MICHAEL MCMANUS SPEAKS TO ELON STUDENTS ON THE PERILS OF THE DRUG WAR

Michael McManus spoke to Elon students on Thursday about the
increasing use of illegal drugs in America and the effort he has had
in fighting drug wars over the past 30 years.

McManus is a former Federal Agent with the United States Drug
Enforcement Administration. He was one of the agents instrumental in
bringing down George Jung, prominent drug lord and the man
responsible for America's cocaine market. The 2001 movie "Blow" is
based on Jung and his downfall.

"I have been blessed with an absolutely fantastic career," McManus
said. "I drive fast boats, smuggle cocaine out of the Bahamas and
drive beautiful cars. And I get paid to do it."

McManus began by informing students about the way the drug industry
has grown over the past few decades.

"We've won the drug war since 1979," McManus said. "The people losing
this battle are your little brothers and little sisters."

Of today's eighth graders, 14.7 percent are experimenting with drugs,
along with 28.7 percent of tenth graders and 36.5 percent of high
school seniors, he said.

A poll that surveyed 50,000 students revealed that the top three
reasons why teens use drugs are peer pressure, family problems and as
a form of rebellion.

On the other hand, the top three things that keep teenagers from
using drugs are being brought up with a strong family, their religion
and being educated about drugs and their potential effects.

No longer relying on plant-grown drugs such as marijuana, the youth
today are experimenting with chemically created, synthetic drugs.

Ecstasy and Methamphetamine (meth) are two of the drugs becoming
popular among young people.

"Meth is one of the most powerful, most addicting drugs you will ever
see," McManus said.

Young people are now going to "rave parties" and "pharming parties,"
he explained.

Rave parties consist of excessive ecstasy and pharming parties come
about when young people steal their parent's prescription drugs and
they are randomly exchanged and ingested.

The recipe for meth can be found online and all ingredients can be
purchased at Wal-Mart, McManus said. The silent victims of these new
drug markets are children of dealers whose skin is burned and lungs
are infected by the acid and chemicals used to make meth.

McManus told students about his experiences working undercover. He
successfully infiltrated the Colombian drug system by obtaining the
trust of drug lords. By using them, their sources and listening to
cell phone activity, McManus was able to break down the system
before drugs could get on the streets in America.

The most frightening moment of McManus's career?

"I'll never forget it," McManus said. "It was April 2, 1979 and it's
when I knew what I wanted to do with the rest of my life."

McManus was undercover with another agent on a cocaine bust. His
partner went with one of the dealers outside to see the drugs and the
dealer came back inside the bar without McManus's partner.

Knowing something was wrong but having to stay calm, McManus was in
"survival mode," he said. It turns out hispartner was behind the bar
with an accomplice of the drug dealers but was not harmed.

When he went outside one of the dealers pulled a gun on him. McManus
pulled his gun on the second dealer.

"I'm a police officer," McManus told the man. "You're under
arrest."

Knocking the gun out of the first dealer's hand and breaking his
wrist, McManus shoved the second dealer's head into a car.

"There was no time to see my life flash before my eyes," McManus
remembers. "That night sent two people in two different
directions."

McManus's partner resigned the next day. McManus knew that it was now
his job to fight the drug war.

"My goal is just to educate society. Remember this, if you smoke one
marijuana cigarette, you won't become addicted to cocaine or heroine.
I just want you to be prepared to make an educated decision."