METHAMPHETAMINES

 

http://www.stopdrugs.org/methamphetamines.html

What is methamphetamine and how does it affect our community?

WHAT IS IT? - Methamphetamine is the final product of a simple chemical synthesis that changes everyday household chemicals and over-the counter cold medication into a potent stimulant. Meth can be consumed into the body several ways. Snorting through the nose, injecting it with needles, smoking or taking it orally i.e. dissolving it in a drink.

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WHY IS METH SO POPULAR? – There are many reasons why this drug is so popular. It is relatively cheap, the effects are similar to cocaine but last longer (4 to 16 hours), and it is easy to produce.

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WHAT AFFECT DOES METH HAVE ON OUR COMMUNITY?

  • Higher crime rate – users steal to acquire the money to maintain their drug habit and dealers steal to gain the materials needed to produce more meth. This may also include more assaults against people because of the aggressive behavior displayed by meth users.

  • FIRES – due to explosions from the illegal manufacture of methamphetamine.

  • Hazardous waste – meth labs produce not only methamphetamine, they also produce chemical waste that can cause serious health problems or death. Many times these waste products are dumped into our waterways and farmlands or even the back yards where our kids might play.

     

  • Health problems – meth users tend to leave their used syringes in our parks where they can stick children, possibly exposing them to AIDS, hepatitis, or a number of other diseases.

     

  • Traffic accidents – Meth users don’t just sit at home and use their meth. They also drive under the influence of the drug creating a greater risk of you being in and accident with them.

 

 

  • Financial money pit – It is very, VERY expensive to clean up meth labs which are considered toxic waste sites. Invariably we, the taxpayers end up paying for these cleanups in the end. Meth users who start experiencing the long-term side affects of using meth need hospital care that is usually long-term care. Taxpayers in most cases end up paying for their care also. 
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WHAT AFFECT DOES IT HAVE ON THE USER?

Some of the most common affects displayed by a person high on methamphetamine are as follows:

ALERTNESS – AGGRESSIVENESS – ANXIETY – CONFUSION – DELIRIUM- DRY MOUTH – DILATED PUPILS – EUPHORIA – ENHANCED SEXUAL ACTIVITY – TEETH GRINDING – INCREASED BLOOD PRESSURE – IRRITABILITY – JAW CLENCHING – SENSITIVITY TO LIGHT AND SOUND – REDUCED FATIGUE – SWEATING – NEEDLE SCARS IF NEEDLES ARE USED – TALKATIVENESS – NASAL REDNESS IF SNORTED.

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 WHAT LONG TERM AFFECTS DOES METH CAUSE? – Chronic abuse of methamphetamine can cause numerous severe physical side affects and mental problems such as visual and auditory hallucinations or violent behavior. These side affects are very similar to those caused by cocaine usage. Heavy meth users might form open sores that ooze. These sores are commonly referred to as speed bugs or crank bugs. The sores are formed when the unabsorbed toxins from taking high amounts of meth are being rejected by the users body and emitted through the skin. Heavy users may experience the feeling that bugs are "crawling" under their skin. The user can severely injure themselves by scratching, digging or cutting at their skin trying to get the imaginary bugs out of their skin.

Another compulsion that heavy users may experience is called stereotypy, which causes the user to repeatedly perform routine acts over and over.

Heavy meth users may experience the following conditions: Aggressiveness – perspiration odor – anorexia – poor hygiene – anxiety – tension – rapid mood swings – restlessness – delusions – depression – seizures – discoloration of the teeth – sweating – tremors – insomnia – Formication (crank bugs) – mental confusion – visual and auditory hallucinations – weight loss – panic attacks – violent behavior – paranoia – stereotypy behavior

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METHAMPHETAMINE FACTS

  • There are meth labs in our community that could possibly explode, injuring innocent people and destroying your property.
  • There are hazardous materials being dumped on your property and in our lakes and streams.
  • Meth users don’t care about your safety. They leave their dirty needles in our parks and apartment complex’s endangering you and your children.
  • Your property is being stolen and pawned for money or traded for meth.
  • Retailers are losing money to shoplifters who steal ingredients from their stores to produce meth.
  • Meth users are bringing meth into our schools trying to get our kids to try it.
  • Meth labs and meth users endanger your public safety officials, i.e. police, fire and ambulance personnel every day while responding to calls for service.
  • Meth can cause long term brain damage and depression if used frequently.
 
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Community involvement is necessary to keep our community safe from drugs. If you suspect someone of dealing drugs, the following information would be helpful if you wish to give the Nevada police or Vernon County Sheriff’s department a tip. You don’t have to have all of the information listed below, however the more information you can provide the more we can help.

  •  Who is dealing drugs?
  • What kind of drugs are they dealing?
  • When do you believe they are dealing? I.e. time of day…when do you notice the most traffic coming and going from a certain location?
  • Where are they dealing the drugs from? Try to get an address if possible.
  • Try to get license plate numbers on cars coming and going from places you suspect of dealing drugs.
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REMEMBER

 The common saying "its none of my business" or "it's none of your business"  is far from right in the fight against drugs.  This is your community.  YOU live here, YOU pay for others dealing in illegal activities and YOU can help yourselves by helping us catch the people responsible for putting dangerous drugs on the streets, hazardous material in our land and streams and committing crimes in our community.

If you have information on anyone who is dealing or using drugs, call the crime tip line. You will remain anonymous so please call. The number is 417-448-CRYM or 417-448-2796

If you prefer to email a tip or ask us a about any of the articles provided for you email us at stopdrugs49@hotmail.com.

Any questions that we receive pertaining to these articles will be posted on this web site with a response from us. Again, if you wish to send us a question, you will remain anonymous.

 

 (The next article will be about Ecstacy "XTC")

 

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