According to North Carolina Attorney General Ray Cooper, the state discovered 206 meth labs last year. That’s a 40 percent drop from 2008, and Davison County report zero meth lab busts last year.

"A combination of the law and the diligent effort of the sheriff’s office has resulted in the absence of meth labs for nearly two years in Davidson County," Sheriff David Grice said. "Our office will continue to work diligently and follow all leads related to meth and any other drugs." [Source: The Dispatch]

Attorney General Cooper recently implemented an electronic tracking system that will keep state investigators informed about unusual patterns of pseudoephedrine-related purchases. Pseudoephedrine is one of the ingredients necessary to produce methamphetamine. The system will track purchases in North and South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia and Mississippi.

Labels: laws, meth, prevention

Recovery from an addiction to methamphetamine is possible. Just ask Josh Palmer.

At thirteen, Palmer started drinking and getting high. Before long, he also making and selling methamphetamine. When he was 23-years-old, his mom died from cancer, and shortly after that, he lost his home. That’s when he realized something needed to change.

A Nov. 22 article by George Anderson of the Daily Dunklin Democrat provided the following information about Palmer's comeback from meth addiction:

Palmer said he began his path to sobriety by going through the Dunklin County Drug Court and by getting involved with a faith-based meeting at Malden in April of 2004. After becoming sober, Palmer said he got back with his wife and kids and began working in substance abuse counseling ...

He recently became known nationally after becoming involved with an anti-meth campaign through the Office of National Drug Control Policy. ... The campaign, which kicked off on Sept. 1, 2009, is scheduled to run through the end of Nov.

Palmer said he has heard that the commercials are getting people's attention and has had a "good response so far."

Palmer said he got into the campaign to try to "give hope" to those who feel hopeless.

Labels: addiction, awareness, meth, methamphetamine, recovery

Georgia will soon launch an aggressive public awareness campaign based on the successful Montana Meth Project. The $6 million campaign will take aim at methamphetamine use, which is estimated to cost Georgia about $1.3 billion a year.

John M. Willis, editor and publisher of the Calhoun Times, provided the following details in a Sept. 3 article:

[Jim] Langford said the campaign will focus on preventing meth use among the state’s most vulnerable population, its young people. According to the Department of Health, 51 percent of people entering treatment for meth abuse in Georgia are between the ages of 12 and 25, substantially higher than the national average.

In 2007, 32 percent of federal drug offenses in Georgia involved meth, according to the Office of National Drug Control Policy. Langford said Northwest Georgia had some of the highest incidences of meth use in the state of Georgia.

Langford said the Georgia Meth Project is based on similar programs in Montana and Arizona, the first two states to launch Meth Project prevention campaigns. Those states saw 45 percent reductions in teen meth use in two years, he said.

Labels: awareness, meth, methamphetamine

"Shake and bake" methamphetamine is contributing to a spike in the number of people arrested for possession of the drug.

The number of meth-related arrests had been declining for years, but a new formula is allowing users to make methamphetamine relatively easily by combining cold pills and a few chemicals in a two-liter soda bottle and then shaking it for a few minutes.

The old way to make methamphetamine required laboratory equipment and cans of flammable liquid. Many people suffered injuries during explosions at these home laboratories.

Drug users now can make methamphetamine faster, quicker and cheaper. They can even make a small batch of meth from a few cold tablets.

Law enforcement officers have expressed concern over the new "shake and bake" recipe for meth. Methamphetamine addiction often leads to disorientation, violence, poor judgment and a number of other devastating physical and psychological effects.

Labels: abuse, meth, methamphetamine

A "semi-autobiographical verse novel" novel by the mother of a former teen meth addict, Crank has been portrayed as a harrowing account of the rapidity with which a teen can sink into drug addiction -- and the depths to which that addiction can drag both teens and their families.

A June 22 review by Allison Spooner of examiner.com provided an outline of the novel's plot as well as a bit about author Ellen Hopkins:

Kristina [the novel's main character] is a typical, well behaved teenager; she gets good grades, she stays out of trouble, she loves her family. This all changes when Kristina goes to visit her absent, deadbeat father in an attempt to re-connect to the man she calls the "Prince of Albuquerque."

Her illusion soon crumbles as she discovers the "Prince" is a drug addict and exactly the same deadbeat her mother assumed he was. Soon Kristina is thrust head first into an addiction to "the monster."

The author states at the beginning that these events are loosely based on her experience with her own daughter's addiction, and that nothing in the story is impossible. To those who don't have any experience with addiction, it's scary to learn how fast one substance can take control (meth doing so faster than most).

Teen meth addiction can be a particularly devastating form of drug abuse. Methamphetamine is highly addictive, and can inflict significant damage upon an individual's body and mind in a relatively brief period of time.

Labels: addiction, meth, teen_drug_use

New reports from the Partnership for a Drug-Free America indicate that teenage abuse of methamphetamines dropped 25 percent in three years. Over half of teens in the latest survey believe it is risky to try methamphetamines even once.

The same survey found that one in ten teenagers abuse over-the-counter cough syrups, which translates into 2.4 million teens. However, 48 percent said they know that cough medications are dangerous, which is up from 45 percent in 2007.

The drug that teens abuse most often is marijuana, although its usage dropped 30 percent since 1999.

Labels: drugs, meth, teenagers

On Feb. 18, on the steps of Montana's State Capital building, Speaker of the House Bob Bergren and Senate President Robert Story accepted petitions signed by more than 55,000 Montana residents asking for state funding of the Montana Meth Project.

"Today's event happened thanks to the incredible leadership of young people from all across Montana," said Mike Gulledge, chairman of the Montana Meth Project. "They worked for more than six months to collect signatures and plan today's activities. Their dedication is unprecedented."

Launched in 2005, the Montana Meth Project uses a wide range of advertising and community action programs to raise awareness about the dangers of methamphetamine use. Since its inception, meth use among Montana teens has declined by 45 percent. Source: Business Wire

Labels: meth, teenagers

According to a new study released by the RAND Corporation, the economic cost of methamphetamine (meth) use in the United States in 2005 topped $23.4 billion. This cost includes the financial tolls of addiction, premature death, drug treatment, lost productivity, and the cost of removing children from their parents' homes due to meth use. The study also counted costs related to the dangerous process of producing meth, including fires, explosions, pay for emergency personnel, hazardous waste cleanup, and treatment of injuries. The RAND study is the first to undertake a full assessment of the national costs of methamphetamine use in this country. Researchers called the burden of meth on American society "substantial." (Source: www.sciencedaily.com)

Labels: addiction, meth, treatment

Two years ago, Montana launched its Meth Project, an awareness campaign that used graphic images to show the dangers of methamphetamine use. Today, the project appears to be working.

"Teen meth use is reportedly down nearly 45 percent. The number of employees testing positive for meth has dropped nearly 72 percent. In 2005, when the Montana Meth Project began, there were over 1,200 meth-related offenses reported by the state Board of Crime Control. In 2007, just 473."

Montana has launched phase four of its Meth Project, and expects continued success. Source: KFBB.com.

Labels: awareness, community_programs, meth

A survey of 4,000 adolescents in Idaho found that 20% believe using methamphetamine can make a person happy and help them to lose weight. Nearly a third said that they had been offered meth, which can be made in home laboratories by using over-the-counter cold medicines.

Meth releases chemicals in the pleasure centers of the brain, causing a user to feel temporarily happy and/or euphoric. Over time, using meth can destroy dopamine receptors, making it impossible to feel pleasure. These receptors can heal, but some research indicates that meth causes permanent damage to cognitive abilities.

Officials from the Idaho Meth Project are using the results of the survey to design an anti-meth program for their state.

SUWS wilderness programs have bee helping troubled teens for over 25 years. Located in Idaho, SUWS can help your troubled teen too.

Labels: drug_use, meth, research

A pilot drug treatment program that got added to the Texas state budget last year has yet to get off the ground, and some experts are speculating as to the program's potential for real success.

"The drug therapy, called Prometa, is a costly combination of drugs and nutritional supplements each approved by the Food and Drug Administration individually, but never evaluated as a combination to treat substance abuse. Many drug treatment experts fear that the regimen was rushed to market and that Texas lawmakers fell for the marketing pitch, The Dallas Morning News reported Monday."

The Prometa program is intended to treat meth addiction, and corrections departments in some smaller counties have considered making it a mandatory condition of release for convicts. Still, many experts site the lack of adequate clinical trials and maintain that the program has not been proven effective. Read more at KSAT.com.

Labels: meth, treatment

A new law enacted in Kentucky could cause people who manufacture methamphetamine to lose their homes or vehicles. The law requires a "full cleanup" and applies to any structure in which more than 2 ounces of meth have been manufactured.

"A full cleanup means everything inside the house has to be thrown away… The price is $10,000 for an average house. However, depending on the size, the price could reach $20,000."

The process of manufacturing meth leaves behind residue that poses health and environmental threats to any future occupants of the home, and only certified contractors can conduct the cleanup.

Labels: health_problems, laws, meth

Some 25% of American teenagers report that it is easy or "somewhat" easy to obtain methamphetamine. However, the vast majority (77%) expressed disapproval of those who experiment with this popular street drug.

The survey by the Center for Disease Control also found that three-quarters of those who try the drug experiment before age 15 years.

About one in five teens said that the drug produces euphoria, helps deal with boredom, and helps people to lose weight. One third of the teens in the survey believe the drug does not pose any significant risk to those who use it.

"Meth is death," said Dr. Julie Gerberding, head for the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. She and White House drug czar said that the survey shows that there is more work to do when it comes to teenagers and methamphetamine use.

Dr. Gerberding praised "The Meth Project" in Montana that reduced meth use among teens in that state by 45% within two years.

Labels: availability, meth, street_drugs

Some 25% of American teenagers report that it is easy or "somewhat" easy to obtain methamphetamine. However, the vast majority (77%) expressed disapproval of those who experiment with this popular street drug.

The survey by the Center for Disease Control also found that three-quarters of those who try the drug experiment before age 15 years.

About one in five teens said that the drug produces euphoria, helps deal with boredom, and helps people to lose weight. One third of the teens in the survey believe the drug does not pose any significant risk to those who use it.

"Meth is death," said Dr. Julie Gerberding, head for the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. She and White House drug czar said that the survey shows that there is more work to do when it comes to teenagers and methamphetamine use.

Dr. Gerberding praised "The Meth Project" in Montana that reduced meth use among teens in that state by 45% within two years.

Labels: availability, meth, street_drugs

One of the ingredients used to make methamphetamine can be found in an over-the-counter drug. In 2005, the state of Iowa limited the availability of that drug in hopes of curbing meth production in the state. It worked for a while.

"'The law has been real effective, but like any criminal, you give the bad guys long enough and they'll find ways around the law,' said Darren Grimshaw, a police lieutenant in Burlington..."

Before the 2005 law was enacted, effectively limiting how much of a particular over-the-counter drug could be purchased by one person in a 30-day period, police were seizing 25 to 30 meth labs a year. The total dropped dramatically to three to five a year after the law, but is beginning to rise again. The state is now considering enacting a law that would allow electronic tracking of the over-the-counter drug's purchase.

Labels: laws, meth, rise_in_use

A study of 2000 Australian 24-year-olds found that those who had used marijuana as teenagers were more likely to use amphetamines as young adults.

The authors found that such early drug use was a more accurate predictor of using more dangerous substances later than other factors such as socio-economic background or mental depression.

This article appears in the journal Addiction.

Teenage drug addiction is often a symptom rather than the problem with troubled teens. Visit 4TroubledTeens.com to learn more.

Labels: marijuana, meth, prevention

Kendall County, Illinois seems to be a popular shopping ground for the ingredients needed to make methamphetamine. Production of the drug itself is almost nonexistent in the county.

"Kendall County Farm Bureau manager Dan Reedy said that one of the main reasons Kendall County is a shopping ground is access to a key substance. 'Anhydrous ammonia is one of the main ingredients for making meth and the easiest place to get anhydrous ammonia is through swiping anhydrous tanks either on the farms or from the local fertilizer dealers,' he said."

The Kendall County Methamphetamine Task Force has been working to educate farmers on proper storage of the tanks so they can't be tampered with or stolen.

Read more at LedgerSentinel.com.

Labels: awareness, meth, prevention

There's some good news, and some bad news, in the war on drugs. The good news is that the number of methamphetamine labs in the United States has been declining since 2004. According to the Federal Drug Enforcement Agency, there are 10,487 fewer meth labs now than there were three years ago. The bad news is that the demand for meth - in its various forms - is now being met by labs in Mexico.

"Mexican methamphetamines are now supplying a majority of the market in America... Mexican super labs have the ability to produce vast amounts of the clear, pure form of methamphetamines using pseudoephedrine shipped from Germany and China."

While U.S. laws have prevented residents from getting the pseudoephedrine needed to operate a meth lab, international laws aren't nearly as strict. Though the DEA is calling for new international protocols, meth is not a top priority among other nations. Read more at DailyBeacon.UTK.edu.

Worried your teenager may be experimenting with meth or other drugs? Learn more about meth and other club drugs from our Introduction to Club Drugs.

Labels: drug_trafficking, international, meth

Shawn Bridges, a former truck driver whose body was ravaged by years of methamphetamine use, passed away this week. But not before his long and painful journey was chronicled and made into a 29-minute documentary. His hope was that his story would keep others away from the highly addictive drug.

"He was extremely satisfied, wanting to do more in getting the word out and showing kids what meth harm does."

Shawn was bedridden most of his final year, fed through a feeding tube. During his last few months, his family says he often slurred his words, and sometimes wasn't able to speak at all. Chris Rossetti, who filmed the original documentary, plans to produce a sequel that will chronicle Shawn's final year, in hopes that this final message will keep kids from making the same mistake that eventually cost Shawn his life. Read more online.

Labels: death, long_term_drug_use, meth

Police and substance abuse officials in western states are beginning to report the appearance of candy-flavored methamphetamine. Strawberry, chocolate, and cola are among the flavors being marketed to younger people.

"They [meth dealers] are having a tough time selling this product, especially to younger people. What do people in marketing do when they have a tough time selling a product? They have to come up with some sort of gimmick."

It's believed that meth dealers hope to increase the drug's appeal, and make it seem less dangerous by making it smell and taste like candy. Read more at USAToday.com.

Labels: children, marketing, meth

The second National Conference of Methamphetamine, HIV and Hepatitis takes place this weekend in Salt Lake City, Utah. Scientists, teachers and substance abuse workers from across the country will come together to discuss treatments, prevention, and the current state of meth.

"Among the variety of presentations on the opening day of the three-day conference... included a presentation of new data released by the Bureau of Forensic Toxicology on methamphetamine deaths in Utah during a 10-year period."

The conference will also focus on policy-making, scientific research, and needle-exchange programs. Read more online.

Is your older teen or young adult trying to maintain their sobriety and continue their education? NorthStar Center can help! By offering a sober living environment and help with academics, NorthStar is more than just young adult drug rehab.

Labels: meth, research