Meth in the News
"The threat associated with methamphetamine trafficking and abuse has increased sharply since 2002 and now exceeds that of any other drug.”
-National Drug Intelligence Center
Dr. Nora Volkow, Director, NIDA (National Institute on Drug Abuse) on methamphetamine:
"It’s one of the most toxic drugs to the brain, ranking high with gasoline inhalants."
Senate testimony of Dr. Volkow from April 21, 2005 on methamphetamine:
http://www.nida.nih.gov/Testimony/4-21-05Testimony.html
This article from Join Together addresses the growth of meth super labs in Mexico as a result of the restricted legislation and enforcement within the U.S.
http://www.jointogether.org/news/headlines/inthenews/2005/state-crackdowns-push-meth-to.html
From Join Together, the following brief describes a new report indicating the magnitude of meth on a global level; internationally, there are more meth users than cocaine and heroin combined. The article alludes that crime is expected to rise as a result of this trend.
http://www.jointogether.org/news/headlines/inthenews/2006/global-meth-use-exceeds.html
Appearing in this Join Together brief, Office of National Drug Control Policy reveals “Synthetic Drug Control Strategy” to reduce methamphetamine and prescription drug abuse within the next 3 years.
http://www.jointogether.org/news/headlines/inthenews/2006/ondcp-unveils-strategy-for.html
Legislative Updates
SENATE BILL 638
Sponsor: Senator Rick Kasunic
Introduced in April 2005, this bill would restrict the sale of products containing ephedrine and pseudoephedrine to no more than nine grams per month. Such products could only be sold behind the counter or through restricted access. In addition, the purchaser would be required to show photo identification proving they are at least 18. The retailer, in turn, would be required to keep a sales log with the purchaser’s name, address, date of sale, and amount sold.
http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/BI/BT/2005/0/SB0638P0736.HTM
HOUSE BILL 1310
Sponsor: Representative Matthew Good
This would limit the sale of over the counter medicines that contain ephedrine, pseudoephedrine and phenylpropanolamine to no more than 3 packages or 9 grams per over-the-counter transaction.
http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/BI/BT/2005/0/HB1310P1558.HTM
HOUSE BILL 1311
Sponsor: Representative Tina Pickett
This bill would limit the sale of over the counter medicines, which contain ephedrine, pseudoephedrine and phenylpropanolamine to no more than 3 packages or 9 grams per over-the-counter transaction. Also, the bill would require over-the-counter medicines containing ephedrine, pseudoephedrine and phenylpropanolamine to be sold from behind the counter or through the use of an anti-theft device.
http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/BI/BT/2005/0/HB1311P1559.HTM
HOUSE BILL 1327
Sponsor: Representative Roy Baldwin
This bill would amend section 13.1 of the Drug Act to make technical corrections and to also allow the Secretary of Health to add substances to the definition of "precursor substances.”
http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/BI/BT/2005/0/HB1327P1575.HTM
HOUSE BILL 1329
Sponsor: Representative John Evans
This bill proposes to make ephedrine, pseudoephedrine and phenylpropanolamine Schedule V Controlled Substances with exceptions for compounds sold as liquid or liquid gel caps and for compounds which the Secretary determines are manufactured in such a manner as to prevent conversion into methamphetamine.
http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/BI/BT/2005/0/HB1329P1587.HTM
HOUSE BILL 1349
Sponsor: Representative Matthew Baker
This bill would require over-the-counter medicines containing ephedrine, pseudoephedrine and phenylpropanolamine to be sold from behind the counter or through the use of an anti-theft device.
http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/BI/BT/2005/0/HB1349P1607.HTM
PA Legislation – Passed & Proposed
http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/session.cfm
http://Current (passed) legislation in Pennsylvania concerning methamphetamine, found on the Pennsylvania General Assembly website...
Meth Links
Just Think Twice
This newly launched site from the federal government's Drug Enforcement Administration Demand Reduction is an anti-drug site geared for teens, including a section dedicated to methamphetamine.
http://www.justthinktwice.com/
Pacific Southwest ATTC (Addiction Technology Transfer Center Network)
Includes links to courses, events, and PowerPoint Presentation from "Methamphetamine: The Epidemic and Its Impact" presented by Thomas Freese, Ph.D. in Reno, Nevada July 18-19, 2005.
http://www.psattc.org/home.html
NIDA (National Institute on Drug Abuse)
This site includes a section on Methamphetamine with links to all relevant NIDA resources on Methamphetamines.
http://www.nida.nih.gov./DrugPages/Methamphetamine.html
E-Medicine
This article is more focused on acute care for treating a methamphetamine patient. It includes sections on clinical, differentials, workup, treatment, medication, and follow-up.
http://www.emedicine.com/EMERG/topic859.htm
Drugstory.org
This site includes sections on General Information, Physical Effects and Mental Effects and many links to other resources.
http://www.drugstory.org/drug_info/methamphetamine.asp
KCI – The Anti-Meth Site
This site includes links to methamphetamine FAQs, informational facts, the physical damage of meth, other anti-meth websites and personal stories as well as drug prevention and educational resources for teachers.
http://www.kci.org/
Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia
This site includes sections on production, history, effects, addiction, methods of use, legality, street names, books, and external links.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methamphetamine
Meth Watch Program
A key goal of this program is to promote cooperation between retailers and law enforcement to prevent the diversion of legitimate products for illegal use.
http://www.methwatch.com
California Department of Justice - Stop Drugs.org
This site from the CA Attorney General’s Crime and Violence Prevention Center includes categories on the nature of methamphetamine, how it is used, long and short term effects and the extent of its use in the U.S."
http://www.stopdrugs.org/methcrisis.html
Congressional Caucus to Fight and Control Methamphetamine
The bipartisan Meth Caucus works to stop meth use and production by directing congressional attention to the growing meth epidemic. It includes methamphetamine statistics and information.
http://www.house.gov/larsen/meth/
Jordan Institute for Families, UNC-Chapel Hill School of Social Work
NC Children’s Services Practice Notes - Methamphetamine: What Child Welfare Workers Should Know.
http://sswnt7.sowo.unc.edu/fcrp/Cspn/vol10_n2/know.htm
MethResources.gov
Sponsored by the federal government, this website is sponsored by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, the Department of Justice and the Department of Health & Human Services.
http://www.methresources.gov
The Methamphetamine Treatment Project
This is a multi-site initiative to study the treatment of methamphetamine dependence. Jointly implemented by the UCLA Integrated Substance Abuse Programs (ISAP) and the Matrix Institute on Addictions, its goal is to generate knowledge regarding how a new comprehensive treatment protocol developed by Matrix can be effectively transferred to the community drug treatment system. The project is funded by the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT).
On this web site, you can find information about the project, results when they become available, as well as general information on methamphetamine abuse and treatment and links to other useful sites.
http://www.methamphetamine.org
Office of National Drug Control Policy - National Synthetic Drugs Action Plan
The Federal Government response to the production, trafficking, and abuse of synthetic drugs and diverted pharmaceutical products.
http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/publications/national_synth_drugs/index.html
Oregon Methamphetamine Task Force
Meth Task Force reference materials including article links for prevention, treatment, and enforcement.
http://www.ocjc.state.or.us/PSReview/MTFAct.php
Pacific Southwest ATTC (Addiction Technology Transfer Center Network)
Includes links to courses, events, and PowerPoint Presentation from "Methamphetamine: The Epidemic and Its Impact" presented by Thomas Freese, Ph.D. in Reno, Nevada July 18-19, 2005.
http://www.psattc.org/home.html
Pennsylvania Department of Health Bureau of Drug & Alcohol Programs
Resources on methamphetamine.
http://www.dsf.health.state.pa.us/health/cwp/view.asp?a=173&q=242343
Tips for Teens about Methamphetamine
This site from U.S. Department of Health & Human Services and SAMHSA’s National Clearinghouse for Alcohol & Drug Information includes facts, Q&A, and referrals to SAMHSA information.
http://ncadi.samhsa.gov/govpubs/PHD861/
Inhalants in the News
From the National Institutes of Health
http://newsinhealth.nih.gov/index.htm
From Snopes.com, this account describes the true dangers of Inhalants. Several helpful resources are also referenced.
http://www.snopes.com/toxins/dustoff.asp
From Join Together Online, this news brief addresses “dusting.”
http://www.jointogether.org/sa/news/summaries/reader/0%2C1854%2C578344%2C00.html
Huffing also called “dusting” method made possible by keyboard cleaner and it is EXTREMELY dangerous
By Phillip Wagner of Central Michigan Life News Update @2005
Senior Reporter
September 19, 2005
Police, counselors and even office supply stores are becoming aware of a new drug craze happening throughout the nation.
Dusting – a form of huffing – involves users inhaling compressed air found in the most unassuming of household products: keyboard cleaner.
Maria Reiser, director of community outreach with Mount Pleasant Swift Counseling, said dusting has gotten the group’s attention, although it has yet to deal with any specific case.
“Certain drugs go in and out in terms of trends,” she said. “This is extremely dangerous. There is a great risk of permanent brain damage or death from first use.”
Reiser said the compressed air in keyboard cleaners contains a refrigerant which replaces the air in the lungs, giving users a brief buzz throughout their body.
“They don’t get high; it’s a poison,” she said. “They experience brain damage right away.”
Detective Lt. Amado Arceo, a supervisor for the Bay Area Narcotics Enforcement Team, or BAYANET, said dusting could damage the heart, lungs, kidneys and liver as well.
“When you take in chemicals like that, those types of things are going to attack the central nervous system,” he said. “It’s really nothing to be playing around with.”
Like Reiser, Arceo hasn’t come across this problem firsthand but he said it’s something that should be taken seriously.
“It’s something that’s out there,” he said. “If people start thinking about trying it, it’s just as bad as other drugs. You can die from dusting just as easily as you can die from meth(amphetamines) and crack.”
Arceo said enforcement against dusting and other inhalant use is difficult since the products being used are legal.
Many companies are beginning to institute store policies to try and limit sales of items for such purposes.
Staples Corporation, a leading office supply chain, began prohibiting sales of canned air to customers under 18 last fall, said company spokesman Owen Davis.
“Staples instituted this policy to help enforce the warning label on the can,” Davis said. “Our cashiers are prompted and reminded to ask for identification when a customer goes to buy a canned air product.”
Arceo said similar policies in stores selling meth ingredients have limited the spread of the drug. He doesn’t know if this will be the case with the new drug fad.
“I don’t know if dusting will get to that point, but time will tell,” Arceo said.
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