The Meth Epidemic

The Meth Epidemic was a time where an abundance of individuals across the United States was exposed to meth. It became an addiction that could not be stopped. Higher officials done everything they could to stop it but meth always found its way to others. Unfortunately, this has affected society because of the high crime rate it has caused. Hence, their addiction has caused them to make decisions that has affected society and causing others to make serious decisions.

“Meth, not even once” is a popular phrase that is associated with this drug. This drug has many known horrible effects associated with it, plus many effects more I am sure are going to be discovered over time. I am intending to cover the history, effects, the different categories of meth abuse, and the withdrawal effects of Methamphetamine in this paper, and what to do if you suspect someone you know is using meth.

The addiction of methamphetamine amongst juvenile’s and adults has reached epidemic proportions that affect the individual, families and communities. Methamphetamine abuse has crossed all social economic boundaries that have negatively impacted law enforcement, social and clinical services. According to Anglin, Burke, Perrochet, Stamper and Dawud-Noursi (2000), methamphetamine, also known as meth, crystal, or speed, is a substance that affects the central nervous system creating a stimulant effect that can be injected, smoked, snorted, or ingested orally. Individuals who use meth for an extensive period of time tend to become addicted and will likely need to continue to use meth at high levels for its effects to continue to provide the euphoric symptoms and sensations. Anglin, et al, also describe methamphetamine as a derivative of amphetamine, this form of amphetamine was often used for medication purposes in the 1950’s and 1960’s to treat symptoms of depression and obesity. Durell, Kroutil, Crits-Christoph, Barchha, and Van Brunt (2008), also stated that illicit methamphetamine use is a public health concern in the United States with an increase use among teens and young adults in the 1990s. The Mental Health Services Administration conducted a national survey on meth use in the United States and found that currently as least a half a million of Americans used or have used methamphetamine. Meth use is an epidemic that is slowly becoming a destructive

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

Cunningham, S., & Finlay, K. (2013). PARENTAL SUBSTANCE USE AND FOSTER CARE: EVIDENCE FROM TWO METHAMPHETAMINE SUPPLY SHOCKS. Economic Inquiry, 51(1), 764-782. doi:10.1111/j.1465-7295.2012.00481.x

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

“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.

This nation is facing a problem with a powerful stimulant, known as Meth. Meth is a highly addictive drug that is, and a hard to kick. Meth is a huge money making business so the marketing of the drug is not only targeted to adults, but the younger generation as well. Despite the effort with the war on drugs, Law Enforcement is facing a tough battle of controlling the clandestine meth labs, and meth brought to the United States from Mexico. Meth not only hurts the user, but families, and communities as well. Education and awareness to the public can help with the battle on Meth. Although through education, intervention, and rehabilitation there is help to combat meth abuse, meth is a potent dangerous drug that destroys lives,

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

According to “Persuasion, Reception and Responsibility,” by J. Scudder, Montana has had a serious drug addiction problem. Not just any drug, but a heavy, highly addictive, laboratory engineered chemical, known as methamphetamine (meth). Scudder states that over half their population was on meth. The addiction of meth did not discriminate based on age or on the user. Young teens were using meth. The drug abuse literally destroyed their lives and the community. The rate of children in foster care rose drastically because meth destroyed families and made everyday interactions unbearable.

But the meth makers found a new way to make it which was called shake and bake. They would use a lot less cold medicine pills, so it wouldn’t matter that they put a limit on the amount. Oregon is the state focused on in this video, and the crime committed in this state, was the meth heads doing it. They would steal stuff, take it to a dealer, and they would purchase these stolen goods with meth. They eventually opened more rehabs to help with this epidemic, and it seemed to help a bit. Once they resumed some control over the situation the crime rate went down. It’s also discusses the effects it has on the meth heads children. They often time would help to make the product, feeling high themselves while making it. Once everyone in the house was high, the kids would be sexually abused by everyone in the house. Many of these children removed from these homes where called meth fosters. So then there were many kids without parents because meth stole them from them.

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 United States is not immune to the worldwide drug addiction epidemic. Drugs pour in from Mexico daily, then distributed to throughout the country. The economic crisis in America is creating an excuse for drug use (e.g., depression, hopelessness). This chemical fix not only creates problems for the addict, but the family and community as well. Every addict has an enabler, a person who makes the addiction possible through various venues of support (e.g., financial, denial). Addicts are only concerned with their next fix and will resort to any means to obtain it (e.g., theft, prostitution, pan-handling). Some have even resorted to extremely desperate measures; for example, murder for inheritance or life insurance proceeds.