US warns of 'global meth threat'

[mopsie]

US warns of 'global meth threat'

Methamphetamine use has soared in the US
The US authorities have warned that the addictive drug methamphetamine has become a "global threat".
US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) chief Karen Tandy said global users of methamphetamine outnumbered cocaine and heroin users combined.

She was speaking at an international narcotics conference in Canada.

Methamphetamine, or crystal meth, is a stimulant which induces euphoria, but can lead to side effects such as violent behaviour and depression.

Delegates at the 24th International Drug Enforcement Conference in Montreal were told that synthetic drugs such as ecstasy and methamphetamine were becoming a worldwide phenomenon.

"Methamphetamine trafficking and the movement of its precursor chemicals are an increasing global threat," Ms Tandy told the conference.

"More than 26 million people worldwide use amphetamines - largely methamphetamines... ," she added.

Crime link

She cited the example of a laboratory in Indonesia, raided in November, which had exports linked to Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore and the US.

METHAMPHETAMINE
Sold as powder, tablets or crystals
Can be snorted, smoked, injected or swallowed
Can alter personality, increase blood pressure and damage brain

Criminal gangs were also exporting the drug from the US to Japan, she said.

The raw ingredients of the drug were being shipped from India and China and smuggled through third countries, she added.

Dr Paul Thompson, a California-based neuroscientist researching the effects of the drug, told the BBC's World Today programme that the spread of the drug could lead to an increase in violent crime.

"We know that many of the people that are arrested in Los Angeles - about 40% of them - have been using methamphetamine," he said.

"We're worried that as this drug is spreading throughout the US and overseas, this could produce a massive increase in violent crime."


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[enquirewithin]

Is that like the global threat of terrorism?

[Micklemouse]

Originally Posted by enquirewithin

Is that like the global threat of terrorism?

Something like! Does the 26 million include prescription users too? This article could just as easily be about beer... Can only speak for Briton, but the scare stories about meth taking a hold over here have been popping up every couple of years for as long as I can remember, and apart from a bit of use amongst the gay community it just, well, hasn't happened and probably never will.

[Beeker]

Maybe they should ... take it off the prescription list? maybe?

The only good thing about meth is the people who use it are typically, "live fast, leave a good looking corpse" types who actually do work rather hard for many years until something moves them to the needle.

I hear Japan has a growing methapmhetamine problem but the "problem" is only that you can't get it prescription. If you can't watch someones use then obviously they will burn out. I'll bet working in Asia in general is very taxing and high hour.

If they would just prescribe D-amphetamine to workers with high hour jobs then there would be no real problem with meth imho.

[enquirewithin]

If they would just prescribe D-amphetamine to workers with high hour jobs then there would be no real problem with meth imho.

I would not want to have to deal with any of those people then!

Amphetamine was widely prescribed at one time, but that stopped when it became apparent that prolonged amphetamine use entails serious psychological side-effects. There may be a lot of myths and exaggertaions about the meth menace but it's really not good for people!