The History and Meteoric Rise of Meth
Methamphetamines are highly addictive stimulants with a complicated history. According to a report by the United States Department of Justice, methamphetamines (meth for short) were first introduced in the early 1900s. Meth was meant to be a bronchial dilator for respiratory problems and was first synthesized by Japanese scientists in 1919. But it was quickly […]
Methamphetamines are highly addictive stimulants with a complicated history. According to a report by the United States Department of Justice, methamphetamines (meth for short) were first introduced in the early 1900s. Meth was meant to be a bronchial dilator for respiratory problems and was first synthesized by Japanese scientists in 1919. But it was quickly prescribed for other things due to its stimulant properties — including narcolepsy, fatigue, and obesity — and was readily available in the United States by prescription. Some World War II soldiers and pilots were even given methamphetamines to increase their alertness. But as meth’s popularity grew, so did its accessibility for recreational use among the public. Meth became a Schedule II substance in the 1970s, meaning that meth was identified as a drug with high abuse risk but could be safely used in medical prescriptions. When meth was no longer legal to use without a prescription, the large boom of illegal production and distribution began.
Production and Distribution
Rather than allowing patients to suffer, doctors in the 1970s and 1980s wanted to be proactive about pain, especially for chronically and terminally ill patients. By the late 1980s, doctors began prescribing harder opiates for patients in extreme pain. While this practice did alleviate pain, it also caused addiction to opiates and other prescription drugs for some patients, regardless of whether they had recovered or still had lingering effects of their condition. Some doctors would renew prescriptions while other doctors would end prescriptions, citing that the ailment was cured. Those who could not obtain a prescription or felt they were not being written a large enough prescription would often turn to the streets for opiates, stumbling upon methamphetamines in the process. As a stimulant, meth would provide some pain relief, but mostly euphoria and increased energy levels.Because meth is cheap to make by using ingredients, including several common household items, the popularity grew even further. Today, meth can be found in most counties of every state, from small “mom and pop” shops making small amounts to larger shops that sell across state lines. Although household meth is not “easy” to make, the ingredients are readily available, and demand for meth is high, meaning that sellers can illegally profit. Many states have attempted to slow meth production by passing laws to limit sales of the common household items used in large quantities to make meth, such as pseudoephedrine in cold medicine.Meth’s Grip on America
Meth is currently most prevalent in the Western, Midwestern, and Southern states. Men and women use meth in equal numbers, but most who are addicted to meth are white and in their 20s and 30s. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), approximately 1.6 million people use meth each year, and the average age of new meth users is just 23 years old.Meth increases the natural amount of dopamine in the brain, creating a stimulus in the brain’s reward center and increasing the drug’s addictive properties. These addictive properties combined with a high potential of an overdose make meth a dangerous and potentially deadly drug.The Health Effects of Meth Abuse
According to NIDA, meth has a variety of short-term effects, some of which appeal to those who abuse the drug and others that can cause lasting damage or death. These include:- Increased energy and physical activity
- Faster breathing
- Decreased appetite
- Irregular or rapid heartbeat
- High blood pressure or increased body temperature
- Euphoria
- Overdose
- Addiction
- Extreme weight loss
- Dental problems
- Intense itching, leading to sores and scarring on the skin
- Anxiety
- Changes in brain structure and function
- Confusion
- Memory loss
- Sleeping problems
- Paranoia
- Hallucinations
- Overdose
