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griffin tucker

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Idea: Management device in codeine tablets

A dissolvable organic technological tracking device that is harmless to humans for a range of behind-the-counter medication that is usually used for illegal purposes.

The device could dissolve or change the chemical structure of the codeine or other pharmaceutical drug to a harmless and useless substance in order to prevent medications from being used in illegal drug labs.

Of course with any technology, there are ways around cracking the technology in order to over-ride the chemical-changing process or stop the dissolving process.

Since it is possible to over-ride the process, this would limit unskilled illegal drug-makers from creating dangerous illegal drugs and hence the amount of illegal drugs on the street would at least be of high grade quality and not quite as dangerous as current illegal drugs on the street.

Also, the device could also be made cheaply, since it's organic, they can be mass-produced due to being grown instead of going through a processing hardware centre, although hardware would be involved in the original creation of the 'blue-print' of the device.

Also, the device should be near a mobile phone or cellular device at all times, so that when the medication is removed from a certain location for a specified amount of time away from the cellular device, the medication can be considered missing, and the embedded device can be activated.

The device could also 'communicate' with an external device remotely from the medication to detect if it has been tampered with easily with either visual or olfactory senses.

I thought of this idea when I noticed a report in Australia stating an opinion that codeine needs better management.

Related Talks:
Topics: pharmaceuticals
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    sterling brewer

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    TED Translator
    Nov 14 2012: noble idea and all, but i honestly don't see how this is possible. if it is possible, i think i'm weirded out enough by the idea of swallowing a tracking device (whether it can be dissolved or not) to take the codeine in the first place... no thanks.

    although the idea itself is interesting.
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    Morgan Barnes

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    Nov 14 2012: The problem is you are assuming the medication has already been made up and is being used illegally as in some fuzznut has ram raided a pharmacy and run off with all the cold flu and pain killers. what happens when the stuff comes in commercial break bulk loads ???? The question then becomes How could you apply the theory to legitimate commercial consignments? and how do you stop those consignments from getting into the wrong hands????
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      griffin tucker 10+

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      Nov 14 2012: I don't think there is really a way to stop bulk operations.

      You are right in saying the simple idea of (if I'm reading you correctly) more accurate methods of medicine-tampering detection.
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        Morgan Barnes

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        Nov 14 2012: If your theory could be amalgamated into the legitimate commercially made pharmacy medicine it would deter those looking to make a quick buck from (as previously mentioned) fuzznut ram raider to the backyard cooks and labs that badly cut and cook the stuff and add things that even Hannibal Lecter would of had a hard time devising I think it would be great. It would keep the dubious stuff off the streets and out of the nightclubs.
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    Morgan Barnes

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    Nov 14 2012: Mate it is a great idea, and I wish it was that simple, but believe me as soon as you think you have come up with a great way to foil the bad guys. They come up with an even better way of getting around it and usually quicker than you would ever guess.
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      griffin tucker 10+

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      Nov 14 2012: That's very true that the illegal drug makers will find a way around it very quickly. The idea of a testing kit to confirm (for instance) if an illegal drug tablet contains anything other than pure MDMA, and not too much of it, allures to a more healthy market.

      I'm saying this because I agree that the illegal drug culture doesn't appear to be stopping any time soon. A method to detect if a particular illegal drug contains anything other than what is presumed to be in it should be developed in my opinion.

      That being said, it needs to be done in a way that doesn't promote illegal drug use, or, since I believe it is a very serious issue that requires action, at least keep the unintended promotion to a minimum.
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    Lejan . 30+

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    TED Translator
    Nov 9 2012: How do you grow this device? How do transfer its design in DNA?
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      griffin tucker 10+

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      Nov 10 2012: About the only hint I can give you is the company IBM and the number pi.
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        Lejan . 30+

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        TED Translator
        Nov 10 2012: Is this to state 'I don't know' or 'I don't share'?
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          griffin tucker 10+

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          Nov 11 2012: This is to state hints for you or others to do their own research, considering that those who do have enough research skills can find the intended related information.

          No offence intended.
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        Lejan . 30+

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        TED Translator
        Nov 11 2012: So not sharing then, as the title runs for 'ideas', no 'riddles' here ...
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        Lejan . 30+

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        TED Translator
        Nov 11 2012: Don't worry, you didn't. I just don't see what this sort of 'blurriness' should be good for to go public with it.
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    pat gilbert 50+

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    Nov 9 2012: Did you quit smoking yet?
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      griffin tucker 10+

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      Nov 10 2012: G'day pat!

      Unfortunately I've gone thru a fair bit of stressful moments in my life recently and haven't stopped smoking, no.

      This could be interpreted as an excuse, but I digress, I am going to save up $500 for a guaranteed stop-smoking session with a professional who will talk to me for an hour to convince me to stop.

      On top of that, I am using nicotine patches in combination with mint nicotine lozenges in the interim to at least reduce my smoke inhalation.

      I am also considering e-cigarettes (ion-isers) but I am patiently waiting for a pharmaceutical company to make a reasonable investment in the ion patent(s) before/if I choose to use them until I can afford the $500 money-back guaranteed fee.

      I won't give up giving up.

      Every cigarette I don't smoke is making me stronger, similar to exercising gets easier if done often.

      Exercise does also help in a mystical way of removing the urge to smoke.

      My caffeine intake is higher and the amount of caffeine I have is tolerable due to smoking removing small amounts of caffeine with each smoking exhalation, so I need to work with the professional to manage my caffeine intake, too, since they go hand-in-hand.

      I sincerely hope you are still smoke-free, have you had any cravings yourself?
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        pat gilbert 50+

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        Nov 10 2012: Damn that is complicated.

        I have not had a cigarette since Feb 7th .

        Once in a while I have mild cravings but since I read the book I easily recognize the source and can quite easily recognize the source.

        If you are going though that much crap I would consider reading the book again.
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