How can we end the Meth epidemic?

Question

Methamphetamine causes more dopamine and serotonin to be released by the brain than, sex, heroin, nicotine, and chocolate combined. This fact alone is responsible for its almost instantaneous addiction. It’s also nearly impossible to recover from since the brain has to learn again how to release those chemicals on its own, meaning you simply won’t be able to feel pleasure of any kind for a long time while you recover. It is estimated that 80% of Portland, OR’s crime is in some way, Meth related.

This stuff is vile.

Do you think the US and mainly the producers of pseudoephedrine hydrochloride, (Sudafed) have done enough, or can do anymore to stop this drug?

Do you think the war on drugs and the prohibition or safer recreational drugs creates a market for cheap and extremely dangerous drugs like Meth, Crack, Ketamine and Ecstasy?

tnfarmgirl- that's the most logical argument for border security I've heard. But why can't the Sudafed makers stop selling the quantities they do in Mexico. You'd think there was a common cold epidemic just in Mexico since more Sudafed is sold there than people.

Sorry- let me rephrase- More Sudafed is sold in Mexico than there are people to buy it. Didn't mean to suggest people are being sold in Mexico.

biguglytruth- you're right the crystal itself isn't imported, but the ingredients are.

bbbbriggs04- I live in NY I know em all.

delphi- there is some what of a border issue here, since a producer could never buy enough sudafed in the US to produce it. And you can't by ephedra or pseudophedra as raw chemical anymore without pharm liscenses and all that. The US has shown it can beat it, but they always find new ways to cook it up. The best way seems to cut off the supply of the ingredients. But the Pharm Comanies do not want that, they make tons of money off Sudafed.

I don't see how cracking down with 'harsh laws' will help. Mandatory sentences have never shown they help solve drug problems. They just create overcrowding issues.

Thanks 1848-

Rek T- Unfortunately, meth users don't seem to want to die off. In fact, they're growing in numbers and so is crime related to them.

Answer 1

An important part of ending the meth epidemic is understanding addiction as a disease that exists outside of the physical substance of meth.

That is to say, addiction itself is a condition that is only activated by meth, alcohol, and other drugs.

This understanding can lead to better practices in rehabilitation.

As long as the disease exists (which it always will), meth will exist.

Meth just fills a niche, and it's that niche that people should be trying to heal.

Not to say measures like restricting access to pseudephedrine aren't helpful; they are, but it's not a good way to address the fundamental problem.

Criminalization of addiction only creates a cycle for addicts to get stuck in.

I have a friend who is deeply involved in a recovery program. Lives in a sober house, goes to meetings 5/7 days of the week. He's smart.

But he was caught a couple years ago producing meth. From this, he spent time in prison, can not get financial aid to pursue his dream of finishing college, can get no food stamps or any other federal help, has a felony haunting him on his record...He's cut off from so many things that normal citizens rely on every day. And none of this helps him heal at all.

He relapses occasionally, and he has to go back into a brief in-patient rehab to get back on track.

He has a great food service resume, actually. That keeps him afloat pretty well between relapses. But it's times like these (he just got out of in-patient again) that he could really use food stamps. It's the severe stress of being broke and helpless that always jumpstarts a relapse...

Answer 2

I am old enough to remember days when driving under the influence of alcohol had alot less legal consequences than it does now. (Still a stupid thing to do mind you.) But sometimes officers might actually give you a ride home.

Those days are long gone thank God. Now DWI's have serious legal and monetary consequences. This sparked awareness to the public. People now the penalties are swift and severe.

Perhaps if we really cracked down on Meth with harsh and strict laws we might see a difference. Example, mandatory jail time and treatment for possession of even a small amount would scare people similar to DWI penalties.

Maybe getting caught producing Meth could be automatic 10 years or so. Wouldnt laws like these save people from themselves?

Its just a thought, I really dont know if it would work.

Answer 3

So Ted Haggard was feeling real good with his partner.

Ok, let's get serious here. If we make laws stronger against meth users then it may push them to do it even more in secret. Remember the prohibition of alcohol? All it did was made ordinary people into criminals and forcing them to make cheap, dangerous alcohol in secret. People were so desperate that they drunk that stuff and many of them died.

People, let's learn from history. We need to come up with other solutions besides prohibiting drugs. If the government really wants to help then they should focus on rehabilitating people and getting them off the drugs.

We will never know why people would do these drugs, but why do people smoke or drink alcohol? When you get drunk at a party then are you better than the person next to you getting high?

Answer 4

I believe the first step, which is already working and has been taken in my homestate of WA as well as in OR, is to restrict the sale of pseudephedrine over-the-counter medicines. Ever since Washington put this law into effect, the number of meth labs discovered and meth addiction cases has been dropping. Education alone is not enough. The drug war really hasn't helped either. But by restricting access to pseudephedrine, a critical precursor, those who are producing this poison aren't able to get the ingredients they need.

Answer 5

Ya--two parent family's--that solves all our problems.

A meth user has one goal--get the next high at any cost. I would be all for legally providing them with any other drug to help with a withdrawal, meth is vile.

A family trying to help can not understand why you can not just turn off the switch. If you are a family member of a meth user and want to help get ready for a rude awakening and the biggest challenge of your life. Expect lies, deceit and deception. It will break you before it will break them because it is all about the next high.

The solution--will come with our other priorities like Universal Health Care, cure of HIV-Aids--diabetes and Alzheimer's.

Looks like we will be leaving it up to God.

Answer 6

I lost everything in my life to meth, I ended up homeless and eventually in prison. I wasn't able to take care of my daughter and lost custody, my own mother had to sit by my side for 3 days while I was in a coma not knowing if I would ever wake up or who I would be if I did. When I think about the years of my life I wasted I get sick.

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Answer 7

Yes they have done enough. So much , in fact. that the new way to make meth is from spent fertilizer..which is why they are now proposing legislation that would pay farmers to add an aditive to their fertilizer to destroy the chemical that is siphoned off to make meth. In other words, we can chase them, but they will keep finding new ways.

EDIT: Like I said, the ingredients to make it come from sources other than sudafed...domestic ones...ones that are creating new legislation as we speak. I guess the answer is, we can't get rid of it...only decrease the use through education.

Answer 8

1st Meth is not a border problem. It can with the proper chemicals be cooked anywhere.
All of you with your flippant answers are unaware of how evil this drug is. As to how to stop it. I have no idea. Friends and I were dicussing this yesterday. It will be an on going discussion. As soon as we come up with anything viable we are the type to implement it our community. For those addicted. It can be beat. For those of you with affected family members. Don't enable and get the addict help!

Answer 9

I have never heard a solution that I thought would work. The user has to realize that its time to quit on their own. I speak from experience. I used this stupid stuff for about 6 mos after my mom died. It was the only thing, at the time, that made me feel good. Fortunately I woke up and quit (after 3 tries). I grew up in the 70s (and I did inhale) and this stuff is the worst of the worst.

Answer 10

"Do you think the war on drugs and the prohibition or safer recreational drugs creates a market for cheap and extremely dangerous drugs like Meth, Crack, Ketamine and Ecstasy?"


Dead on.

You can't expect government to fix problems originally created by government interference.