood Palladium . Ballou
1768-475: The first use of cocaine or unexpectedly thereafter. Cocaine-related deaths are often a result of cardiac arrest or seizures followed by respiratory arrest. Like other forms of cocaine, smoking crack can increase heart rate and blood pressure, leading to long-term cardiovascular problems. Some research suggests that smoking crack or free base cocaine has additional health risks compared to other methods of taking cocaine. Many of these issues relate specifically to
1820-480: The gang's creation, it has branched throughout the United States. The Bloods gang was formed initially to compete against the influence of the Crips in Los Angeles. The rivalry originated in the late 1960s when Raymond Washington and other Crips attacked Sylvester Scott and Benson Owens, two students at Centennial High School in Compton, California . As a result, Scott formed the Piru Street Boys ,
1872-1037: The ghost ; cavvy ; chemical ; chewies ; cloud ; cloud nine ; crills ; crunch and munch ; dip ; famous dimes ; fan ; fish scale ; fries ; fry ; glo ; golfball ; gravel ; grit ; hail ; hamburger helper ; hard ; hubba ; ice cube ; kangaroo ; kibbles and bits ; kibbles ; krills ; lightem ; paste ; patico ; pebbles ; pee wee ; pony ; raw ; ready ; ready rocks ; redi rocks ; roca ; rock ; rooster ; rox ; Roxanne ; scud ; Scotty ; scramble ; scruples ; seven-up ; sleet ; snowballs ; stones ; teeth ; tension ; top gun ; tweak ; ultimate ; wash ; white cloud ; work ; yahoo ; yale ; yay ; yayoo ; yeah-O ; yeyo ; yeo ; and yuck . Crack cocaine may be combined with amphetamine ("croak"); tobacco ("coolie"); marijuana ("buddha"; "caviar"; "chronic"; "cocoa puffs"; "fry daddy"; "gimmie"; "gremmie"; "juice"; "primo"; "torpedo"; "turbo"; "woolie"; "woola"); heroin ("moon rock"); and phencyclidine ("clicker"; "p-funk"; "spacebase"). Crack smoking ("hitting
1924-405: The lungs (pulmonary edema) , interstitial pneumonia , diffuse alveolar hemorrhage , and eosinophil infiltration. Stimulant drug abuse (particularly amphetamine and cocaine) can lead to delusional parasitosis (aka Ekbom's Syndrome: a mistaken belief they are infested with parasites). For example, excessive cocaine use can lead to formication , nicknamed "cocaine bugs" or "coke bugs", where
1976-573: The most common psychological symptoms of crack cocaine use. Psychosis is more closely associated with smoking crack cocaine than intranasal and intravenous use. Crack baby is a term for a child born to a mother who used crack cocaine during her pregnancy. The threat that cocaine use during pregnancy poses to the fetus is now considered exaggerated. Studies show that prenatal cocaine exposure (independent of other effects such as, for example, alcohol, tobacco, or physical environment) has no appreciable effect on childhood growth and development. However,
2028-654: The number of states in which they were present. These increases were primarily driven by profits from crack cocaine distribution. The huge profits allowed members to relocate to other cities and states. "Bloods" is a universal term used to refer to West Coast Bloods and United Blood Nation (UBN, also known as the East Coast Bloods). These two groups are traditionally distinct, but both call themselves "Bloods". UBN started in 1993 in Rikers Island 's George Motchan Detention Center (GMDC) to form protection from
2080-491: The official opinion of the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the United States warns about health risks while cautioning against stereotyping: Many recall that "crack babies", or babies born to mothers who used crack cocaine while pregnant, were at one time written off by many as a lost generation. They were predicted to suffer from severe, irreversible damage, including reduced intelligence and social skills. It
2132-610: The pipe"; "puffing"; "beaming up (to Scotty)") is commonly performed with utensils such as pipes ("bowl"; "devil's dick"; "glass dick"; "horn"; "Uzi"); improvised pipes made from a plastic bottle ("Masarati"); water pipes ("bong"; "hubbly-bubbly"); and laboratory pipettes ("demo"). Cocaine is listed as a Schedule I drug in the United Nations 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs , making it illegal for non-state-sanctioned production, manufacture, export, import, distribution, trade, use and possession. In most states (except in
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2184-441: The preparation of crack, although other weak bases may substitute for it. The net reaction when using sodium bicarbonate is With ammonium bicarbonate : With ammonium carbonate : Crack cocaine is frequently purchased already in rock form, although it is not uncommon for some users to "wash up" or "cook" powder cocaine into crack themselves. This process is frequently done with baking soda (sodium bicarbonate), water, and
2236-460: The release of methylecgonidine and its effect on the heart, lungs, and liver. Crack cocaine causes DNA damage in multiple organs of rats and mice. In crack users, acute respiratory symptoms have been reported, sometimes termed "crack lung". Symptoms include fever, coughing up blood and difficulty breathing. In the 48-hour period after use, people with these symptoms have also had associated radiographic findings on chest X-ray of fluid in
2288-453: The tattoos, jewelry, and clothing gang members wear as well as the gang graffiti with which Bloods mark their territory. Such graffiti can include gang names, nicknames, declaration of loyalty, threats against rival gangs, or descriptions of criminal acts in which the gang has been involved. Bloods graffiti can include rival gang symbols (especially those of the Crips) drawn upside down. This
2340-472: The terms is inaccurate, as many non-Piru gangs such as the Denver Lanes and Brims were also instrumental in the formation of the Bloods. Furthermore, the Pirus are an alliance of street gangs within the larger Bloods alliance, meaning that not all Bloods sets will identify as "Pirus". In 1969, a gang called the Piru Street Boys was founded by Sylvester Scott and Vincent Owens. According to some sources,
2392-470: The threat of breastfeeding : The March of Dimes said "it is likely that cocaine will reach the baby through breast milk," and advises the following regarding cocaine use during pregnancy: Cocaine use during pregnancy can affect a pregnant woman and her unborn baby in many ways. During the early months of pregnancy, it may increase the risk of miscarriage. Later in pregnancy, it can trigger preterm labor (labor that occurs before 37 weeks of pregnancy) or cause
2444-553: The top of the now leftover aqueous phase. It is at this point that the oil is picked up rapidly, usually with a pin or long thin object. This pulls the oil up and spins it, allowing air to set and dry the oil, and allows the maker to roll the oil into the rock-like shape. Crack vaporizes near temperature 90 °C (194 °F), much lower than the cocaine hydrochloride melting point of 190 °C (374 °F). Whereas cocaine hydrochloride cannot be smoked (burns with no effect), crack cocaine when smoked allows for quick absorption into
2496-459: The user's high, but may also lead to bizarre, erratic, and violent behavior. Large amounts can induce tremors, vertigo , muscle twitches, paranoia , or, with repeated doses, a toxic reaction closely resembling amphetamine poisoning. Synonyms used to refer to crack cocaine include atari ; base ; bazooka ; beamers ; beemers ; bebe ; bee-bee ; berry ; bing ; bolo ; bomb ; boulder ; boulders ; butter ; caine ; cane ; Casper ; Casper
2548-509: Was beaten to death after refusing to give up his leather jacket. The sensational media coverage of the crime and the continued assaults by the Crips increased their notoriety. Several non-Crips gangs formed during this period were no match for the Crips and became concerned with the escalating Crip attacks. The Pirus , Black P. Stones , Athens Park Boys and other gangs not aligned with the Crips often clashed with them. On June 5, 1972, three months after Ballou's murder, Fredrick "Lil Country" Garret
2600-565: Was later found that this was a gross exaggeration. However, the fact that most of these children appear normal should not be over-interpreted as indicating that there is no cause for concern. Using sophisticated technologies, scientists are now finding that exposure to cocaine during fetal development may lead to subtle, yet significant, later deficits in some children, including deficits in some aspects of cognitive performance, information-processing, and attention to tasks—abilities that are important for success in school. There are also warnings about
2652-412: Was murdered by a Westside Crip. This marked the first Crips murder against another gang member and motivated non-Crip gangs to align with each other. The Brims struck back on August 4, 1972, by murdering Thomas Ellis, an original Westside Crip. By late 1972, the Pirus held a meeting in their neighborhood to discuss growing Crip pressure and intimidation. Several gangs that felt victimized by the Crips joined
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#17327942720662704-495: Was named the " crack epidemic ", which began to wane in the 1990s. The use of another highly addictive stimulant drug, crystal meth , ballooned between 1994 and 2004. Purer forms of crack resemble off-white, jagged-edged "rocks" of a hard, brittle plastic, with a slightly higher density than candle wax. Like cocaine in other forms, crack rock acts as a local anesthetic , numbing the tongue or mouth only where directly placed. Purer forms of crack will sink in water and melt at
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