The Meth Epidemic
The Meth Epidemic
The origin of methamphetamine in the U.S. started on the west coast in the state of Oregon. This is a man-made drug that is easily “cooked” in kitchens across the U. S. Pseudoephedrine is the main chemical ingredient in the drug and also the key component of cold remedies such as Sudafed. The Pseudoephedrine is combined with other chemicals readily available in gas, rubbing alcohol, or drain cleaners. The effects of the drug are of a distinct deteriorating effect. Some people have nicknamed it “meth mouth” where the user’s teeth have blackened and stubbed due to lack of oral hygiene. It causes the elasticity in the skin to go away so the skin sags causing the user to look decades older than they really are. Sores develop on the body, because meth users sometimes see hallucinations of bugs crawling under their skin, and so they try to scratch something that isn’t there. Their immune system isn’t what it used to be since they are poisoning the body, therefore it seems that the common meth user always has a visible sore or two on the body. Since the drug actually makes the blood vessels shrink, it causes a boost of energy, making the user feel very productive or over confident, I should say. It is said that meth is such an ultra-stimulant, that users often stay high all day off one hit.
In 2005, it was reported that over half of Portland, Oregon were meth users. It caused homes to be split apart and thus, half of the foster care provided by the state was children whose parents were involved with meth using or meth making. Also, 85% of property crimes were committed in relation to meth. Many homes were like this on the west coast, however the east coast had yet to see this. The independent investigative journalist that focused national attention to meth addiction in the U.S. was Steve Suo, from the Oregonian. He was very concerned with the statistics of meth. He did a study and transformed data into maps. In 1992, there was only
The origin of methamphetamine in the U.S. started on the west coast in the state of Oregon. This is a man-made drug that is easily “cooked” in kitchens across the U. S. Pseudoephedrine is the main chemical ingredient in the drug and also the key component of cold remedies such as Sudafed. The Pseudoephedrine is combined with other chemicals readily available in gas, rubbing alcohol, or drain cleaners. The effects of the drug are of a distinct deteriorating effect. Some people have nicknamed it “meth mouth” where the user’s teeth have blackened and stubbed due to lack of oral hygiene. It causes the elasticity in the skin to go away so the skin sags causing the user to look decades older than they really are. Sores develop on the body, because meth users sometimes see hallucinations of bugs crawling under their skin, and so they try to scratch something that isn’t there. Their immune system isn’t what it used to be since they are poisoning the body, therefore it seems that the common meth user always has a visible sore or two on the body. Since the drug actually makes the blood vessels shrink, it causes a boost of energy, making the user feel very productive or over confident, I should say. It is said that meth is such an ultra-stimulant, that users often stay high all day off one hit.
In 2005, it was reported that over half of Portland, Oregon were meth users. It caused homes to be split apart and thus, half of the foster care provided by the state was children whose parents were involved with meth using or meth making. Also, 85% of property crimes were committed in relation to meth. Many homes were like this on the west coast, however the east coast had yet to see this. The independent investigative journalist that focused national attention to meth addiction in the U.S. was Steve Suo, from the Oregonian. He was very concerned with the statistics of meth. He did a study and transformed data into maps. In 1992, there was only