Nicola Furlong's Toxicology Report: Positive for Drugs

Additional information into the cause of death of Irish exchange student, Nicola Furlong, has been released. Via the Independent.ie, Paul Murphy in Tokyo reported that "Nicola had ‘date rape’ drugs in her system" with "the test results showing the presence of Lidocaine and the sleeping drug Xanax."Via the Japan Times, it was reported that "the youth’s counsel argued in their opening statement that the young musician had no reason to kill the woman he had just met earlier that night, claiming she died from an excessive intake of alcohol and drugs. They said blood tests showed that Furlong was not only highly intoxicated but also detected two types of drugs — alprazolam, known as Xanax, and lidocaine."LIDOCAINEAccording to Wikipedia and various medical websites, Lidocain is described as:

"Lidocaine (INN) (pron.: /ˈlaɪdɵkeɪn/), xylocaine, or lignocaine (former BAN) (pron.: /ˈlɪɡnɵkeɪn/) is a common local anesthetic and antiarrhythmic drug. Lidocaine is used topically to relieve itching, burning and pain from skin inflammations, injected as a dental anesthetic or as a local anesthetic for minor surgery."

According to WebMd on Lidocaine:

"This medication is used to relieve nerve pain after shingles (infection with the herpes zoster virus). This type of pain is called post-herpetic neuralgia. Lidocaine helps to reduce sharp/burning/aching pain as well as discomfort caused by skin areas that are overly sensitive to touch. Lidocaine belongs to a class of drugs known as local anesthetics. It works by causing a temporary loss of feeling in the area where you apply the patch."

"Lidocaine, usually in the form of lidocaine hydrochloride, is available or used in various forms including:- injected local anesthetic (sometimes combined with epinephrine to reduce bleeding)- during cosmetic surgical procedures.- dermal patch (sometimes combined with prilocaine): It should be noted that the lidocaine/prilocaine combination is indicated for dermal anaesthesia. It can also be used to numb the skin before tattooing as well as electrolysis and laser hair removal.- Researchers have shown that a new topical spray, consisting of an aerosol formulation of lidocaine and prilocaine, applied on the penile skin five minutes prior to intercourse is effective for treating premature ejaculation without adversely affecting the sensation of ejaculation.- Lidocaine has also proved effective in treating jellyfish stings- Lidocaine (topical) is used to treat minor discomfort and itching caused by hemorrhoids and certain other problems of the genital/anal area (e.g., anal fissures, itching around the vagina/rectum).- Topical patch (lidocaine 5%), marketed since 1999 in the US by Endo Pharmaceuticals[19] as "Lidoderm" - and since 2007 in the UK by Grünenthal as "Versatis" to treat- THE MOST PROBABLE REASON: "As a component of a GI cocktail used in emergency rooms"As for illegal uses of Lidocaine:

"Lidocaine is not currently listed by the World Anti-Doping Agency as an illegal substance.[28] Lidocaine is used as an adjuvant, adulterant, and diluent to illegal street drugs (e.g. cocaine). (See U.S. DEA web site)." The following is also provided by the LIDODERM® website: (lidocaine patch 5%) is used to relieve the pain of post-herpetic neuralgia, also referred to as after-shingles pain. Apply only to intact skin with no blisters."

Did Ms. Furlong have a skin disorder, a tattoo, dental or a minor surgery performed prior to her arrival in Tokyo? Did the accused have a disorder that required him to have Lidocaine prescribed? I wonder if the prosecutors or defense even checked these angles. Hopefully so, it seems that it would be a little easier to establish and eliminate how the Lidocaine entered Ms. Furlong's system. Again, Black Tokyo believes the drug entered Ms. Furlong's system via a emergency room cocktail to revive her.XANAXIn looking at Xanax or Alprazolam, which in Ireland is a Schedule 4 medicine and in the United States is assigned to Schedule IV of the Controlled Substances Act by the Drug Enforcement Administration, we find that:"Alprazolam may also be used in conjunction with other depressant drugs, such as alcohol, marijuana, heroin or other opiates, in an attempt to enhance the psychological effect of these drugs, according to Wikipedia. "The poly-drug use of powerful depressant drugs poses the highest level of health concerns due to a significant increase in the likelihood of experiencing an overdose which may result in fatal respiratory depression."In examining the prescription drug Xanax or Alprazolam as a date rape drug:"Alprazolam is practically not soluble in water, when crushed in water it will not fully dissolve (40 µg/ml of H2O at pH 7). There have also been anecdotal reports of alprazolam being snorted."So the women consumed tequila shots and possibly vodka and Red Bull. Since ground or powdered Xanax is bitter and there is nothing reportedly consumed to mask the bitter taste of the drug, especially if it is placed in tequila or vodka, is it possible that the drug(s) were ingested another way?However, it is common knowledge that...

Via Virtual-Rebel.com: "Many know of the common “date rape” drugs titled Rohypnol (Roofies) and GHB, but fewer women know that Xanax is also as successful in sedating women. Xanax, aka alprazolam, is prescribed by doctors, “used to treat anxiety disorder and panic disorder (sudden, unexpected attacks of extreme fear and worry about these attacks). Alprazolam is in a class of medications called benzodiazepines. It works by decreasing abnormal excitement in the brain,” according to the U.S National Library of Medicine."

So, also according to the website virtual-rebel:

"Its (Xanax) side effects are listed as: changes in appetite, constipation, decreased sexual or ability, diarrhea, dizziness, drowsiness, dry mouth, light-headiness, nausea, tiredness, weight changes. The side effect that is also clearly printed on the label but isn’t “common” is memory problems. The drug that people take to calm their stress can cause a blackout time frame when used in larger dosage. It is a safer labeled drug that can accomplish the goal of wiping out the memory."

Black Tokyo includes this to shed light on the fact that Ms. Furlong's friend lack of memory may be due to an overconsumption of alcohol, drugs or even selective memory since it was later reported that the friend recalled events of the fatal evening of Ms. Furlong's death. Black Tokyo wonders if Ms. Furlong's friend will take the stand to testify.As previously reported by Black Tokyo:THE CAUSE OF DEATH - Suffocation by Cervical Compression?

Upon further research, in my quest to understand the cause of Ms. Furlong’s death, suffocation by cervical compression, I discovered the following online:“The 2nd cervical vertebra is above the level of the respiratory control center in the brainstem. Thus, a neck fracture which results in sufficient damage to the portion of the brainstem (or above) which controls respiration, death will occur (unless artificial ventilatory support is put in place in a timely fashion).” Source“A spinal cord injury that occurs at C1, C2 or C3- those are the first three cervical vertebrae- will interfere with breathing and heart rate because the nerve which controls the diaphram is paralyzed. That means you can’t breathe on your own.” Source“The respiratory system of a person suffering a spinal cord injury may be impaired due to paralysis of the chest muscles, abdominal muscles or diaphragm. The degree of impairment will vary depending on the level of spinal cord injury. Source

Additionally, according to reports:

"The prosecution also said that an analysis of blood stains on the bed sheet and on a towel matched the DNA of Ms Furlong. They believe that Ms Furlong was strangled by a towel or other object."

According to the Irish Times, the Tokyo University Hospital emergency room doctor, Dr. Kenta Aida, that examined Ms. Furlong's body after it arrive from the Keio Plaza Hotel:

"“The functions of her heart and lungs had stopped,” Dr Kenta Aida told the trial this morning, explaining that he attempted to resuscitate Ms Furlong by massaging her chest and administering adrenalin.“The patient was very young so she left an impression on me,” he told the Tokyo District Court."

The Irish Times also reported that:

"much of the discussion in the morning session focused on needle marks in Ms Furlong’s thighs, with the defence apparently trying to suggest drug taking."Mr Hinds’ lawyers argued in the trial’s opening day yesterday that Ms Furlong died from a combination of excessive alcohol and drug intake.But Dr Aida explained that the marks come from repeated attempts in the emergency room to take blood from Ms Furlong’s body. “We were trying to check her oxygen and CO2 levels.”"The session also revealed a possible source for one of the two drugs found in Ms. Furlong’s body during autopsy. The court heard on Monday that Mr. Furlong’s blood contained traces of local anaesthetic Lidocaine as well as Alprazolam, an anxiety suppressant widely known as Xanax.Dr Aida could not rule out that the Lidocaine, which is applied to endotracheal tubes during attempts to revive unconscious patients, may have entered Ms Furlong’s bloodstream."

THE KEIO PLAZA HOTEL MANAGER"The court also heard testimony from Takuya Niwano, the duty manager from the hotel on the night Ms Furlong was killed. He said he helped to arrange the wheelchairs for Ms Furlong and her friend, in the belief that they had simply too much to drink. That was at about 1:15am, two hours later, following a complaint about noise coming from Mr Hinds’ room, he arrived outside the door of the room. He said he heard a man’s voice from inside saying “she has no breath.” When the duty manager knocked on the door he was let in and saw Ms Furlong on the floor.“Her lips were white,” he said, I gave her CPR emergency resuscitation.” But he failed to revive her.Ms Furlong was pronounced dead later in hospital."THE BAR"Earlier, a written statement was read by the barman in the Scramble Bar where the four had been drinking. It said the women drank three tequilas and had a vodka and Red Bull bought for them but he wasn’t sure if they drank them," according to the Independent.ie." The Japan Times reported that "after the show, the four went drinking at a bar in Shibuya, where witnesses testified they downed multiple shots of tequila."According to the Irish Times, "statements from employees at the Scramble Cafe Bar said Ms Furlong fell unconscious about an hour after arriving with the two Americans."It should be noted that the Scramble Bar is located one-minute from Shibuya Station. As much as I have difficulty with the death of Ms. Furlong, I also have difficulty with news reports that the women missed their train. In trying to establish credibility in the case, reports should at least be credible and face the fact that it is possible that the young women, in Tokyo, after a concert, wanted to enjoy a night out on the town.THE TAXI RIDE“The defendant is innocent. There is no motive, no reason for him to have to kill her,” the lawyers said. “I would like for the courts to remember that the defendant shall not be convicted when there is doubt.”According to the Independent.ie, "the taxi CCTV footage was also played to the six lay judges and three professional judges. The public gallery could not see the video but could hear some of the audio."The four then took a taxi to the hotel, where employees had to put the two drunken women, who could not walk, in wheelchairs to take them to the rooms where the defendant and Blackston were staying, the duty manager testified Monday," according to the Japan Times.According to the Herald.ie:

"CCTV footage from a taxi apparently shows the two women unconscious on the back seat. In the video, Hinds and Blackston are recorded mocking the physical state of the women and talking about having sex with them."

The Japan Times also reported: "In it, the men are heard laughing while talking about having sex with the women, saying that the women “were just falling into our lap”.In the tape, Richard Hinds says, “we gotta keep them f**ked up,” while his friend, James Blackston, said “we are going to f**k them and leave them in my room”.""The defendants’ lawyers said the minor and Furlong got into an argument and he put his hand over her mouth and his other hand on her neck to quiet her down, and he was surprised when she became limp and stopped breathing. They added he also unsuccessfully tried CPR."The following BT’ers contributed to BT’s reporting of the Nicola Furlong death investigation: @blacktokyo, @onmugen @starrwulfe @ogPegasus303Have inquiries, an opinion or rant? Feel free to join the discussion via Disqus below.Click here for additional Black Tokyo posts on the investigation into the death of Nicola Furlong.[ad]