Drug Abuse : A Growing Epidemic World Wide

It was developed in Japan in 1919 with little research for what it could do to the body. Methamphetamine was easily used because it could be dissolved in water making it have the characterization of an injectable drug. During World War 2, between 1939 and 1945, Meth was used at large amounts to keep soldiers awake and alert. They didn't know that they were really giving these soldiers an addicting high. During the 1950s it was then diagnosed as an antidepressant and a diet aid making it more commonly used. By the 1960s it was being abused even more due to the fact that it was a common drug that was able to be used as medicine (“Foundation for a Drug Free World”). It was also easier to access. Today Meth is transported to the US by Mexico. It is produced in large laboratories in Mexico but is also produced here in the US in toxic labs which explains how bad it is alone. Meth was used in the past like it was good for us and no big deal but now the real dangers and risks are known for this

Drug abuse is an addiction to a drug that can lead to harmful effects for the user and the people around him or her. Drug abuse has been around long before most of us were alive. Almost everyone that has a drug problem does not think they will get addicted when they try the selected drug for the first time. Drugs do things to people without them realizing it and hurt them in the long run

23. The illicit manufacture and distribution of methamphetamine in the United States today is due to the involvement of…

The abuse of methamphetamine is a very serious problem in the United States. According to one national survey, approximately 10 million people in the United States have tried methamphetamine at least once (Meth Abuse and Addiction, 2010). Methamphetamine is a highly addictive stimulant that affects the central nervous system. Although most of the methamphetamine used in this country comes from foreign or domestic super labs, the drug is also easily made in small clandestine laboratories, with inexpensive over the counter ingredients. Methamphetamine is commonly known as “speed,” “meth,” and “chalk.” In its smoked form it is often referred to as “ice,” “crystal,” “crank,” and “glass.” It is a

Methamphetamine is the most addictive drug used today. It appeals to people of all ages, and is not a respecter of person. It is creating a society with no future. Unless we as a society can contain and stop this issue, there will be no hope. What is the federal government doing to stop this problem? How are Pharmaceutical companies reacting to this issue? What are the effects on the general public? This is just some of the issues that were discussed in Frontline’s ‘The Meth Epidemic’ video. We will attempt to answer these questions throughout this paper.

Methamphetamine is a stimulant that is used as a recreational drug that affects the central nervous system (CNS). In 1983, laws were passed in the United States prohibiting possession of precursors and equipment for methamphetamine production. But imagine if this addictive drug was as commonly sold in front yards as lemonade and Girl Scout cookies. Imagine if large neon signs and bold lettering titled “Drugs” and “Meth Lab Inside: Free Samples” were displayed in front of suburban homes with guests arriving to sample and purchase meth.

In 1887, amphetamines were first produced in Germany and largely forgotten for forty years. In 1919, methamphetamine, a synthetic stimulant was developed by Japanese pharmacologist, A. Ogata. The drug helped with alertness and well-being. In the 1930 's, methamphetamines were widely used to treat bronchial diseases and narcolepsy. The American Medical Association approved a tablet form in 1935 for ADHD. During WWII, German and Japanese pilots used methamphetamines to stay awake during long flights, while the U.S and U.K used amphetamines. After the war, Japan saw an epidemic of methamphetamine abuse. The drug was still being used legally into the 1950 's and 1960 's by everyone from homemakers to truck drivers for alertness and weight loss. In 1970 methamphetamines became regulated in the Controlled Substances Act and a public education campaign was mounted to educate people about the dangers of the drug. Starting in the 1980 's and into the 1990 's the drug became extremely popular in the southwest,

Personally I do not know why anyone would want to feel that way constantly. The rush or high feeling from an adrenal rush sometimes is ok but in my opinion to feel that way continually would make it hard for me to function daily. Also looking at all the health conditions and even death from using meth make it hard for me to understand. I understand people become addicted to things but it’s really sad that these people who are addicted to meth didn’t have anyone in their lives that tried to help them early and didn’t give up on them. I also wonder how much peer pressure is involved with the epidemic of meth use. Knowing the psychologically, medically, and social consequences of using the drug baffles me. Numerous government websites as well as the video from Frontline made it very clear the effects of using meth. How it effects more than you, it effects your family and community. It has been shown to increase crime in a community, unemployment, child neglect and abuse. (National Institute on Drug Abuse). Meth abuse can be prevented and addiction to the drug can be treated. People can recover over time if they have effective treatment. ( Methamphetamine Abuse Research Center) Knowing that meth usage effects the human organs at so many levels, including the brain, would certainly lead me to belief that some type of counseling early on would perhaps prevent some addictions including meth. I feel

While drug abuse is not new to the 21st century, the meth epidemic that plagued Oregon and spread rapidly to other parts of the United States has attracted a lot of attention from the communities and the law enforcement. There has been a rapid rise in the use of Meth amongst young people. The Frontline documentary film The Meth Epidemic displays a country under attack by the drug epidemic. The well-researched documentary displays the changes that meth addicts go through over the years as the drug takes a negative toll on them. The documentary further displays the meth-linked criminal activities that have plagued Oregon and even spread to other states across the United States.

As the use of amphetamines increased in popularity so did the illegal production of said drug worldwide. This pushed governments to implement laws making the use of amphetamines without a prescription illegal. This was done through the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970 (Benson, 2015). This caused a large

Methamphetamine and Cocaine are two commonly negatively depicted substances, but a popular comparison is often placed between the pair. This comparison brings up the question, “Which is Worse?”. The answer to that question is Meth, and this article is going to explain why. To create a fair, unbiased juxtaposition of Meth and Coke, one must start by looking at the history of each. Important factors are when and how each “drug” came up in society. Other necessary characteristics one must analyze about each is the positives of each, but also the harmful effects of each. The final, and arguably most important aspect an individual must inspect is how society is affected by either meth or cocaine.

The United States is in crisis due to an epidemic of drug addiction. Meth and heroin represent the two most destructive illegal drugs being abused in the world. Drug

Meth was based off the German-made amphetamine. Later in 1919, the Japanese found out methamphetamine was easier to make and more potent. It was used with both sides of World War II as an injection to keeps troops awake for things like suicide missions with Kamikaze suicide pilots. After the war though, it became available to the public in Japan.

It was first created in Japan in 1919 as a more potent version of amphetamine, and its crystalline powder made it more soluble and convenient for injections. It was first widely used during World War II in an effort to keep troops awake and motivated to keep fighting. However, soon after the war ended, the military supplies became available to the Japanese public and meth abuse rose. From then on, meth use has spread across the decades. Due to its suppression effects on appetite, it was often prescribed as a diet aid in the 1950s and was also widely available as a “nonmedical stimulant” for consumers like truck drivers, students, and athletes (DrugFreeWorld.com). Thus, the meth abuse continued to spread. Throughout the 1970s, motorcycle gangs took control of the meth industry, as it became an illegal substance. Most consumers lived in rural communities and bought it instead of cocaine because it was more affordable. Then, Mexican drug traffickers started to take over the meth production and distribution in California in the 1990s. In 2008, about 529,000 users over 12 years of age were considered “regular users” of the drug in the United States

Methamphetamine was used originally in nasal decongestants and bronchial inhalers. There are a few accepted medical reasons for its use, such as the treatment of narcolepsy and ADD, but these uses are limited. In its regular form, methamphetamines are also known as speed, meth, and chalk. In its smoked form, it is known as ice, crystal, crank, and glass. Methamphetamine comes in many forms and can be smoked, snorted, orally ingested or injected. The smokeable form of methamphetamine, knows as "ice," came into use in the 1980's. Ice is a large, usually clear crystal of high purity that is smoked in a glass pipe like crack/cocaine. The smoke is odorless, leaves a residue that can be re-smoked, and produces effects that my continue for 12 hours or more. Since there are a few accepted medical reasons for its use, methamphetamine is a controlled substance in the United States, and cannot be used legally without a doctor's approval. Methamphetamine abuse can also lead to legal, financial, and social problems. If methamphetamines are used during pregnancy, babies tend to be asocial, incapable of bonding, have tremors, have birth defects, and cry for 24 hours without stopping. There is also an increased risk of child abuse and neglect of children born to parents who use methamphetamines. WISC-TV reports, "There's a new drug moving into your neighborhood, reports WISC-TV. It's methamphetamine and it's one of the