Meth Facts
The Power of Crystal Meth
~Anonymous Poet
I destroy home, I tear families apart
I take your children, and that’s just a start
I’m more valued than diamonds, more precious than gold
The sorrow I bring is a sight to behold
If you need me, I’m easily found
I live all around you, in your school and in your town
I live with the rich and with the poor
I live just down the street or maybe next door
I’m made in a lab, but not like you think
I can even be made under your kitchen sink
I have many names, but there’s one you’ll know best
I’m sure you’ve heard of me, my name is “crystal meth”
My power is awesome, try me you’ll see
But if you do, you may never break free
Just try me once, I might let you go
But if you try me twice, I am your soul
When I possess you, you’ll steal and you’ll lie
You’ll do what you have to just to stay high
The crimes you’ll commit for my narcotic charms
Will be worth the pleasures you’ll feel in my arms
You’ll lie to your mom and steal from you dad
When you see their tears, you won’t even be sad
Just forget your morals and how you were raised
I’ll be your conscience, I’ll teach you my ways
I’ll take everything from you, your looks and your pride
I’ll always be with you, right by your side
I’ll take and I’ll take ‘til you have no more to give
When I’m finished with you, you’ll be lucky to live
If you try me, be warned, this is not a game
If I’m given a chance, I’ll drive you insane
The nightmares I’ll give you while you’re lying in bed
The voices you’ll hear from inside your head
The sweats, the shakes, the visions you’ll see
I want you to know these gifts are from me
My power is awesome I’ve told you before
I can take your mother and make her a whore
I’ll be your master, I’ll be your slave
I’ll even take you to your grave
By then it’s too late, you’ll know in your heart
That you are now mine, and we shall not part
You’ll regret that you tried me—they always do
But you came to me, not I to you
You knew this would happen, many times you were told
But you challenged my power, you chose me to be bold
You could have told me “NO” then walked away
If you could live that over, now what would you say?
Now that you’ve met me, what will you do?
Will you try me or not, it’s all up to you
HOW IS METH MADE?
Unlike drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, and heroin, which are derived from plants, meth can be manufactured using a variety of store bought chemicals.
The most common ingredient in meth is pseudoephedrine or ephedrine, commonly found in cold medicine. Through a cooking process the pseudoephedrine or ephedrine is chemically changed into meth. The ingredients that are used in the process of making meth can include: ether, paint thinner, Freon™, acetone, anhydrous ammonia, iodine crystals, red phosphorus, drain cleaner, battery acid, and lithium (taken from inside batteries).
Photo of a home meth lab
Meth is often manufactured or “cooked” in very crude laboratories. Many of these labs are not sophisticated operations and do not require sophisticated chemistry equipment. And the people who cook the meth usually do not have any chemistry training. Cooking meth is relatively simple, but highly dangerous and toxic.
There are two basic categories of meth labs:
Superlabs produce large quantities of meth and supply organized drug trafficking groups that sell the drug in communities across the U.S. Most of the larger labs are controlled by Mexican Drug Trafficking Organizations operating in the U.S. and Mexico.
Small Toxic Labs produce smaller quantities of meth. These labs can be set up in homes, motel rooms, inside automobiles, and in parks or rural areas — really almost anywhere.
HOW DOES METH AFFECT A USER?
Using meth causes an increase in energy and alertness, a decrease in appetite, and an intense euphoric “rush.” That’s in the short term.
With sustained use, a meth user can develop a tolerance to it. The user may take increasingly higher doses of meth trying to catch that high she first experienced. She may take it more frequently or may go on binges. She may change the way she takes meth. For example a user may have started by taking a pill, but as she develops a tolerance she may begin injecting it. Addiction is likely.
Neurotoxic Effects of Methamphetamine
Previous research showed that methamphetamine damages the nerve terminals of dopamine-producing brain cells. The new research shows methamphetamine also triggers a natural mechanism called apoptosis that prompts the complete disintegration and death of additional nerve cells in other brain regions.
In the long term, a person using meth may experience irritability, fatigue, headaches, anxiety, sleeplessness, confusion, aggressive feelings, violent rages, cravings for more meth, and depression. They may become psychotic and experience paranoia, auditory hallucinations, mood disturbances, and delusions. The paranoia may lead to homicidal or suicidal thoughts.
A fairly common hallucination experienced by meth users is the so-called crank bug. The user gets the sensation that there are insects creeping on top of, or underneath, her skin. The user will pick at or scratch her skin trying to get rid of the imaginary bugs. This scratching can create open sores that may become infected.
Photo of Meth Hands
Photos courtesy of Sheriff’s Department, Multnomah County, Oregon
Meth reduces the amount of protective saliva around the teeth. Meth users also consume excess sugared, carbonated soft drinks, tend to neglect personal hygiene, grind their teeth and clench their jaws, leading to what is commonly called “meth mouth.” Teeth can eventually fall out of users’ mouths—even as they do simple things like eating a sandwich.
Photo of a Meth Mouth
Photos courtesy of: Sharlee Shirley, RDH, MPH; Jim Cecil, DMD, MPH, University of Kentucky, School of Dentistry
High doses of meth can elevate body temperature to dangerous, sometimes lethal, levels. High doses can also cause convulsions. People can die as a result of using meth. Because meth is so addictive, the distance between the short and long term effects may not be very long.
HOW DOES METH AFFECT EVERYONE ELSE?
As you can imagine, all those toxic chemicals used in the meth manufacturing process take a toll on the environment. Every pound of meth made can generate up to five pounds of toxic waste that may seep into the soil and groundwater. The manufacturing process also generates toxic fumes. These fumes can severely harm anyone exposed to them. Meth labs also generate highly explosive gases.
Meth also has a very serious impact on children. Many children are rescued from homes with meth labs or meth using parents. Meth, chemicals, and syringes are all within reach of these children. Parents high on meth neglect their children. And the mental, physical, and emotional consequences for these Drug Endangered Children are often severe. Millions of our tax dollars are spent each year to clean up meth labs, to care for Drug Endangered Children, and to pay for law enforcement to deal with the meth problem.
Related Links:
National Institute of Justice’s Report on Methamphetamine
National Drug Intelligence Center’s National Methamphetamine Threat Assessment
