METH FACTS

WHAT IS METH? - From National Institute on Drug Abuse
Methamphetamine is a powerfully addictive stimulant that dramatically affects many areas of the central nervous system. It was developed from its parent drug, amphetamine, and originally used in nasal decongestants and bronchial inhalers. Met has more pronounced effects on the central nervous system.

Common terms for Meth:
Speed, Met, chalk, ice, crystal, glass, crank, and Tina

METH Ingredients:
Includes acetone, anhydrous ammonia (fertilizer), hydrochloric acid, iodine, lithium (batteries), pseudoephedrine (cold medicines), red phosphorus (matches or road flares), sulfuric acid (drain cleaner), Sodium hydroxide (lye) Toluene (brake cleaner)
- National Drug Intelligence Center, US Dept of Justice ’Met laboratory identification and hazards fast facts

How Meth is used:
It can be smoked, snorted, originally ingested, or injected. It’s often used in a "binge and crash" pattern.

METH MANUFACTURING:
Most street Meth (85%) is made in ’superlabs’ outside of the country, primarily in Mexico, and smuggled into US.
15% is made in "mom and pop" labs all over the country with primary concentration in West, Pacific Northwest, and Midwest in rural areas:

• - Small portable labs can be easily moved and established in small spaces such as trailers, motels rooms, barns, basements.
• - Output of Meth produced by these labs are relatively small, most used by ’cooker’ ad relatively small circle of friends and family
• - Labs are numerous, proliferating and pose a dangerous threat in terms of violence, toxicity, severe environmental and property damage, public safety and an overwhelming burden on law enforcement and local government resources.

- DEA, Drug, Trafficking in the US/ONCCP Drug Facts

• There are an estimated 500,000 Meth users in California, evenly split between men and women
• Among 11th graders 7.6% have used Meth.
• More than 33% of those arrested test positive for meth
• Violence is often associated with meth. Physical abuse is reported by up to 85% for women and up to 70% of men using meth.
• Up to 50% of those with newly diagnosed HIV-infection use meth.
• Drug-induced changes in the brain can result in chronic addiction accompanied with depression long after a person quits, making recovery extremely difficult.
• A sampling of Child Protection Services cases show 40% involve meth-user parents.
• Meth manufacturing poses serious environmental hazards. For every pound of meth manufactured, 6 to 7 pounds of toxic waster are produced.
• Home based meth labs are a serious healthy danger, often exposing children to corrosive acid fumes, the drug itself, and lingering health effect.
• Today much of the meth I the US is made in Mexico and smuggled across the border.
• Sales value of meth has increased dramatically. Officials see it as a sign aggressive enforcement is turning the tide.
• Battling Meth is a multi-front war. Local efforts in prevention and intervention are on the rise as treatment demand grows.
• California’s evolving response to drug abuse shifted its focus from incarceration to treatment in 2001 with the passage of Proposition 36.
• Outreach in drug abuse recovery is on the increase by local agency and faith-based programs. Concentrated prevention efforts are being made by a coalition of agencies, similar to Nevada County’s Coalition for a Drug-Free Nevada County according to 2006 California Society of Addiction Medicine report
• The United Nation’s International Narcotics Control Board cited Methamphetamine as the top drug problem in America.
• The majority of U.S. counties report Meth is their most serious drug problem - more than cocaine and marijuana combined.1
• In 2005 45 states reported a 90% increase in Meth-related crime in the past 3 years. 2
• 47% of hospitals report Meth as the top illicit drug involved in emergency room visits.3

1,2,3 National Association of Counties. The Methamphetamine Epidemic: The Changing Demographics of Methamphetamine. August 2007


TEEN ATTITUDES:

• 24% of the teens say it would be ’very’ or ’somewhat easy’ for them to acquire Meth
• 77% who have tried Meth reported they first used the drug when they were age 15 or younger
• 1 in 10 say someone has offered them, or tried to get them to try Meth at some time in their lives.
• 16% (1 in 6) have either a friend or a family member who has used or been treated for using Meth.
• 1 in 3 teens sees little to no risk in trying Meth once or twice, and 15% say there is no risk in taking it regularly. Teens believe experimenting with Meth is less dangerous than with cocaine or heroin.
• 1 in 4 believe that there are benefits to using Meth:
  • 24% believe it ’makes you feel euphoric of very happy"
  • 23% believe it ’helps you lose weight’
  • 22% believe it ’helps you deal with boredom
  • 18% believe it ’gives you energy
  • 76%of the teens voice "strong" disapproval of trying Meth even once or twice
  • 42% say their friends would not give them a "hard time" if they were to use Meth and
  • 55% say they’ve never discussed the subject of Meth with their parents.

From:
2007 National Meth Use & Attitudes Survey This survey was executed from March 16, 2007 to June 6, 2007 by GfK Roper Public Affairs & Media, and consisted of 2602 12-17 year old junior and senior high school students from 43 randomly selected schools across the United States.