Methamphetamine Research Paper

Most criminological research focuses on communities, where some assume and think that small towns are quite safe and crime-free environments. Meanwhile, using methamphetamine has become surrounded in rural parts of the country. In her book Methamphetamine: A Love Story, Rashi K. Shukla focused and enlightened on the understudied of poverty and drug abuse. Through her journey, she proves emotionally how meth has become the spotlight to the lives of some residents. In the process of uncovering how and why she participated in their drug using careers, Shukla tells how the lifestyle surrounding meth use becomes as addicting as the drug itself and highlights the unsustainability of meth addiction and the struggles

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

Property owners are not taking the hardest hit from the meth addicts. The children and spouses are the ones who have to suffer the most. Fifty percent of children that are in foster care have parents that are meth addicts. One nine year old child related in absolute detail how to cook meth, how her father made the children taste the batch, and how it made them feel. She went on to speak of violence, constant viewing of pornography, and the sexual activities that involved her when the adults were high. Most of these foster children are known as meth orphans.

“I want to be addicted to meth!” Have you ever heard anyone say this? While millions of people use methamphetamines, it would be difficult to find a person that had the desire to become addicted to it. Despite a radical increase in the number of people using this drug and the terrible consequences of doing so, it has recently propelled in popularity. Meth addiction is so common because the use of the drug is prevalent in many areas and because there is little knowledge about the risks involved. Few people comprehend the long-term effects of meth on the brain and the body. Methamphetamine is an extremely powerful drug and is so dangerous because it only takes one time to become seriously

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.

Methamphetamine: A Love Story is a book documenting the lives of various people who were immersed in the culture of using, selling, and manufacturing methamphetamine. Through interviews with over 30 individuals, Rashi Shukla brings to light the drastic effects that manifested when this drug took over their lives. Shukla aims to “illuminate this dark world,” (Shukla 2016, p. 11), and to provide insight as to why methamphetamine becomes more than just a drug to those involved with it.

Today, methamphetamines are abused throughout the US. It has spread like wildfire, starting on the West Coast. Today, meth does not discriminate and will affect every race, culture, age, and socio economic level. Meth users range from the most prestigious political figures, all star athletes, famous celebrities, re-known musicians, honest business men/women, respectable housewives/husbands, honor students, to your street drug dealers and junkies. Many truck drivers and bikers are notorious for abusing meth.

Methamphetamine abusers are teens reported from age 12 to adults; when teens start abusing drugs, they do it out of peer-pressure, trying to “fit in” in high school; they don’t want to be consider the outcast or the loner. I did research a story of a young lady who did struggle with addiction, who had overcome her addiction and bettered her life from the mistake of letting meth control part of her youth. In result of trying to fit in, they follow the path of drugs, partying, misbehaving rather than creating their own path. Carren Clem, a young woman who grew up in rural Montana, never believed she would become a drug addict. In sixth grade, she started having social problems; she was teased and excluded by the other kids, especially girls. Determined to make friends, she jumped at the opportunity to skip school with an older girl and go to a party at her friend’s house. Unfortunately, the friend was an older boy who gave them beer and ended up raping Carren. To deal with the shame and report the crime, she started drinking, skipping school and hanging out with “bad” kids. The next year she took a job, she partied with her coworkers. One day one of them offered her a “pick-me-up” because she was tired. As a result the “pick-me-up” was methamphetamine. She smoked all weekend long; the high was so intense it was unbelievable; she was hooked right away. With the addicting effect of meth, she was constantly trying to get more and more that it resulted with her arguing with her parents and moving out of their home. She was doing anything to get meth, stealing car stereos, having sex, whatever to get the drug. When she final hit rock bottom, she wanted to commit suicide. Her “friends” tried to help her by giving her high doses of drugs and alcohol, but she didn’t die. She knew in that moment that she needed help; so she called her youth pastor who then called her

Meth users can stay awake for days at a time, without wanting food, water, sex, etc. These natural things that create pleasure and release dopamine in a normal person won’t have the same effect, or any effect, on a meth addict. This makes it hard for addicts to overcome the addiction because they physically won’t enjoy life if they don’t take the drug. In addition, withdrawal symptoms of meth are similar to those of other addictive drugs. A lot of users fear withdrawal, and therefore continue to take the drug.

Sometimes people forget that methamphetamine hurts not only individuals, but families, neighborhoods and entire communities as well. You might not be using methamphetamine or know anyone who is - but that doesn't mean it's not having an effect on you. A methamphetamine lab can operate unnoticed in a neighborhood for years, causing serious health hazards to everyone around. The problems with meth are widespread. Children and the general public may be affected by the fumes from meth labs operating in or near their homes. The prison system is overwhelmed by the needs of incarcerated meth users. Hospital emergency departments (ED) report that meth is a significant drug problem. The cost of meth labs to society is large. A study done by the University of Arkansas found the cost to prevent abuse in one county to be around $20 million. Although many measures have been placed, abuse has been steadily increasing. In 2003, there was a 68% increase in workers who tested positive. Surprisingly, over 70% of users are actively employed. In particular, the lab problem is growing significantly in the Midwest and Mid Atlantic areas since they migrated from California in the early 80s.

The drug ice can leads to change people’s behaviour and increase violence and crime. It is commonly believed that “methamphetamine users had committed a violent crime in the preceding year” (Darke, Kaye, McKetin & Duflou, 2008, p. 258). There a strong relationship between HIV risk and using methamphetamine which leads to increase ability to crime (Mcketin, Dunlop, Holand, Sutherland, Baker, Salmon & Hudson, 2013, p. 82). According to Taylor et al. (2011, p. 318) meth users tend to make several crimes and violence activities which is common between meth users in drug market. Those users cannot control their aggressive expressions ( Darke et al., 2008). The rate of dependence and suicidal behaviour has been increased among methamphetamine users (Darke et al., 2008, p. 259). According to Mcketin et al., (2013, p. 80) “ It has been estimated that there are 97000 Australians dependent on stimulant drugs”. In fact, Taylor et al. (2011, p. 324) assert that personal relationships can be affected among addicted people with

The meth epidemic first stuck Oregon, and they were hit the hardest by the drug. A trailer park in Portland was the addicts hangout spot to kick-back after the drug kicked in. The abuse did not just attack the addicts, but the families as well. Some of the families had to get restraining orders against the addict. Reporters began to take notice of the effect meth had on people. They notice that meth was the top cause for property damage, and why children were removed from their homes.

“On the streets it is referred to as Crystal, Ice, and Crank. Methamphetamines are viciously addictive and provide the hyperactivity effects of cocaine along with the delusional effects of lysergic acid diethylamide known as LSD.” Rehabs can be found in almost every community from the smallest to the largest cities and affects through all social classes from the lowest to highest. “It is estimated that there are twenty-six million and counting worldwide users of this drug.” Meth is a typical high around six to twelve hours on a small quantity. It's so easy to make; if you know how to make chocolate chip cookies then you can make meth simple as that. The documentary the world's most dangerous drug, talks about what meth is and how many people

The process of making meth is a very dangerous business to be dealing with. Many of the “cooks” do not realize that the chemicals being used are highly flammable and can lead to explosions. When an explosion occurs, the “cooks” are then left with severe burns, and have to be sent to burn units immediately. The chemicals used to produce meth are extremely toxic. Most of the time the “cookers” dump their wastes into rivers, lakes, etc. Leaving our water systems polluted and not drinkable. The crime rates raise up to an ultimate high when people are on meth. Theft is a huge deal when it comes to the users not having the money to buy any more and they have that urge to get it. Murder tends to be another huge factor from meth. Methamphetamine messes with the brain, and the users do outrageous things. Many families do not even know where their relatives are because they have left home to be closer to the drug. In the video there was a couple who said they were happy to get a call from the police saying their son was in jail because they knew he wouldn’t be on the streets or dead. Children are at a risk when their parents on are the drug. When on meth a person does not function correctly and they tend to “forget” about their children, so the children could go hungry. Also, if the parents do not have the meth they could get violent towards their children. These factors lead to children being put in foster care.

Drug and substance abuse among children, especially teens, is substantial. According to the most recent statistics available, (http://www.nationalyouth.com) 1.1 million of our youth age 12 to 17 meet the diagnostic criteria for dependence on drugs and approximately 1 million of our American youth (http://www.drugabusestatistics.samhsa.gov/) are being treated for