The rise of methamphetamine abuse and addiction in the United States has been well documented in the media and medical journals. We read of its serious health implications and how it quickly devours a person’s private, professional and social life.
Cathleen Otero, M.S.W., M.P.A.; Sharon Boles, P.H.D.; Nancy K. Young, P.H.D.; and Kim Dennis, M.P.A., of the National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare, authored a paper in 2006, on methamphetamine and the implications to child welfare workers.
According to the writer’s research, when comparing methamphetamine use to cocaine use, meth use begins earlier; they need treatment at an earlier age; are more likely to use multiple drugs; have a higher frequency of use; feel less addicted than cocaine users; are less likely to use alcohol; are more likely to use meth throughout the day and space that use evenly throughout the day, as opposed to cocaine users who tend to use at night; use fewer times than cocaine users, but use the same amount of drug; spend less money on drug and are more likely to be female and Caucasian.
The paper clearly states the unexpected consequence of this rising addiction problem-children of addicted parents are often chronically neglected. The family and social situations for these children are inadequate, and sadly they are at greater risk of abuse.
The report also says something amazing-that meth parents are less likely to understand that there are risks to the unborn child when they are using than are parents who use cocaine or heroin. Methamphetamine use during pregnancy jeopardizes the development of the child’s brain and other organs.
Unlike cocaine and heroin, methamphetamine is manufactured in small labs, and the ingredients can be readily purchased legally. The labs are portable, so the drug can be created just about anywhere, in homes, hotel rooms or little back alley rooms. Because it is less expensive to produce, a small investment yields large returns on the street. People take it and feel the euphoric rush and soon the drug becomes the center point of their lives.
The unexpected consequence, the devastating harm it can do to the unborn, and children under the control of the addicts, needs to be hammered home to those who seek the effects of the drug.
Meanwhile, children exposed to their parent’s use of the drug are at risk of developing a chronic cough, shortness of breath, chest pains and tightness, dizziness, lethargy, nausea, skin irritations, chemical burns and headaches.
In an effort to try to protect children, Drug Endangered Children (DEC) teams have been established in some locations, specifically for methamphetamine. Along with that, treatment programs for addicted parents have been ramped up, as the ever-growing numbers of addicts continues.
One of the most vital pieces to fighting a war is knowing about the enemy, and so professionals are learning more about the methamphetamine enemy. The good news is that the physiological damage created by meth use is reversible with long-term abstinence.
Treatment outcomes for meth addiction are similar to those for cocaine and heroin. And, treatment can lead not only to a restoration of health and well-being, but reunification of the family. Meth is deadly and children must be taken out of harm’s way, but there is hope. Meth abuse and addiction is not just a problem for child welfare workers, it’s our problem. Children need protection from this epidemic, so we all fight the fight alongside the professionals.
When does it all end? Why does there always seem to be some foul drug unleashed to eradicate the family unit? Perhaps it was not done by design; however there are some who would probably argue that point. When it comes to drug abuse everyone, including the user, the parents, the children, the grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles, everybody suffers, leaving families confused and fragmented.
It is a little know fact that drugs destroy the heart of the America’s existence, they destroy families.
If it’s not alcohol, or marijuana, heroin or cocaine, it’s something else. Recently I heard a news report that reported “Meth” (Methamphetamine) as rural America’s drug of choice. It’s cheap, easy to make and can annihilate a family unit faster than a speeding bullet. “Meth” is the superman of the drug culture that has no mercy.
When do we start teaching our parents to just say no? How many children will have be losed to mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers to a drug that has the power to make you literally chuck all sense of reality.
Children are watching their parents make “Meth” in their kitchens, in the garage or in a barn. What kind of generation are we raising when children now witness their parents making drugs, using drugs and selling drugs?
If you suspect a loved one of being involved in making or using “Meth:”
- Address the issue head-on without anger and emotion.
- Be firm about the effect “Meth” is having on their life and the family.
- Insist they participate in a drug treatment program.
- Be supportive and explain that you know that walking away from the drug is difficult, to impossible.
- Be honest with yourself and acknowledge your own drug or alcohol problems (sometimes what we do sets a more important example than what we say).
Avoid:
- Being accusatory
- Being sarcastic and judgmental
- Offering pity
- Blaming yourself
Methamphetamine is a white, odorless, bitter, crystalline powder. It dissolves easily in water or alcohol and is taken orally, smoked, snorted or injected. It is an extremely addictive stimulant drug that directly affects the central nervous system.
Even in small doses, Methamphetamine results in increased wakefulness and physical activity, decreased appetite, increased breathing, heart rate and blood pressure and irregular heartbeat.
Long-term abuse results in extreme weight loss, acute dental problems, anxiety, confusion, mood disturbances, insomnia and violent behavior. Chronic abusers display several psychotic features like paranoia, hallucinations, both visual and auditory, and delusions.
Ecstasy is the street name for MDMA or methylenedioxymethamphetamine. MDMA has a lot in common with Methamphetamine. They are both stimulants and chemically similar. Ecstasy produces feelings of euphoria and emotional warmth. It distorts time perceptions and promotes tangible experiences. It also has an energizing effect.
Unlike Methamphetamine, MDMA comes in a capsule or tablet form and is taken orally. It may produce insomnia, depression, severe anxiety and confusion. While these symptoms may be immediate, sometimes they might occur days or weeks after taking the drug. Like Methamphetamine, Ecstasy is addictive and creates a craving.
Ecstasy gained popularity with teenagers at weekend-long rave parties and the nightclub scene to keep them awake and create a feeling of euphoria. It is now commonly used by urban gay males.
MDMA increases the heart rate and blood pressure, and has other symptoms like muscle tension, involuntary teeth clenching, nausea, blurred vision, faintness, and chills or sweating. MDMA can also be dangerous to overall health and, on rare occasions, lethal.
Although Methamphetamine, also called ‘Meth’, has limited medicinal uses but it can also cause addiction. Methamphetamine targets the Central Nervous System and causes release of neurotransmitter Dopamine and Norepinephrine. “Meth” causes euphoric feeling, intense emotion, and loss of appetite, empathy, euphoria, mood changes, and psychotic aggressive behavior. There are various types of drug testing to detect Methamphetamine in the body.
Urine Drug Testing:
Urine drug testing kits are reliable and accurate method of testing a person for drug use. The Urine Drug Testing kits are inexpensive and flexible. Through this type of drug testing, it is possible to test many different drugs in different combinations. Meth gets into the urine about 2-5 hrs after consumption and can be detected in urine even 3-5 days after use. There are also tests by which you can test ‘Meth’ along with other drugs, which tests Meth in addition to other drugs. You can test for Methamphetamine abuse by taking a urine sample in a clean container and then immersing the Meth test in the container and waiting for five minutes. The results are displayed after short while. Urine drug tests usually come in three different forms: ‘dip’ form, ‘cassette’ form, or ‘cup’ form. In dip form, the tests are dipped in urine sample to get traces of Methamphetamines. In the cassette form, few drops of sample are dropped on the cassette using a pipette. In the cup form tests, the cup in which the urine sample is collected tests the specimen and provides results.
Hair Drug Testing:
The Hair drug testing method is an easy and highly accurate way of knowing the drug abuse history of up to 90 days. In this type of drug testing, small samples of hair is collected from the person and send to laboratory for analysis. One has to wait for the drug to grow out from the root of the hair. In case of head hair, this takes around one week time. While in case of body hair, it grows more slowly and waiting period is large. It is impossible to tamper with hair to alter the results of a hair drug test. It is because the laboratory evaluates how much of a particular drug’s molecules are embedded in the hair shaft. A head hair can provide drug abuse history of past 90 days while a body hair can provide drug abuse history of last one year. A hair drug test can test up to six to seven drugs like marijuana, cocaine, opiates, methamphetamines, ecstasy, PCP, and amphetamines. Hair testing is more expensive than urine testing; however, it is up to 10 times more accurate than standard urine tests.
Saliva Drug Testing:
This type of testing is faster, reliable, convenient, and simple to know whether a person is currently high on Methamphetamine or has taken it in the past one day. It is only through saliva drug testing that we can ascertain whether the person is currently high. One of the significant points of saliva drug tests are that a saliva drug test can tell you if someone has used drugs as recently as 5-10 minutes. Drugs like Methamphetamine, Cocaine, and Amphetamine can be detected within 5-10 minutes after its administration. The saliva drug testing method is also easy and simple and does not cause any embarrassment as in the case of urine drug test. Methamphetamines can also be detected 10 minutes after its use to up to 72 hrs after use. A saliva drug tests can detect smaller amounts of a particular drug than a urine test can.
These various drug-testing techniques are simple and easy to perform to help check abuse of Methamphetamine among young people, teenagers, and employees. These techniques are useful to ensure better and healthy life of people.
We have seen the devastation and destruction of families over methamphetamines, especially the illegal homemade “Crystal Meth” drugs made of toxic ingredients. People who use these drugs often get addicted and ruin their lives, betray their friends and family and do anything to continue that high. They say they feel euphoric, heightened awareness, and an incredible sense of taste, touch and feeling. An addicted meth user raves about the effects while on the drug, even as their mirror tells them it’s killing them.
Then there are folks that research this stuff and say it can increase productivity, alertness and be a life saver in severe situations, like in the middle of a war. Regarding productivity and methamphetamine, we do know that the USAF and perhaps other military groups have used a similar theory to keep troops alert. And there are groups studying, as they always have with mind-drugs, the history of this in the US is huge, but somewhat hidden. CIA did lots of studies.
They are always studying something in the neuro-space to get the edge and it is very interesting all the research that has been done on these things. Apparently, there is a real need due to the information overload and need for situational awareness in the battlespace. Of course, there are repercussions, addiction issues, health care issues, all sorts of stuff. Unfortunately, there are side effects to the use of these substances and the consequences are pretty dire and severe.
Granted, one might be able to reason the use of a neuro stimulate in extreme situations, but perhaps we need to consider this more and make any decisions on its use projected for the long term as well as the short term. Please consider this.
