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Forum index » Archive » Archive: Perplex City » PXC: General/Updates

[UPDATE] Cognivia.com - 24 Mar 06 - Black-Market Drugs

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cassandra
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Joined: 25 Mar 2005
Posts: 831

[UPDATE] Cognivia.com - 24 Mar 06 - Black-Market Drugs

I hereby disavow any connection with the Cassandra mentioned below!

Quote:

Eliminating the black-market danger

In recent months, there has been an increase in press coverage and protests regarding black-market cognitive enhancers. At Cognivia, we're doing our best to keep people safe from these harmful imitations.

The most important part of our work here is Research & Development. Before any drug is released on the market, we conduct extensive tests and safety checks to ensure that our products are absolutely risk-free. These steps are not taken by black-market counterfeiters.

In order to guarantee that our products cannot be abused, we add chemical signatures for tracking, and limiters to prevent overdose. Black-marketers scrub these additives or omit them from their formulae.

Cognivia endeavors to eliminate every supplier of counterfeit drugs. Our legal team maintains a constant vigil, identifying producers and assisting the police with prosecutions. In the past year alone, we have helped take an estimated 1.5 million tablets off the streets.

However, the trade in illegal drugs continues to grow. Dealers target the least fortunate members of society and entice them with the promise of low-cost enhancement, without telling them the risks. And all too often, the results are tragic.

Take, for example, the case of Cassandra Julinksi. A single mother of three, Cassandra held down two jobs to pay for her children's upbringing. Faced with long hours and fatigue, she initially used Ceretin to manage her daily workload. But after a few months, Cassandra decided to make the false economy of using a black-market alternative.

Within weeks, Cassandra complained of headaches and nausea. She missed shifts at work through illness, and had to work longer hours to make up for it, all the time increasing her use of the Ceretin substitute - never realising that the tablets were the cause of the problem.

Just four months after she started taking illegal drugs, Cassandra suffered a fatal embolism. Not only was she robbed of her life, but her children were robbed of their mother.

This trade can only continue as long as people believe that counterfeit drugs are a worthwhile substitute for the genuine article. But is any amount of money worth the risk of illness or even death?

We spend millions of lecks to ensure your safety, every year. Complex modeling and simulations are used for the initial stages of development, followed by animal testing and, finally, live human trials. All of this is conducted under the strictest supervision, ensuring that no harm can come to any participant in our care. We check and re-check every result to ensure that when a product reaches the open market, every side effect or flaw has been addressed.

In synthesizing Ceretin, counterfeiters do not take account of these subtle modifications. They use cheap compounds and inadequate catalysts in their processes, which themselves are cut-down versions of our meticulous production methods. Their testing is non-existent and their 'clean rooms' are a disgrace to the term.

It's hardly surprising that 85% of overdoses in Perplex City involve the accidental consumption of excess black-market drugs.

As well as cutting off the source of these killer tablets, we're also working hard to reduce demand through education. The Ceretin Awareness Initiative, run in conjunction with the PXCPD, was one example of how we're striving to improve people's understanding of cognitive enhancement and the challenges it can present.

At the heart of all our education projects, there is one simple message: don't be tempted by bargains or shortcuts. There is no such thing as a cheaper equivalent. We have no unofficial dealers or factory sales. Nor do we manufacture tablets for anyone else.

The safest choice is to buy Cognivia products from one of our authorized distributors. We want people to make sharper decisions. The first and most important decision is always to choose Cognivia.

Oh, shifty. And back to the Cymbalisty files we go...

Posted: Fri Mar 24, 2006 3:28 pm

Brian Morton
Decorated

Joined: 22 Sep 2005
Posts: 178
Location: San antonio

[spec] Are these "clean rooms" the same as the one in the subway Kurt checked out? I'll drop him an email. EDIT Damn got the auto-responder. Maybe someone else can phrase it differently to entice Kurt to give up some info. This is just a little too convenient.

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Posted: Fri Mar 24, 2006 3:53 pm
Last edited by Brian Morton on Fri Mar 24, 2006 4:07 pm; edited 1 time in total

zaeil
Decorated

Joined: 31 Aug 2004
Posts: 233
Location: NC, US

Re: [UPDATE] Cognivia.com - 24 Mar 06 - Black-Market Drugs

Quote:

In synthesizing Ceretin, counterfeiters do not take account of these subtle modifications. They use cheap compounds and inadequate catalysts in their processes, which themselves are cut-down versions of our meticulous production methods. Their testing is non-existent and their 'clean rooms' are a disgrace to the term.

I work in the pharmaceutical industry; I know that manufacturing in cleanrooms is standard practice. And yet...when we were told that the Gillit Road station was being used as a cleanroom facility, I didn't even consider the possibility that it might be used for drug production!

So, who wants to bet that 3P was making some illegal drugs down there? Any takers? Smile

(EDIT: Brian Morton, this sort of clean room is what's being referred to.)

Also, if Ceretin has built-in limiters (ooooh, nice), there's no way Cymbalisty could have OD'd on the real thing. I believe we were certain that it wasn't the legal formulation that did him in, but that statement's just the icing on the cake.

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Posted: Fri Mar 24, 2006 4:03 pm
Last edited by zaeil on Fri Mar 24, 2006 4:08 pm; edited 1 time in total

sackofpotatoes
Veteran

Joined: 07 Feb 2006
Posts: 86

Quote:

They use cheap compounds and inadequate catalysts in their processes, which themselves are cut-down versions of our meticulous production methods. Their testing is non-existent and their 'clean rooms' are a disgrace to the term.

Assuming that Isaac was poisoned with black-market Ceretin, I wonder if Cognivia could help us track down the source of the drug? The article would seem to suggest that there chemical signatures in both their brand name and the black-market formulations. I'd bet Cognivia is aware of the various formulations on the streets...

I've contacted them with an inquiry along these lines...

Posted: Fri Mar 24, 2006 4:07 pm

Ramazel
Boot

Joined: 05 Feb 2006
Posts: 59
Location: Guildford, UK

Quote:

They use cheap compounds and inadequate catalysts in their processes, which themselves are cut-down versions of our meticulous production methods.

Copper is a catalyst. That could explain its presence in Cymbalisty's liver.

Incidentally, while checking this fact on Wikipedia, I found that copper in itself is toxic.

Quote:

All copper compounds, unless otherwise known, should be treated as if they were toxic. Thirty grams of copper sulfate is potentially lethal in humans.

Though I doubt that was what killed him since that wouldn't account for the liquefactive necrosis of the synapses.

Posted: Fri Mar 24, 2006 6:57 pm

Daffy889
Unfettered

Joined: 25 Aug 2004
Posts: 493
Location: South Australia

Quote:

Complex modeling and simulations are used for the initial stages of development, followed by animal testing and, finally, live human trials.

I would have thought the intellectual Perplexians would be against something like animal testing. Might be useful to remember next time we need to start a riot in the city though...

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Posted: Sat Mar 25, 2006 10:24 am

EvilGenius
Decorated

Joined: 04 Mar 2006
Posts: 227
Location: Vancouver

Copper

The autopsy reports suggests that the copper in Isaac's liver is a result of his inhaling preservation compounds.

Notice that the Cassandra mentioned died of an embolism after several months. Issac didn't die this way (localized synaptic liquifactive necrosis). Maybe it was counterfeit Ceretin, maybe not. If so, why was Isaac using counterfeit drugs when the real drug is marketed at him anyway and there is no stigma attached to using it? If he was murdered, it seems unlikely that anyone forced him to consume an overdose of drugs.

Where does Isaac get his drugs anyway. The apartment was sanitized after the cleaners arrived on Thursday - maybe his cleaners also deliver his drugs and that it was the cleaners that gave Issac fake ceretin.

Surely the "clean rooms" mentioned are the same are the ones in the subway tunnel.

There's clearly more to do here. And where is the last page of the Granier Diary? Any ideas as to how to access the polce copies of Isaac's key files about the diary?

Posted: Sun Mar 26, 2006 6:46 pm

GuyP
Unfettered

Joined: 15 Sep 2004
Posts: 584
Location: London, UK

I too feel the ball is firmly in our court.

Quote:

If so, why was Isaac using counterfeit drugs when the real drug is marketed at him anyway and there is no stigma attached to using it?

Because the counterfeit drugs are much cheaper.

Posted: Mon Mar 27, 2006 3:23 am

Ramazel
Boot

Joined: 05 Feb 2006
Posts: 59
Location: Guildford, UK

GuyP wrote:

I too feel the ball is firmly in our court.

Quote:

If so, why was Isaac using counterfeit drugs when the real drug is marketed at him anyway and there is no stigma attached to using it?

Because the counterfeit drugs are much cheaper.

Yes, but he had a decent job as a senior librarian and he was single. In my opinion, he could probably afford the real stuff. And he was very educated, I guess he would have read/heard about the dangers of the counterfeit drug, no?

Which brings us to: if he couldn't afford the safe Ceretin, where did his money go?

If he needed so much Ceretin that he couldn't afford the safe one anymore, what was wrong with him? Who could we ask about Barrow-Feld Syndrome? There was a letter about it last week in the Sentinel, I can't help thinking that it was a gentle nudge in the right direction...

EDIT: Sorry, I've re-read the article about Barrow-Feld Syndrome, it doesn't seem related, it affects the ethic decision-making centers, not the general cognitive processes like I thought. Could be related to the wave of crimes, but nothing to do with Cymbalisty.

Posted: Mon Mar 27, 2006 5:57 am

duckiemonster
Unfettered

Joined: 10 Dec 2005
Posts: 554
Location: Oxford, UK

The lab report seems to imply that he'd been taking the black-market stuff. Perhaps someone switched it?

I was wondering about barrow-feld syndrome: Cymballisty could have been taking ceretin to cover the symptoms. I think it's fairly clear that the brain-melt was as a result of an overdose, not a degenerateive process.

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Posted: Mon Mar 27, 2006 8:53 am

Ramazel
Boot

Joined: 05 Feb 2006
Posts: 59
Location: Guildford, UK

duckiemonster wrote:

I was wondering about barrow-feld syndrome: Cymballisty could have been taking ceretin to cover the symptoms.

Yes, that's what I thought initially, sorry if the post wasn't very clear. But I changed my mind after checking the Sentinel:

Quote:

According to the Sentinel's medical advisor, Dr. Stuart Ivanovitch, Barrow-Feld Syndrome is a degenerative brain condition that initially manifests by degrading the victim's ethical decision-making centers. As a result, the disease leaves its sufferers unable to make consistent moral choices, leading to a variety of antisocial behaviours such as theft and fraud. In its end stages, sufferers often descend through progressively severe psychosis and ultimately coma and death.

According to Violet, Cymbalisty was taking Ceretin because he couldn't perform in his job without it. So he was suffering from a degradation of his cognitive functions, which isn't part of the symptoms of Barrow-Feld (at least not initially). Also I think people would have noticed if Cymbalisty had started exhibiting antisocial behaviour.

Quote:

I think it's fairly clear that the brain-melt was as a result of an overdose, not a degenerateive process.

I agree, the case for the overdose seems very clear. I just thought that maybe there was something interesting in what was behind the overdose. But the Barrow-Feld syndrome doesn't seem to fit. Also I was going on a tangent, thinking that if the 3rd Power are manufacturing counterfeit Ceretin, maybe it's not just unsafe, maybe they mix it with something else on purpose to change people's behaviour. Forget it...

Posted: Mon Mar 27, 2006 9:51 am

Centipede
Unfettered

Joined: 17 Sep 2004
Posts: 439
Location: Bronx, NY

Re: [UPDATE] Cognivia.com - 24 Mar 06 - Black-Market Drugs

zaeil wrote:

Also, if Ceretin has built-in limiters (ooooh, nice), there's no way Cymbalisty could have OD'd on the real thing. I believe we were certain that it wasn't the legal formulation that did him in, but that statement's just the icing on the cake.

Except that only 85% of the overdoses are due to the black market Ceretin. Unless that last 15% is people ODing on black market ceretin to commit suicide, then it is possible to die of a legit Ceretin overdose.

Posted: Mon Mar 27, 2006 2:08 pm

CoolCats712
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Joined: 20 Feb 2006
Posts: 75
Location: Long Beach, CA

Ramazel wrote:

Also I was going on a tangent, thinking that if the 3rd Power are manufacturing counterfeit Ceretin, maybe it's not just unsafe, maybe they mix it with something else on purpose to change people's behaviour. Forget it...

That's an idea... possibly something in the sharp red causing (increasing incidence of) Barrow-Field Syndrome, ergo the outbreaks of antisocial behavior recently? Am I correct in that we still don't know what causes BFS, i.e. congenital vs. contracted? I wish we had contact with a doctor over there.

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Posted: Tue Mar 28, 2006 12:47 am

duckiemonster
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Joined: 10 Dec 2005
Posts: 554
Location: Oxford, UK

Ramazel wrote:

Dunno... the fact that it's a degenerative nerve disease and that ceretin bumps up nerves seems to go together, at least in my mind.

And would they really have noticed? Violet mentions that he's reclusive, 'creepy'. I think that could be the symptoms starting to creep through. It's also important to remember that the brain isn't textbook 'areas', but all interconnected.

I suppose I'm looking for a reason that he's taking ceretin in the first place. I know most of our Perplexian contacts pop one from time to time (should we be warning them about this? Are Cognivia in with teh sneeky 3P?), but to take it as much as Cymballisty did seems odd.

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Posted: Tue Mar 28, 2006 3:07 am

European Chris
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Joined: 19 Jul 2005
Posts: 1264
Location: London's trendy Whitechapel

Daffy889 wrote:

I would have thought the intellectual Perplexians would be against something like animal testing. Might be useful to remember next time we need to start a riot in the city though...

I would have thought that being so clever they would have firmly been in favour of animal testing.

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Posted: Tue Mar 28, 2006 3:24 am

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