Methamphetamine

This week, representatives Danny K. Davis (D-Ill.) and John Shimkus (R-Ill.) convened a briefing on Capitol Hill to raise awareness about the increasing use of synthetic drugs.

Drugs known as “bath salts” are one of a growing list of synthetic and unevenly regulated narcotics that are found across the United States and on the Internet. New research on this potent drug paints an alarming picture, revealing that bath salts pack a powerful double punch, producing combined effects similar to both methamphetamine and cocaine, Medical News Today reports.

Emerging drugs under the guise of everyday products like “bath salts,” “glass cleaner,” “plant food,” “jewelry cleaner,” and “spice” have caused a public health concern during the past few years. Use of these drugs that are absorbed by the body like marijuana and cocaine has skyrocketed all over the country, especially by youth, who find this new class of drugs easily accessible in many stores and online.

Canadian scientists have found a link between methamphetamine use and developing Parkinson’s disease.

Getting high doesn't necessarily mean a trip to a drug dealer in a back alley. Many drug abusers are growing or making drugs in their homes. From pot houses to "shake 'n bake" meth makers, the dangers of homegrown and homemade drugs are in neighborhoods everywhere. It doesn't matter where you live or what kind of house you have. Someone growing marijuana or making methamphetamine might be right across the street. During today's 1 p.m. EST hour-long broadcast, hosted by CADCA partner MCTFT, called "Homegrown and Homemade Drug Threats," we'll see what law enforcement is doing to try to stop these drugs and what dangers they face.

 

The National Institutes of Health's National Institute on Drug Abuse has granted the University of California, Los Angeles School of Dentistry $1.86 million to study the oral and dental consequences of methamphetamine use, since dentists are often the first to detect if a patient is a meth user.

The Office of National Drug Control Policy recently unveiled a new anti-methamphetamine ad campaign targeting Native American communities, where methamphetamine use is a major concern. The campaign was launched in Native American heavily-populated New Mexico and in 14 other states.

In Yavapai County, Ariz. if a person is caught selling methamphetamine, they can expect to receive a minimum of five years in prison. That's thanks to the efforts of MATForce (Methamphetamine Advisory Task Force), a coalition of educators, treatment professionals, law enforcement and the county attorney's office that came together to tackle one of the country's hardest hit areas by meth.

Prescription drug abuse was ranked among the top five problems facing community anti-drug coalitions in 2008, indicating that this continues to be a growing trend across the country. That’s according to CADCA’s 2008 Annual Survey of Coalitions, an annual survey of drug prevention community coalitions, which represents the only current, national database of community anti-drug coalitions.

Law enforcement officials in Carson City, Nev. have discovered a new kind of methamphetamine that they fear can be more attractive to young people—bright pink strawberry-flavored meth. The event was reported in the Jan. 29th issue of the Nevada Appeal.

The ONDCP National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign is seeking donations of fully-produced advertising executions from organizations that have developed a methamphetamine prevention campaign on either a national or local level.

A recent study by the Health and Human Services Department showed that more than 1.6 million children live in a home where at least one parent abuses illicit drugs, including methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin and prescription drugs. In an effort to address the challenges of children abandoned, neglected or abused by parents addicted to drugs, Congressman Dennis Cardoza (D-CA/18th) introduced H.R. 1199, the Drug Endangered Children (DEC) Act of 2007 in the House. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) introduced a similar bill in the Senate. In addition to these pieces of legislation, several other bills have been introduced in the Senate to address and prevent the problems associated with methamphetamine production and use. CADCA recently sent out an alert on these bills, which can be viewed at capwiz.com/cadca/home.