Methamphetamine: A Synthetic Drug With More Rapid Lasting

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

Methampetamine was first manufactured in Japan in 1919. This drug went into use during World War II. The purpose of use of this drug was to help pilots stay awake during long flights. Later, in the 1950’s this drug was sold for non-medical purposes and became popular among truckers, college students, and athletes for the purpose of keeping active and staying awake. During the 90’s, new methods evolved making this drug much more potent than was it was previously seen. Today, Crystal meth is a highly addictive drug. This type of drug is usually manufactured in clandestine laboratories. Some of the common ingredients that are used to make this drug are basic chemicals that can easily be found in your home. The main chemical of this drug is amphetamines.

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

The roots of methadone were founded in Germany. In the 1930s, a team of German scientists produced the chemical structure of methadone, while searching for a pain-killing drug that would be less addictive than the commonly used pain medication morphine (University of Maryland, 2013, para. 2). Methadone was introduced to the United States in 1947 as a pain reliever for a variety of medical conditions (University of Maryland, 2013, para. 2). Shortly after the introduction of methadone into the United States, “Intravenous abuse of heroin intensified in New York City after World War II, and by the 1950s and 1960s, reached epidemic proportions” (Joseph, Stancliff, & Landgord, 2000, p. 347). The New York City death rate associated with injection

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.

These drugs were also used in the Vietnam War and even in Operation Desert storm. (Etingoff 15). After these wars the soldiers became dependent on meth. As a result of the abuse of this drug new laws were put into place in the 1970s. In turn there was a decline in the abuse of methamphetamine. However, during the 1980s and 1990s the supply skyrocketed once again to meet the demands of the ever-growing population of meth addicts. (Olive 19). The demand for this drug continues to grow to this day due to the fact that it is so inexpensive to manufacture, which is why it is known as Poor Man’s Cocaine, therefor making it more accessible. Some other common names for methamphetamine are Meth, Crystal Meth, Speed, Ice, Crank, and Blue Mollies.

Since the 19th century, the illicit drug, heroin, has been a part of American society. When heroin was first discovered it was thought to be a wonder drug because of the euphoric feeling a person is said to feel after using it. However, once the debilitating effects of this highly addictive drug was realized the anti-drug law, the Harrison Narcotics Act, was enacted that restricted its use to medicinal purposes only. In 1920, heroin was banned altogether through the Dangerous Drug Act (Habal, 2011). Heroin for the most part was thought to have gone underground until the Vietnam War.

The meth epidemic of the United States has been invasive and problematic from the time it was introduced from the early 1900’s until now. Though introduced through pharmaceutical companies for treatment from depression to colds, the drug has become one of America’s most addictive, abusive, and destructive drugs. The economy and the role of the government, as well as pharmaceutical companies, play the main role in how meth was introduced and the reason it is still abused today. The novel, by Nick Reding, titled Methland follows the effects of meth on a small town, but it also gives us insight in to how these three factors play a major role in the making, use, abuse, and distributing of this drug. This paper will follow the timeline of methamphetamine and what was going on in the economy as well as government action.

Introduction - Use of psychoactive substances for recreational purposes is not a radically new social issue. In fact, history tells us that almost every society had their own pharmacopeia of herbs, potions, and substances that not only contributed to healing, but also allowed the user to escape reality (Schules 1992, 4-5). However, it is the contemporary use of psychoactive drugs purchased through illicit or illegal channels and used by persons neither prescribed nor in quantities larger than necessary that defines modern drug abuse (Robins 2006). Prior to World War I, substances like morphine, heroin, and cocaine were available in the major American cities, particularly those with active international ports. For instance, when Chinese immigrants were first imported to work in the mines and railroads during the early 1800s, they brought opium to America. It was the leisure class, who began to experiment with this drug, and, as in Europe, many major U.S. cities had so-called opium dens. In addition, there were a substantial number of "society women" who ended up addicted because their doctor prescribed this drug to deal with female histrionics or to "cure" an excessive sexual appetite (Johnson 2002). Within major cities, this problem began to spill over into other groups: prostitutes, child laborers, orphans, and even men and women of lower social classes seeking to escape the harshness of their lives (Courtwright 2002, 3-19). Between the widespread use and general

With a street value of about $100 per gram, using meth all day, everyday, became extremely expensive for these individuals. Having constant access to the drug was crucial to supporting their habits, so many users began distributing meth to ensure they always had money to “keep the party going,” (Shukla 2016, p. 56). In addition to financially supporting their habit of using meth, selling the drug also enabled them to always have a large quantity in their possession. That way when they wanted to get high, they never had to go purchase any—they just had it. For some distributors, just selling meth wasn’t enough. One interviewee, Mia, explained that she began by selling to those she knew, and they would help her grow her network. “Well, I’m saying like somebody I might deal with…for a while and they’d say, ‘Well, I know somebody,’” (Shukla 2016, p. 58), so they began selling to more and more people. If their network grew fast enough, it became much harder to meet the demand they had; at this point, only

The late 1900’s is where the U.S. really cracked down on the use of drugs and they started placing more laws in order. One of the biggest things in the late 1900’s were the mandatory sentences enacted for possession and use of drugs. This put minimum sentences in places for possession of drugs. This of course increased the amount of drugs arrests. At one point, over 50% of the arrests made in New York City were drug related. There were multiple documentaries made and programs set in place to prevent people, especially teens from doing

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.

Summary: Methamphetamine is the story of Rashi K. Shukla’s study of methamphetamine addicts, dealers, and manufacturers. Shukla was seeking a behind the scenes look into the world of methamphetamine to gain an understanding of why people do it, what horrors they witness, how they escaped its hold, and how they live without it. To explore this world Shukla had to gain approval, locate participants, and gather data and information. The advertisement asked for “anyone interested in taking part in a study about methamphetamine”, but heavy emphasis was placed on the manufacturing experience. This was because Shukla believed that manufacturing represented the strongest hold methamphetamine could have.

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

Since the early 1960’s there have been an alarming increase in drug use in the United States in 1962, four million Americans had tried an illegal drug. By 1999, that number had risen to a staggering 88.7 million, according to the 1999 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse.