Speed, meth, chalk. In its smoked form, it is often referred to as ice, crystal, crank, or glass. Those are all street names for meth. Call it what you may, but meth use and its symptoms are one in the same. If it's taken in large doses, methamphetamine's frequent effects are irritability, aggressive behavior, anxiety, excitement, auditory hallucinations, and paranoia along with delusions and psychosis. Meth abusers tend to be violent. Mood changes are also common, and the abuser can rapidly change from friendly to hostile. The paranoia produced by meth abuse results in suspiciousness, hyperactive behavior, and dramatic mood swings.

Meth appeals to drug abusers because it increases the body's metabolism and produces euphoria, increases alertness, and gives the abuser a sense of increased energy. High doses or chronic use of meth, however, increases nervousness, irritability, and paranoia. The extreme paranoia that meth abusers can experience is often associated with a distorted tendency toward violence. Adverse consequences of meth abuse include the risk of stroke, heart failure, and prolonged psychosis.

Methamphetamine use has three patterns: low intensity, binge, and high intensity.

Low-intensity abuse describes a user who is not psychologically addicted to the drug and who administers the drug by swallowing or snorting it. Binge and high-intensity abusers are psychologically addicted and prefer to smoke or inject meth to achieve a faster and stronger high. The binge and high-intensity patterns of abuse differ in the frequency in which the drug is abused. While the binge pattern of abuse has seven stages within its cycle: rush, high, binge, tweaking, crash, normal, and withdrawal-the high-intensity abuse pattern usually does not include a state of normalcy or withdrawal.

"Tweakers", which are referred to those who are at the most dangerous state of meth abuse, is a meth user who is tweaking. This meth abuser probably has not slept in 3-15 days and, consequently, the symptoms would be irritability and paranoia. A tweaker does not need provocation to behave or react violently, but confrontation increases the chances of a violent reaction. If the tweaker is using alcohol, his negative feelings and associated dangers intensify.

Several hours after the last meth use, the individual experiences a drastic drop in mood and energy levels. Sleep begins and may last for a long period and, upon awakening, severe depression exists that may last for days. While users are in this depressed state, suicide is a major concern. These meth abuse symptoms occur after meth use and may be reversed by taking another dose of meth, thereby fitting the definition for a withdrawal syndrome.

Now, get out your pen and paper and take notes if you see these short term effects in your teenager or loved one. Short term meth abuse symptoms are increased alertness, sense of well-being, paranoia, intense high, hallucinations, aggressive behavior, increased heart rate, convulsions, extreme rise in body temperature (as high as 108 degrees which can cause brain damage and death), uncontrollable movements (twitching, jerking, etc...), violent behavior, insomnia, impaired speech, dry and itchy skin, premature aging, rotting teeth, loss of appetite, acne, sores and numbness.

Some of the effects that meth abuse has on the mind are also symptoms of meth use. These meth use symptoms are disturbed sleep, excessive excitation, excessive talking, panic, anxiousness, nervousness, moodiness and irritability, false sense of confidence and power, delusions of grandeur leading to aggressive behavior, uninterested in friends, sex, or food, aggressive and violent behavior, and severe depression.

After excessive meth abuse, there are long term effects as well, such as fatal kidney and lung disorders, possible brain damage, depression, hallucinations, disorganized lifestyle, permanent psychological problems, violent and aggressive behavior, weight loss, insomnia, behavior resembling paranoid schizophrenia, decreased social life, malnutrition, poor coping abilities, disturbance of personality development, lowered resistance to illnesses, liver damage, stroke and the inevitable, death.

There are also withdrawal symptoms that a meth abuser will partake in when coming off of meth or "crashing". If you see the symptoms of severe cravings, insomnia, restlessness,mental confusion or depression, chances are that the meth is exiting their system.

If you have been watching your teenager or loved one and your suspicians are pointing into the direction of meth abuse and you are seeing the symptoms of meth abuse, don't ignore them. Go with your instincts and in a loving and caring manner, let your teen or loved one know that you will help them seek the counseling they need to rid themselves of meth or any other drug abuse.. If you continue to see the signs and symptoms of meth use, you may either want to take your teen or loved one to his/her doctor or other medical professional and ask them to screen for the use of illegal substances. If you're not comfortable with revealing your suspcians to an outsider, it is also possible to screen your teenager or loved one in the privacy of your own home with home urine drug testing kits, saliva drug testing kits and hair drug testing kits.

A mother has been arrested in the death of her 2-month-old child after the Sacramento County Coroner's Office found that the child had a lethal dose of methamphetamine in her system. Maureen Hoffart, 45, was arrested Tuesday after a warrant was issued.Investigators think the child had ingested the drug as a result of actions by her mother, Sgt. Matt Young said. The girl was found on Jan. 1. Young said nothing suspicious was noted at the time.Hoffart faces charges of endangering a child and causing death.

State child welfare officials allowed a 2-year-old southern Indiana boy to remain in his mother’s custody after the child tested positive for methamphetamine, and the boy suffered a fatal blow to the head 17 days later, newspaper reports say.

The delivery of a search warrant to a residence in Stanislaus County resulted in the raid of a meth lab that was producing $24,000 worth of the drug. The search, which took place at a home on the 1700 block of Chalet Court, also revealed a marijuana grow, police said.Three individuals were arrested on charges of manufacturing methamphetamine.Agents said they seized more than 11,000 ephedrine pills. Ephedrine, a drug found in over-the-counter cold medicines, is a key ingredient used to make meth. "This (ephedrine pills) would have yielded about four pounds of pure methamphetamine," said Kelly Rea, a Stanislaus Drug Enforcement Agent.

A 77-year-old Fairmont City man was sentenced to 30 years’ imprisonment for distribution of methamphetamine and conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

James T. Kincannon, was tried in federal court in East St. Louis and found guilty of both offenses by a jury on March 26, according to a news release issued by A. Courtney Cox, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois.

“Kincannon and two co-defendents distributed large quantities of methamphetamine in and around Fairmont City in early 2007,” according to the release.

An investigation conducted by the Fairmont City Police Department and the Special Agents and Task Force Officers assigned to Fairview Heights led to Kincannon’s arrest on May 3, 2007.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert L. Garrison.

The court had found Kincannon to be a “career offender” based on two previous convictions for distributing controlled substances prior to this sentencing.

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A man was in stable condition today after being shot by his father-in-law, police said.

Deputies were called to a home after reports of a domestic dispute.

Donnell Oxley 36, was found shot in the chest.

Oxley was transported to Charleston Area Medical Center General Hospital where he remains under evaluation. Police said his wounds were not life-threatening.

Oxley's family members told police the man had been high on meth and was causing a disturbance and damaging property around his home and the home of his father-in-law, John Taylor, who lives next door, Stover said. Family members also said he had been harassing and threatening them, Stover said.

At some point, the altercation escalated and (Taylor) shot Mr. Oxley once in the chest, Stover said in a news release.

Police are still investigating, but no charges have been filed, Stover said.

Witnesses reported that at one point in the day Oxley had been riding a horse around the family's home, damaging property, Stover said.

Oxley appeared last year on the Dr. Phil talk show during a segment on meth addiction.

Family members said he also had been taking part in a substance abuse rehabilitation program.

The effects of meth depend on whether the drugs are taken on a long term or short term bases.

Short term meth side effects may include:
1. Dilated pupils
2. Decreased fatigue
3. Increased activity
4. insomnia
5. Euphoria
6. Increased attention
7. Euphoric rush or “flash”
8. Increased respiration
9. Decreased appetite
10. Diarrhea, nausea
11. Irregular heart beat
12. Increased body temperature
13. Jaw clenching
14. tremors
15. Increases libido
16. Sexual climax problems

Long term meth side effects may include:
1. Psychosis and Paranoia
2. Hallucinations and Delusions
3. Obsessive compulsive behavior
4. Damage to brain
5. Memory loss
6. Aggressive or Violent behavior
7. Meth mouth
8. Anorexia
9. Mood instability
10. Brain damage/ Meningitis (Neurotoxicity)
11. Formication (sensation of flesh crawling with bugs, with possible associated compulsive picking and infecting sores)
12. Paranoia, delusions, hallucinations
13. Rhabdomyolysis (Muscle breakdown) which leads to kidney failure

Lawton_Police have uncovered two working meth labs in a house in downtown Lawton.  The chemicals in the air were so strong that investigators had to wait almost six hours before carrying out a search warrant.  Seven people were taken in for questioning.

This isn't the first time the house at the corner of Southwest 10^th and "H" Avenue has been investigated, and the people inside were no strangers to meth either.  In December, 2007, a meth lab explosion in the house's shed landed one man in the hospital and nine people in jail.  Police evacuated the neighborhood after discovering a tank containing anhydrous ammonia exploded in a shed sending toxic gas spewing into the air.

An officer patrolling the area Thursday at around 4:30 a.m. said the chemical smell was so strong he was compelled to call it in.  The fire department was called to test the air, and the numbers came back so dangerously high that investigators had to wait hours before searching the house.  "[We] wanted to get all the occupants out so we could start ventilating the dwelling," said Lawton Police Department Special Operations Lieutenant Todd Palmer.

This particular meth lab was extremely dangerous because there were two separate locations for cooking the drug.  "They're all dangerous regardless of size," said Palmer.  "We had two separate dwellings were we did have the methamphetamine lab."  The people removed from the home looked on as the fire department cleared the house, and special operations began making trip after trip to remove the hazardous materials.  "[We found] Ephedrine, we found HCL, generator - or parts thereof - the ether and other paraphernalia, butane torches, pipes that are used to smoke methamphetamine, marijuana and assorted paraphernalia related to that," said Palmer.

One bit of evidence puzzled police.  A contraption that looked to be a tank with a pipe attached to it.  "We didn't exactly know [what it was], it hasn't been used, and it looked like either something that they had just made up or brought to this location," said Palmer.

Tommy Ward lives in the home, and also played a part in the meth lab explosion last year.  "He is going to be charged with maintaining a dwelling because of past occurrences.  Not only this time, but others," Palmer said.  The City of Lawton's neighborhood services to investigate whether or not the home should be condemned for safety and health.

Source: KSWO 

Finally, a self help book, that will help you understand what this Meth Epidemic is all about!

The Author has spent nearly three years compiling evidence and stories regarding Meth!

Now, a safe book you can leave lay in your home, waiting to unveil the answers you and your entire family are seeking!

A book that is full of truth!

 

 

DID YOU KNOW?

• Methamphetamine use among high school seniors doubled since 1990.
• Meth use increases risk of child abuse and neglect and domestic violence.
• Meth users are the hardest to treat of all drug users.
• Methamphetamine kills by causing heart failure, brain damage and stroke.
• Women are more likely to use meth than cocaine.

About the Author Don L. Sutton

To understand why and how he wrote this book, he felt it necessary to share his story with you. When people hear the word “meth,” they cringe. Unless you understand the addiction and the effects of drugs first-hand, it is difficult to comprehend why someone would even try a drug. It can boggle the mind and confuse everyone involved. Well, he knew first-hand about drug addiction and alcoholism. He tried it only once for ten horrible years, and it nearly ended his life!

He is not a doctor or an expert on addictions, he does not have a title. he is a fortunate individual who unfortunately experienced meth, and every other drug, and survived. It nearly destroyed all of his dreams, including his marriage. People have asked, “How could anyone ever begin doing meth?”.

From his book 

It was a cold day in Missouri, and I was a young man of twenty-one years of age. I was married with two children at home, a job, a supportive family, and an addictive personality. When people talk about addictive personalities, I think of everyone. I have had people accuse me of having this type of personal behavior because of the amount of drugs and alcohol I have consumed in my life. But I think everyone has an addictive personality, just different addictions. Some people are addicted to drugs, some are addicted to work, and some are addicted to food, sex, and many other things. It just seems like the addiction to the good stuff is okay, and the addiction to the bad stuff is not okay; you are your own judge.

My best friend, Billy, and I were driving around. We were drunk and driving to our friend’s house to buy drugs. Both Billy and I had pooled our money to purchase some LSD. At the time, acid was my drug of choice, and I did it every day for eight years.

After all, we would just do it once!

We arrived at our friend’s house, and after entering the house, we stumbled into making yet another important decision. It was another one of those important YES or NO decisions. By this time in my life, I had proven that I was not very good at making these choices, especially regarding something I knew nothing about. Today, I was being forced to make another decision like that, and I thought I was good at it. I had to decide if I wanted to try a new drug. Even though there were only two choices to make, I had a history of making the wrong choice.

My dealer had come across something new. He called it “ice.” That was a pretty cool name for a drug, and how could something with a familiar name like that be harmful? It seemed worth trying. After all, we would just do it once!

This is only a portion of Grandpa Don's horrifying story. In his book he shares the days of desertion by his Mom; denial by his dad and sexual abuse by his own Grandfather for nearly four years. He shares all of the excuses he had to live the drug life he did. But does he use all of those useless excuses?

Don was an alcoholic at the young age of 15; a drug addict by the age of 19 and a drug dealer at age 21. He drank and used drugs for nearly 25-horrible years.

Read how Grandpa Don, after a failed attempt at suicide, was rescued from alcohol and drug addiction. Read about his past 20-year Freedom Experience and learn how he did it. Don shares his secrets to his Recovery Experience with his readers. 

Here is where you can find out more http://understandingmeth.com/author.html

And here is where you can purchase his book http://understandingmeth.com/purchase.html

$207 million is the largest single drug cash seizure the world has ever seen. This is like law enforcement hitting the ultimate jackpot. But luck had nothing to do with this windfall. This record-setting feat was the result of tremendous police work by Mexican law enforcement in collaboration with DEA throughout the past year.

This money was seized from chemical brokers that were supplying chemicals to Mexican cartels to manufacture huge quantities of methamphetamine—most destined for the United States. The citizens of Mexico and America should be encouraged because seizing this criminal organization’s revenue not only operationally and financially disrupts that organization but also cuts off the supply of a vital ingredient needed to make methamphetamine.

Mexican trafficking organizations operating on both sides of the border are the source of at least 80% of the meth consumed in this country. Less than a year ago, DEA and Mexico entered into an historic partnership to combat meth trafficking. I said at the time it was much more than a piece of paper or a press opportunity—it was a real joining of forces to target the global meth trade. DEA sent specialized lab teams and trucks to meth hot spots in Mexico, trained more than 2,000 Mexican police officers, and jointly targeted meth traffickers. Our partnership is clearly working—together, we are confronting and impacting the once untouchable Mexican drug trade.

In the 1970s and 80s, rocker Steven Tyler was known for his drug abuse, among other things. He even collapsed on stage in the 1980s because of his drug use. Tyler was addicted to heroin and his addiction was tearing Aerosmith apart. He cleaned himself up after that and was sober for twenty or so years. But he reportedly checked himself into rehab this week, along with his girlfriend.

The lesson that we can all learn from this is that even after a decade or two, cravings and triggers still occur and it is when the reformed user is overly confident that he often slips into using again. And twenty years after recovering from an addiction, people often still suffer from the consequences of the actions they made when using drugs. For Tyler, that was dealing with Hepatitis C, which is common among needle users. After intense treatment that he said was, “agony,” he is now Hepatitis-free This is all the more reason to take preventative measures to stay away from drugs and alcohol.

Had been keeping quiet about the disease for so long, Tyler said at the time that he wanted to share his experience and knowledge with others. 

 

 

Tyler's representative had no comment on the rehab reports. Though so, various reports mentioned Tyler is currently undergoing treatment for undisclosed substance abuse at the mentioned drug rehabilitation clinic.

Las Encinas Hospital drug rehabilitation clinic is where noted addiction medicine specialist and radio talk-show host Dr. Drew Pinsky practices. It also served as the stage for Pinsky's "Celebrity Rehab" reality series.


 

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The leader of a rural West Texas methamphetamine trafficking ring was sentenced to two life prison terms, a prosecutor said Tuesday.

Larry Ray Moon Jr., 34, of Santa Anna was sentenced Monday by U.S. District Judge Sam Cummings, U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper said.

Moon, who also was given two concurrent 20-year terms, was convicted in January on four counts that included conspiracy to distribute and possession of methamphetamine. He was arrested with about a pound of meth in the Dallas area three years ago.

Prosecutors said Moon operated from a 270-acre ranch in a remote area of Coleman County, about 185 miles southwest of Dallas.

Moon would pick up large amounts of meth in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and distribute smaller portions from his ranch, prosecutors said. Testimony during Moon's trial showed that he parceled out more than 500 grams of meth to each of five midlevel distributors, officials said.

Moon also faces child sexual assault charges in Coleman and Dallas counties, according to Roper's office.

A restaurant owner is under arrest, accused of serving up meth along with his tacos. Police say they took Amirio Gonzales into custody, and found two pounds of methamphetamines in his possession.

The taqueria is now boarded up, indefinitely closed. It's not exactly well hidden: It's right off of a busy street, directly across the street from a Christian school, and only 1000 feet away from a local sheriff's substation.

"They would show up at the restaurant, and instead of ordering Mexican food they would order methamphetamine," said Mike Hudson, head of the Yuba/Sutter County Drug Task Force.

Hudson said that the task force made two undercover buys from Gonzales at the restaurant, at which point they made the bust.

"They were actually charging us $24,000 a pound for the methamphetamine," Hudson said. "In 20 years, that's the most we've ever been charged."

The street price for a pound of meth goes for $10,000 to $12,000, but police had no problem paying double.

"For us, it was a good deal," Hudson said. "Bad deal for him."

Amphetamines belong to a group of drugs called psycho-stimulants, commonly known as 'speed', which stimulate the central nervous system. They speed up the messages going to and from the brain to the body.

Most amphetamines are produced in backyard laboratories and sold illegally. People who buy amphetamines illegally are often buying the drugs mixed with other substances that can have unpleasant or harmful effects.

What do amphetamines look like?

Amphetamines are a whole family of related drugs, each with its own recipe, and are taken in different ways. They can be in the form of powder, tablets, capsules, crystals or red liquid.

They can come as a white through to a brown powder, sometimes even orange and dark purple. Amphetamines have a strong smell and bitter taste.

The capsules vary considerably in color and are sometimes sold in commercial brand shells. They are packaged in 'foils' (aluminium foil), plastic bags or small balloons when sold on the streets.

Tablets vary in color and can be a cocktail of drugs, binding agents, caffeine and sugar. This form is on the increase.

The reddish-brown liquid is sold in capsules. MDMA, or 'ecstasy' as it is more commonly known, is another designer drug-related to amphetamines. It is usually swallowed in the form of small tablets, but sometimes injected.

Why are they used?

People use amphetamines for different reasons. Some use the drugs to get 'high' and dance all night. Others use the drugs to help stay awake for long periods of time, to improve performance in sport or at work or to boost self-confidence. Amphetamines can reduce tiredness and increase endurance.

For medical purposes, amphetamines are prescribed to treat narcolepsy (where a person has an uncontrollable urge to sleep) and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

How are they taken?

Amphetamines are most commonly swallowed, injected (methamphetamine) or smoked. They are also 'snorted' or 'sniffed' through the nose.

Street names

The common names are speed, up, fast, louee, goey, whiz, pep pills, uppers.

Pregnancy

Using amphetamines (also known as speed) during pregnancy can affect the baby's development before birth and has been linked with bleeding, early labour and miscarriage. Amphetamines also cause the heart rate of mother and baby to increase. With the baby getting less oxygen, it may be smaller at birth and grow more slowly.

If amphetamines are used close to the birth, the baby may be born directly affected, and may be over-active and agitated. Babies of mothers who regularly use amphetamines may also experience withdrawal symptoms in the first few weeks after birth.

It is not yet known whether the children of mothers who used amphetamines during their pregnancy experience long-term problems in mental or physical growth, but initial studies give some cause for concern.

Breast feeding

Not much is known about the effects of amphetamines on the mother during breast feeding. There is evidence that babies feed poorly and are irritable.

Check with your doctor, or other health professional, if you are taking or planning to take any substances during pregnancy, including prescribed and over-the-counter medications.

 

 

 

Many users use meth to lose weight. Many refer to this as the Jenny Crank diet.

Many of the ingredients of meth are deadly. Ask yourself these questions: Would you swallow a spoonful of drain cleaner? Does the thought of injecting brake fluid into your arm appeal to you? Care to top off your dessert with a bit of rat poison?

The above mentioned substances are just a few of the common ingredients in meth. One reason behind the explosive growth in the use of meth is the availability of the ingredients. Lithium, muriatic and sulfuric acids, ether, red phosphorus and lye - key ingredients in meth manufacturing - are all corrosive and will cause skin burns even when used properly.

When a person smokes meth, these ingredients are heated, vaporized and swirl throughout the user's mouth. They irritate and burn the sensitive skin inside the mouth, create sores and lead to infection. Chronic meth smokers have teeth rotted to the gum line from the continuous affect of the vapors on tooth enamel.Snorting Meth also causes chemical damage to teeth. Snorting draws the caustic substances down the nasal passages, draining in the back of the throat and bathing the teeth with corrosive substances. Injecting Meth has no direct impact on dental health, but as you will see, habitual use of the drug does have side effects that do lead to damage.

The prime ingredient in meth is ephedrine. Ephedrine is the main ingredient in cold tablets like Sudafed or Actifed. If a "cook", as manufacturers are called, cannot purchase ephedrine either legally or illegally, they will resort to buying or stealing large amounts of the cold tablets from stores that stock these products. Some cities in Southern California had passed laws limiting the number of boxes of cold tablets a customer can purchase. In addition, most stores will secure the boxes of cold tablets to prevent theft.

When users smoke, inject or snort it, these are the most common ingredients they are sending to their brain, cardiovascular system and throughout their bodies:

≈ Gasoline additives/Rubbing Alcohol
≈ Ether (starting fluid)
≈ Benzene
≈ Paint thinner
≈ Freon
≈ Acetone
≈ Chloroform
≈ Camp stove fuel
≈ Anhydrous ammonia
≈ White gasoline
≈ Pheynl-2-Propane
≈ Phenylacetone
≈ Phenylpropanolamine
≈ Rock, table or Epsom salt Red Phosphorous
≈ Toluene (found in brake cleaner)
≈ Red Devil Lye
≈ Drain cleaner
≈ Muraitic acid
≈ Battery acid
≈ Lithium from batteries
≈ Sodium metal
≈ Ephedrine
≈ Cold tablets
≈ Diet aids
≈ Iodine
≈ Bronchodialators
≈ Energy boosters
≈ Iodine crystals