METHAMPHETAMINE

Methamphetamine

Methamphetamine

In the late 1990s, the Office of the National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) began running commercials warning of the dangers of methamphetamine a drug that was quickly becoming a national concern. However, the contrast between the upbeat jingle and the underlying antimethamphetamine message may have confused the public. This initial foray into addressing methamphetamine abuse not only highlighted the government's flawed grasp over the severity of the drug, but also foreshadowed the struggle to create a cohesive national policy to fight this growing concern. The government continues to provide mixed messages concerning the gravity of U.S. methamphetamine abuse. (Anglin, Burke, Perrochet, Stamper, and Dawud-Noursi, 2000)

While some policymakers argue that the media and the public are simply "crying meth," others are working to encourage all levels of government to continue passing legislation that addresses methamphetamine-related issues. Indeed, increased media attention has forced the state and federal levels of government to adopt new policies addressing methamphetamines. However, the fight against methamphetamine abuse, production, and trafficking within the United States cannot rely solely on additional federal guidelines and experimentation in state legislatures it requires a clear federal response and international cooperation. Because many countries' methamphetamine policies focus on single faceted solutions or suffer from lack of funding and support, the United States must continue to foster support for international initiatives designed to control global methamphetamine production and encourage U.N. resolutions addressing methamphetamine-related issues. In addition, reducing methamphetamine abuse and production in the United States requires an understanding of methamphetamine's history, an effort to balance federalism issues, and a harmonization of domestic goals that may diametrically oppose international foreign policies.

Where Did Methamphetamine Come From?

Methamphetamines are addictive stimulants that trigger the brain to release high levels of dopamine. This chemical release results in the user feeling a sense of euphoria. In addition to affecting the central nervous system, methamphetamines increase activity levels and alter a user's appetite. While other stimulants may create a high that lasts 20-30 minutes, a methamphetamine user's high may last 6-8 hours. A user's euphoria is followed by depression and exhaustion that drive the need for their next fix. The increased level of dopamine causes the body to speed up metabolic activities, including aging, and results in the deterioration of the user's physical appearance. Additionally, repeated methamphetamine use has been linked to "deficits in learning and memory" resulting in long-term health dangers, including brain damage.

Within the last twenty years, methamphetamine, once labeled the "poor man's cocaine," has become one of the most abused drugs in America. Its popularity quickly spread into the mainstream, creating addicts in all facets of the socioeconomic spectrum without regard to geographic areas. By 2005, an estimated 12 million Americans had tried methamphetamines at least once in their lifetimes, and by 2006, an estimated 1.4 million Americans were actively using methamphetamines. Methamphetamine production and abuse disrupts the social and economic framework of both methamphetamine users and nonusers. Some of the impacts of methamphetamines on local communities include: an increase in crime and jail overcrowding, an increase ...