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In February of 2009, an article published in the Dallas Morning News told the story of a north Texas family that became unwitting victims of the illegal drug trade. The Rodgriquez family purchased a home in Grapevine that had previously been in foreclosure and promptly moved in with their three children. But it soon became apparent that something was wrong. As the article states, soon after they moved into their new home, the family's dog began experiencing seizures and ultimately had to be euthanized. Subsequent tests of the home revealed that several rooms and the attic were contaminated with traces of methamphetamine.

Methamphetamine contamination is more common than you might think; and the problem is not limited to houses. Vehicles, hotel rooms, apartments and storage units are frequently used to manufacture methamphetamine, creating health hazards for unsuspecting future inhabitants.

Although meth is made from legally available, relatively common household substances, the manufacturing or "cooking" process releases highly toxic fumes and residues. Acute exposure to these contaminants, such as police officers encounter when they first enter a meth lab, can result in burns to the skin and severe lung damage. Longer term exposure to even small amounts of these contaminants can cause breathing problems, eye irritation, skin irritation, nausea, dizziness and headaches.

Once a meth lab has been dismantled, many of these contaminants remain-on walls, in carpets and in ventilation systems. And meth doesn't have to have been manufactured in a home for the home to become contaminated. Heavy meth use by previous residents can also leave behind traces of the toxic substance, exposing future inhabitants to health risks from exposure.

Although laws in many states require sellers or their agents to disclose any known use or manufacture of meth within a home, the activity often goes unreported. When the presence of meth is suspected, or a homeowner is concerned about the activities of a home's previous occupants (as in a foreclosure scenario), the home may be tested for the presence of meth-related toxins.

If chemical residue related to the manufacture or use of methamphetamine is detected, extensive and specialized clean-up is necessary. It is recommended that the property be thoroughly aired out-for several days at a time-and cleaned by a company specializing in hazardous materials removal. Ventilation systems should be cleaned and all filters replaced. If visible staining or odors are present in carpets, drapes and other soft surfaces, replacement may be necessary. If not, all soft surfaces should be cleaned thoroughly to remove any dusts, powders and vapors from the materials used in meth manufacture. In most cases, walls and ceilings will need to be cleaned, and a new coat of paint applied to create a barrier between any residual contaminant and the air inside the home.

Because it is certainly better to be safe than sorry when it comes to potential health hazards in the home, re-testing for meth-related residues is recommended after a thorough cleaning has been completed.

 Top 3 Reasons That Make Meth So Horribly Dangerous
By Serj Sagan

 Whenever we hear something on the news about the "war against drugs," meth is almost always mentioned as well. We hear about how badly it is spreading. For those of you who are around meth then you know that it is spreading throughout our neighborhood, our friends, even spreading to our kids. Whether it is spreading or not, is it really as dangerous as they say? Is it really a cause for concern? We will cover the 3 main problems of meth and why we should do everything in our power to stop its spread.

Meth is one of the most addicting substances on the planet; many experts consider it the most addicting. The main, of many, reasons for why meth, speed, crank, tweak, crack (crank mixed with cocaine)and crystal meth (all of these are different names for the same thing) is so addicting is the severe and long recovery. The coming down (recovery) process lasts 12 to 24 hours, depending on how long you tweaked (was high on meth) straight (typically 3 to 7 days.) During this excruciating 12 - 24 hours you generally cannot sleep, even though your whole being starts to feel like you've been awake forever. Remember how your knees start to hurt when you are starting to get to the 24 hour mark of no sleep? Imagine that 7 times worse and not just on your knees, but all over your body. During this whole time the only thing that you are thinking about is "How do I get rid of this feeling?" You can't sleep it away. Weed can help sooth some of it out, but not by much.

You have spent all of your money on the crank, you've pawned most of your stuff already and you are thinking twice about how much you really need your TV or stereo and how much will the pawn shop offer you for that? Nobody will every loan you money again, you've promised everyone you know that you'll pay them back. Your mom even let you borrow the money twice, but it's not going to happen again because you lied to her about where you were going to spend that money. In the end you decide that your TV will go to the pawn shop, knowing that you are going to regret this decision later, just like the many other decisions you have made, since you've started using meth. Of course if you do make it past this stage the mental and physical addiction is so strong that pretty much the next time you get some money in your hands, you instantly forget how horrible it was to come down because you remember that you enjoyed the high so much more.

 This is the typical experience that a tweaker (a person who is addicted to meth) has when he is coming down. What about someone who has never done meth before? Will they have a different experience? Sadly, the answer is yes. The first time you do tweak, it is perhaps one of the more enjoyable experiences ever. This is of course determined by your environment also. If you are downtown hanging out with friends, having a good time and this is where your first time is, you will get a high that you will hunger for, for the rest of the time that you are tweaking and even your life. Your first time, you are more sociable, picking up chicks or guys will seem so easy, you have the energy to take on the whole world, and you just feel great all over.

Your recovery? Yes, the first time there is a very little, if it can be called that, recovery. The reason why is because your body is still able to normally produce endorphins and therefore compensates when you start to withdraw. The whole point is that the first time you felt great with little to no consequence, not to mention that the first time it was probably free. These all point to you likely trying the stuff again. Meth is perhaps the only drug that most of the people who try it become addicted after using it just one time. And if that was not enough, one of the truly unique things about a meth addiction is that with other drugs, when you are done with the high, you feel guilt for using them.

Not so with meth, with meth you actually feel great for doing it because you get so accomplished. You worked harder at work; you cleaned your house; fixed every conceivable thing that could be fixed, or while trying to fix it, broke it so bad that it could only be thrown out; you did all of the things that a "good" person would do. This means that there is no guilt, in fact you feel like you discovered the secret that could help you achieve all of those insurmountable goals that you have; you feel like everyone else is a dope, but you are somehow special, that you are in control, and you are only using it to help you achieve your worthy objectives. What a lie. You end up wasting that time, and instead of moving forward in your life you seriously take a few steps back, you are not somehow special and you are just addicted as the next guy...just try quitting and you'll see. I don't mean to make this sound any worse, but one other thing...official records state that 90% of those who do actually quit crank, go back to doing it again and again and again.

Meth will cause permanent brain damage. This may seem like such an empty statement, anymore, because it seems like half the stuff in this world will somehow damage your brain. However this stuff does it in a really nasty way. First of all you are pretty much guaranteed that when you finally mange to quit tweaking within just a year or two, pretty much all of your experiences during those three years are erased you will only remember a few of your most memorable of memories, and even that is foggy. On top of that you begin to function at only a fraction of what you were able to do before you started tweaking, intellectually. You will be slower at figuring out math problems, literacy becomes an issue, crudely said, you become stupider. On top of that a significant percentage of the people permanently stop producing dopamine, the chemical that is responsible for your body's natural high. Without dopamine, clinically you are considered depressed, which makes it that much harder to quit in the first place, but even worse; you will suffer the consequences of your mistake for the rest of your life.

Meth will destroy your life, both physically and socially. Just listen to this true story of someone who used to be a meth addict "... is still badly brain damaged and locked into brain-induced psychosis - another way of saying schizophrenia. He also has Hepatitis C which will eventually kill him, because of the nasty life his addiction lead him into (male prostitution included)." Or another interesting fact, "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 user's 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." These are just a few of the ugly sides of crank. The anti-meth pictures you see on the billboards don't commonly get that bad, but the sad fact is that they are still very true. There is more info out there about how badly meth messes you up but I think you get the picture.

If you are someone close to a user, it is best to see them as a person who is driven by another evil force. They may be themselves when they are around you, although a bit withdrawn, but inside they are really hurting and are desperate. Meth fills the void for them, temporarily. Yet, it is like filling a hole in the ice with hot water, the only thing it does is make the hole bigger and bigger. You should have pity for them, even if they steal your money, even if they make you really upset; but don't you dare for one second excuse their behavior or even worse enable it. They are ultimately responsible for their life and need to pay for their own consequences, no matter how terribly it may cost them. If you are dealing with this situation then I ask that the God of heaven gives you the wisdom and the strength to get through this very difficult time in your life.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Serj_Sagan

Meth or methamphetamine is a psychostimulant and sympathomimetic substance. In layman's terms, it's a drug that gets a person high, specifically causing euphoria and excitement, and is thus prone to abuse and addiction.
Unlike marijuana, cocaine and heroine, meth - also called 'crank,' 'ice,' 'snappy,' 'crystal,' 'tina,' 'glass' and 'P' in the United States; 'shabu' in the Philippines; 'tik' in South Africa; 'yaa baa' in Thailand - is a purely synthetic stimulant. So how bad is this synthetic drug?


'(Meth) is the most malignant, addictive drug known to mankind,' says Dr. Michael Abrams of Broadlawn Medical Center (Des Moines, Iowa), where more patients were admitted during the past year for abuse of methamphetamine than for alcoholism. 'The body has enzymes that break down cocaine,' he said, 'but not with methamphetamine.'

Meth is derived from amphetamine, which was first synthesized in 1887 in Germany. It was, for a long time, 'a drug in search of a disease,' until it found its use as treatment for depression and nasal congestion in the late 1920s.

Then in 1919, meth was synthesized in Japan, taking the form a crystalline powder soluble in water. Today, it is produced legally and sold under the trade name Desoxyn in the US.
Amphetamines were used in World War II to keep soldiers fired up and ready, but they were most widely used during the Vietnam War by US soldiers, exceeding the amphetamine consumption by the rest of the world during WWII. Intravenous methamphetamine abuse reached epidemic proportions in Japan immediately after the war, when supplies intended for military use became available to the public.
In the 1950s in the US, college students, truck drivers, and athletes were using legally manufactured tablets of both dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine) and methamphetamine (Methedrine), which became readily available even for non-medical use. This opened the floodgates to abuse that even the 1970 Controlled Substances Act wasn't enough to reverse the trend.

Meth is a tricky life-wrecker in that it hides its disastrous long-term effects with its short-term effects that can be used by an individual to his advantage, like increased attention, decreased fatigue, increased activity, decreased appetite, euphoria and rush, increased respiration and hyperthermia. Of course, drug dealers won't tell crank heads that meth could, in the long run, cause addiction psychosis, paranoia, hallucinations, mood disturbances, repetitive motor activity, and stroke.

Meth addicts are categorized as (1) those who use the drug for medicinal purposes and eventually become hooked, (2) those who use the drug to get that 'rush' euphoric feeling, and (3) babies who are born to a parent with meth addiction. Babies born to meth-addicted parent or parents usually suffer from low birth rate, tremors, attention deficit disorder and other birth defects.
Recovery from meth addiction is possible, but the withdrawal period is intense and there are possibilities for relapse. Worse, meth addiction not only causes dysfunctions in a user's everyday life but also affects the addict's family and loved ones who bear the brunt of this substance-induced social illness.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jim_Oneil

 

Meth is easily one of the most dangerous drugs that our teens are getting addicted to, and the scary part is that many parents are clueless until it is to late. The early symptoms of meth addiction can be a bit hard to recognize in teens as it will sometimes mirror normal teen behaviors.

In a world of drug abuse and addiction, knowing the warning signs that your teen may be addicted to or using meth may mean the difference between life and death. Parents simply must inform themselves, regardless of how well adjusted and well behaved their kids may be. Even the honor roll student is not immune to the persuasive powers of this powerful drug called meth.

Early Symptoms of Meth Usage or Addiction
The early symptoms or signs of meth usage and addiction are the signs that can be tricky. Teens are by nature moody, and can be angry little buggers. That said, it is important to not simply dismiss these actions as typical teen behavior. While they may be completely benign, they may also be a signal that something is wrong. Here are a number of early warning signs of possible meth addiction or usage:

Sleep disruption - Teens are likely to stay up late and sleep in during the day on weekends, but if you notice a change in the baseline behavior you should look into it. When a teen is on meth, they are likely to stay up for days on end, and then go through periods of sleeping continuously as well.

Nervousness - Another key sign of a problem with meth is when your teen is constantly fidgeting. "Ants in the pants" is a good way to describe this behavior and your teen may nervously pick at their skin as well.

Drastic Weight Loss - When your teen begins to lose weight at a rapid rate, you should definitely check it out. Meth will cause your teen to lose interest in food, and eventually begin to lose weight.

Panting - While this is not generally obvious, it is to a Parent. If your child is breathing heavier than usual, then your instincts should flare up. Meth speeds up the heart rate, and panting can result.

Needle marks or Tracks - If they are injecting meth, they will usually leave marks behind. Teens will often attempt to shoot up in areas that are easy to cover so be alert. Other signs that they may be using is burns on the lips, nosebleeds, and burns on the hands.

Lying or Out of Place Aggression - If your teen begins lying about everything, especially where he has been and what he was doing, then you should be asking some tough questions. This can extend to many areas of his life. Also, meth can make your teen extremely aggressive and angry. Pay attention if they show signs of this that are out of character.

Avoidance of Family - Meth addicts usually will avoid contact with loved ones due to the secrecy of the addiction, and the cover up of symptoms or tracks. The emotional toll this takes on the teen meth addict is devastating.
Finding paraphernalia - If you are finding pipes, or other unexplained drug paraphernalia, there is a good chance that your teen is using. Do not accept the "I only did it once" excuse.

Teens who are addicted to meth are very sneaky and capable liars. They know how to get around you as the drive for the drug far exceeds their concerns about right and wrong. Once addicted, the teen meth user will steal, lie, and do anything to procure the meth. It is vital that you recognize the signs early, before your teen is severely addicted. Once they are addicted, the road to recovery is not guaranteed. Meth is very powerful, and you must be proactive in your parenting duties to catch it very early to give your teen a chance.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chy_King

Meth or methamphetamine is a psychostimulant and sympathomimetic substance. In layman's terms, it's a drug that gets a person high, specifically causing euphoria and excitement, and is thus prone to abuse and addiction.
 
Unlike marijuana, cocaine and heroine, meth - also called 'crank,' 'ice,' 'snappy,' 'crystal,' 'tina,' 'glass' and 'P' in the United States; 'shabu' in the Philippines; 'tik' in South Africa; 'yaa baa' in Thailand - is a purely synthetic stimulant. So how bad is this synthetic drug?

'(Meth) is the most malignant, addictive drug known to mankind,' says Dr. Michael Abrams of Broadlawn Medical Center (Des Moines, Iowa), where more patients were admitted during the past year for abuse of methamphetamine than for alcoholism. 'The body has enzymes that break down cocaine,' he said, 'but not with methamphetamine.'

Meth is derived from amphetamine, which was first synthesized in 1887 in Germany. It was, for a long time, 'a drug in search of a disease,' until it found its use as treatment for depression and nasal congestion in the late 1920s.

Then in 1919, meth was synthesized in Japan, taking the form a crystalline powder soluble in water. Today, it is produced legally and sold under the trade name Desoxyn in the US.

Amphetamines were used in World War II to keep soldiers fired up and ready, but they were most widely used during the Vietnam War by US soldiers, exceeding the amphetamine consumption by the rest of the world during WWII. Intravenous methamphetamine abuse reached epidemic proportions in Japan immediately after the war, when supplies intended for military use became available to the public.

In the 1950s in the US, college students, truck drivers, and athletes were using legally manufactured tablets of both dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine) and methamphetamine (Methedrine), which became readily available even for non-medical use. This opened the floodgates to abuse that even the 1970 Controlled Substances Act wasn't enough to reverse the trend.

Meth is a tricky life-wrecker in that it hides its disastrous long-term effects with its short-term effects that can be used by an individual to his advantage, like increased attention, decreased fatigue, increased activity, decreased appetite, euphoria and rush, increased respiration and hyperthermia. Of course, drug dealers won't tell crank heads that meth could, in the long run, cause addiction psychosis, paranoia, hallucinations, mood disturbances, repetitive motor activity, and stroke.

Meth addicts are categorized as (1) those who use the drug for medicinal purposes and eventually become hooked, (2) those who use the drug to get that 'rush' euphoric feeling, and (3) babies who are born to a parent with meth addiction. Babies born to meth-addicted parent or parents usually suffer from low birth rate, tremors, attention deficit disorder and other birth defects.

Recovery from meth addiction is possible, but the withdrawal period is intense and there are possibilities for relapse. Worse, meth addiction not only causes dysfunctions in a user's everyday life but also affects the addict's family and loved ones who bear the brunt of this substance-induced social illness.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jim_Oneil

Meth or Methamphetamine is an extremely addictive illegal drug. Also known as crank, speed, and crystal meth, the drug effects the central nervous system. It is a man made substance that is often produced in home and clandestine laboratories. It can be made into powder or pills, which can be swallowed, snorted, smoked or injected.
Meth is extremely dangerous, not only to the user, but also to the people around them. In the past, users would get meth that was brought in from other countries. Recently however, people are starting their own labs here in the United States. These people are finding "recipes" that include extremely combustible ingredients such as common household products, like paint thinner and starter fluid. These ingredients are blended then "cooked" over heat to produce the drug. Often times, these labs with accidently explode, which can lead to huge explosions that could potential damage to buildings and people around the lab, not just in it. Also, many crystal makers will purposely set their labs on fire if they are in danger of being caught by law enforcement officials.
Meth users can be anyone. Unlike some drugs, it does not just stay within certain communities or areas. It is abused by adults and teens, young and old. It also crosses all socio-economic backgrounds. It is used all across the United States, although it is more prevalent in the Midwestern states such as Iowa.
Meth users can become easily addicted to the drug because of how it affects the brain. This addiction can be very hard to break. The reason why it is so addictive is because when a user achieves a high that makes them very happy and in some cases very productive. However, when the user comes off of the high, they become very low and depressed. This is because the drop affects the brain by block dopamine and causing a chemical imbalance. So in order to stay happy and have that positive effect, they feel as if they need to keep on taking the drug. Crystal Meth is a stimulant like Cocaine which is also very addictive. Meth users often mix the drug with another addictive drug, alcohol. This can produce even more dangerous side effects. The drug users will eventually do anything they can to get their hands on the drug, which is why many of them will start to "cook" it themselves. This can also be dangerous because of the risk of explosion that could injure or even kill the maker and people around them.
Besides becoming addicted, meth users are more likely to commit crimes while high, or not, mainly because of their addiction. Users have resorted to robbery in order to be able to pay for the drugs. Meth user's brains are not functioning properly while they are on the drug so they may become violent or extremely aggressive.
Users of this drug suffer from addiction which is a disease. There is treatment and even cures from Meth addiction, however it is a process that can be difficult and users will need the support of their families and friends while they try to break away from this devastating drug.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kurt_LeRoy

Methamphetamine has become a vast problem in the United States and is growing in popularity in other areas of the world. Meth use has overtaken Cocaine use in the Midwest and accounts for more drug related deaths than Cocaine in the last three years. Oklahoma now has Meth as its drug of choice.
As far back as 1999, a whopping 9.4 million adults admitted to having tried Meth at least once. The fastest growing group of Meth users is in the 18-25 age range. It only takes one use of Meth to become addicted. Meth is an insidious drug and works by impersonating the chemicals produced in the brain for pleasure. Meth produces more of these chemicals to be released at one time and this is what causes the high or the rush that is experienced when a person first ingests Meth.
Once a person experiences this high they develop a need to feel it again and again and go in search of that first rush, which unfortunately will never be repeated.
But why do people first get involved in drug use, particularly meth?
That is a question that many families and friends of addicts ask.
It is a tough question to answer as it has to do more with a person's sense of self and their level of self respect than anything else and the root cause is often a need to feel better or different.
Meth does not cause any physical withdrawal symptoms but it is an addiction that is deeply rooted in the psyche, making it hard to break and there are often many relapses.
A Meth addict doesn't start out with the purpose of becoming an addict - but because of the stranglehold that the drug develops over the brain, treatment can be long and difficult. Meth addicts find themselves in a vicious cycle that has them taking the drug to alleviate pain they feel in their lives - which in turn becomes more painful because of the drug use and the cycle continues with the user having to seek out
Meth in order to feel "normal".
Treatment for Meth addiction has to begin with a detox program which lasts 4-6 weeks. During this time the addict will report strong cravings for the drug. Depending on the length of time an addict has been using, these cravings can last anything up to a year or more. Heavy use means the likelihood of a relapse is all too possible.
Treatment for Meth addiction will involve a lot of counseling and relearning of ways to find pleasure in their life that isn't related to taking drugs. Treatment may also involve a prescription for an anti depressant as the addict may sink into depression as the brain has lost the ability to experience pleasure from normal everyday occurrences.
Meth addiction and its treatment will need to involve help from professionals such as substance abuse advisors and doctors. Family and friends are also encouraged to become involved in the addicts treatment and recovery as they will need a lot of support to overcome meth addiction.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kurt_LeRoy

 

Methamphetamine is the most addictive substance and being the derivative of methamphetamine, crystal meth also is very addictive drug. In short, crystal meth can be more addictive than methamphetamine, as it is of a higher concentration than methamphetamine. There are various crystal meth treatment centers in almost every state of America and the number of patients to these centers is also high. These centers mostly follow the rehab program to treat crystal meth addicts.

Almost all the people who are into crystal meth addiction are young and belong to the age group of 18 to 25 years. The bodies of these youth are still into developing phase at this age and by taking an addictive substance like crystal meth, these youth are playing with fire. As these youth will grow older, their bodies will become used to crystal meth and then it will become quite difficult to cure them.

As the symptoms for crystal meth addiction are similar to any other type of drug addiction, it becomes a really difficult task to find out whether the addict has a crystal meth addiction or not. Hence the first job of these treatment centers do is to find out whether the addict is really addicted to crystal meth or not. The symptoms of crystal meth addiction are the addict feels happier, their eyes appear bright, they feel more energetic and can do more work easily and they look more cheerful too.

There are various other symptoms to find out about the crystal meth addiction. You can find these symptoms on the Internet. You can also learn more about crystal meth addiction by visiting the federal websites like National Institute of Drug Abuse, National Clearinghouse, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, etc.

If you know someone who is addicted to crystal meth, you can either take them to a treatment center if they are ready or can plan an intervention program to help them come out of their phase of denial. The interventionist will guide you on how you can carry out this intervention program and make your loved one join the treatment program as soon as possible. This specialist will guide you at every step of your intervention program. If you don't know about a proper treatment center in your area, you can ask the interventionist as they will help you in selecting the best one among them.

The interventionist will make you form a group of people who know the addict. Each member from the group will need to write what they feel about the addict and how strongly they want the addict to join the treatment center and live an addiction-free life. Each member will need to prepare their speech and without looking into paper will need to say this in front of the addict and that too with proper feeling. This will surely make the addict think about their lives seriously. This will make them plan their lives without addiction in it. Thus they will be ready to joining the treatment center.

The next job will be to find a suitable treatment center and make the addict join the treatment program. There are special treatment centers to deal with the crystal meth addiction and you should make sure that you search one of them. You should also check the license of the treatment center. The treatment provider should be well qualified and all the medical facilities should be available in the center.

In case there are no good treatment centers for treating crystal meth addiction in your local area, you can also try and join the treatment centers that are in other states. You can always take the main treatment from this center and then shift the patient to your local center for an aftercare program. The treatment of crystal meth addiction is more intense than any other drug abuse treatment. The patient will be needed to be strong-willed to go through all the stages of the treatment p[program. The patient's family can play a major role in giving full support to the patient. The detox treatment for the addict of the crystal meth is also tough and the withdrawal symptoms can last for about one month. The aftercare treatment is also equally important as the patient might feel the urge to go back to their addiction.

Locating a crystal meth treatment program is not difficult because there are a lot of options available especially in current times. But it is important to see that the program will be suitable to the needs of the patient. This you can do only through adequate research and planning.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Neil_D'Silva

Ensuring drug users get into drug treatment is more important than ever as this new method of making meth makes the drug more accessible.


Police and community groups who've been desperately trying to handle the meth problem by shutting down meth labs and getting users into meth treatment are afraid that the latest method of making methamphetamine, called 'shake and bake', will start a new wave of meth use and create a new generation of meth users. Their fears are justified: when you make a drug easier to get and less expensive, it can spread like wildfire - just like crack.

Shake and bake is all over the news. The 'shake' part of it refers to a small portable lab more or less in a bottle. It produces smaller amounts and requires fewer supplies than regular meth labs - which means there's less chance of someone getting caught buying the supplies. This method also allows the drug to be made without the tell-tale odor that often leads to meth lab busts, and meth makers can simply pick up their lab and run should it come to that, although they may catch on fire in the process.

With things like shake and bake around, it's more important than ever to ensure the people in your life don't get involved in drugs, and that those who are already involved get into drug treatment. Meth is probably the most physically and mentally damaging of all drugs and, in truth, if a person is living in a drug environment, there's no guarantee they won't take meth or any other drug.

If you want to get a look at what meth can do, check out facesofmeth.us. The photos on the site show the changes in people from the time they get their first mug shot to a second shot, months or years later (during which time they've been using meth). The changes can be drastic after just a few months, and after two or three years, you could literally have trouble recognizing your own son or daughter. And even if they stop taking the drug, there's a good chance they'll never look the same again or fully recover their health.

There are a lot of people in prison because of drugs. Some would be better off in drug treatment. But anyone who sees what meth can do would no doubt feel that those who are in prison because they made or sold meth are probably in the right place. Let's just hope they also get a complete drug rehab program so they're less likely to get involved in drugs when they get out of prison, and less likely to continue to ruin the lives of others.

All of us have a list of worries when looking to move into a new home but if it hasn't occurred to you before, you should have possible meth contamination on your list. If you are considering moving into a location that's in or neighboring a drug abuse area or a foreclosed property, count environmental testing for street drugs as first on your list.

A 2002 survey by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services showed that more than 12 million people age 12 or older (5.3 percent) had used methamphetamine at least one time in their lives. In 2003, 32 percent of state and local law enforcement agencies nationally named methamphetamine as the number two contributor--behind cocaine (50 percent)--to violent crime in their jurisdictions.

Methamphetamine Manufacture

Methamphetamine is made in improvised illegal laboratories using ingredients oftentimes bought in local stores. Over-the-counter cold medications containing ephedrine or pseudoephedrine and other materials can be "cooked" to make the drug. According to the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), methamphetamine production and trafficking have changed in the past 10 years. In 2001, according to the National Clandestine Laboratory Database, there were 8,290 methamphetamine lab seizures. From 1999 to 2004, the number of seizures in total actually declined, but seizures dramatically increased in midwestern states.

Chemical Hazards During Synthesis

There are numerous formulas used to synthesize methamphetamine. Most processes are dependant on availability of mass chemicals. Because the structures of ephedrine and methamphetamine are very related, a lot of recipes are fashioned to take out a bound oxygen and hydrogen atom from the ephedrine and replace it with hydrogen. [1]

Was this place a meth lab? Occasionally the evidence is glaring. Sometimes it's not. Meth labs might be concealed behind false walls. You may observe modifications that seem strange such as exhaust fans mounted where they have no rational use or bootlegged power supply. The following list gives more obvious meth lab signs:

Yellow stains on walls, drains, sinks and showers
Blue discolorations on valves of propane tanks and fire extinguishers
Smoke detectors that are removed or taped off
Experiencing physical symptoms when inside the house, such as burning in your eyes or throat, itching, a metallic taste in your mouth and breathing problems
Odd strong odors that smell like materials from a garage, such as solvent and paint thinner, cat urine or ammonia the use of security cameras and surveillance equipment.

Even if the owner disclosed prior drug use or even a clean up you should have the home tested for traces of drugs. The dangers aren't worth the risk. The chemicals used to manufacture elicit drugs can saturate the walls, get in the carpet and household contents such as furniture. Lead and mercury are common by-products detected in the meth residue. Health experts say effects from exposure to meth residue can include skin and eye irritation, rash, headaches, respiratory problems, dizziness, loss of coordination, damage to liver, kidney and central nervous systems. Little is known about the long term effects on health.

Safety is extremely important. Suitable respiratory protection and other personal protective equipment are central factors in reducing the risk of adverse health affects for personnel going into and cleaning up methamphetamine laboratories. Surface contaminants in illicit labs and the surrounding area can be significant. The entire area of an illicit methamphetamine laboratory should be considered significantly contaminated with the drug itself. One study accounted wipe sample concentrations as high as 16,000 micrograms per 100 square centimeters (µg/100cm²).

So, what about those "do-it-yourself" wipe tests that you can buy online? NOT recommended for several reasons. First and foremost is safety. It's not recommended that ANYONE set foot inside a potentially contaminated property unless trained and certified by OSHA in Hazardous Materials handling. Our technicians wear full level C PPE the entire time that they are on the premises of a potential meth lab. In addition, any results you obtain will be unscientific and not legally defensible. Finally, those tests for the most part will give you only a +/- for the presence of the meth molecule and will tell you nothing as to the levels of meth that are present.

A positive test may occur in places where meth has been used, as well as manufactured. This test is for the actual residue of the drug alone. It does not screen for chemicals used in the fabrication or those that are produced in the process. A positive test tells you simply to proceed with caution and doesn't really help to paint a picture as to what needs to be done to resolve the problem.

This is serious business and it's important that you bring in someone that is qualified to handle this for you. Half measures and quick fixes are not going to bring you peace of mind, safety and the ever important legally defensible documentation that you have a professionally remediated structure that is clean and ready to be occupied.

[1] Source - Occupational & Health Administration, "Coping With Meth Hazards", 11/01/2006.

Meth labs are no longer restricted to the rural areas of America. They have now infiltrated suburbia. Meth cooks are capitalizing on the kind and harmless "image" suburbs provide and using them as a means of screening their dangerous and illegal operations.

Imagine an environmental catastrophe waiting to materialize in your rental property - a cooking procedure utilizing corrosive and flammable elements, that at some phases produces the same gas used in concentration camps, producing an odorous reaction of chemicals and toxic fumes, brewed by people who normally don't have chemistry degrees...and you have the typical meth lab.

The meth lab is more dangerous than any legal laboratory or chemical manufacturing plant. Meth labs have been defined as an "explosion waiting to happen." In fact, 25%-30% of all labs exposed in the U.S. are detected as a result of fire or explosion. A clandestine (secret) meth lab will likely have hazardous, flammable chemicals stashed away in every type of container imaginable--in closets, under stairways, under tables or even out in the open. Little of the glassware and equipment will be acceptable laboratory materials. Most will be improvised using casserole dishes, CorningWare, crock pots, etc.; Parts may be cracked and have jagged edges, sometimes covered with duct tape. Heaters, ovens or power strips could have frayed or exposed wires. Also, the gases produced by the operation are highly flammable, made worse by the fact that labs are commonly concealed in a closed off room or a basement. A pilot light on your gas water heater could ignite the entire property. More importantly, a majority of the people operating these suburban meth labs don't own the property, they rent.

The After Effects of a Meth Lab on Your Property
There's little known about the health effects of long-term exposure to contaminants left behind by previous methamphetamine labs. Property owners are advised to exercise extreme caution and use the safest possible cleaning practices in dealing with a former meth lab property. There are company's that specialize in this type of clean up who will even provide a certificate of decontamination at conclusion of the cleanup process.
When drug users, dealers, or manufacturers live in or operate out of rental properties, neighborhoods suffer - and landlords pay a steep price. If the unit has been used as a meth fabricating lab, the decontamination cost alone is high, averaging $10,000-$15,000 for a 1200-square-foot home.

After a lab has been shut down, your property typically still is contaminated with hazardous chemicals. Residues of methamphetamine and other chemicals left over at a former meth lab are a concern for people who later occupy the property. For this reason, local health departments may get involved and thoroughly evaluate the property for hazards before permitting it to be re-inhabited, particularly if by children. Long and short term health effects include liver and kidney damage, neurological problems and increased cancer risks, even for people residing in former lab sites.

When a meth lab is detected in a multiple-unit dwelling, neighbors might be worried about their exposure to hazardous chemicals while the lab was still operational. Neighbors danger for exposure is generally very low, but it's important to address any nearby residents concerns.

But there are also other profound costs that a landlord can incur as a consequence of meth activity on the premises. How tenants' meth use impacts rental properties and landlords:

• Methamphetamine attracts criminal activity - gang-related activities such as vandalism and violence
• Property values decline, especially once the activity drives the neighborhood to get a bad reputation
• Property damage results from tenant misuse and neglect, from retaliation, from fire, or from police busts
• Civil penalties could be imposed, including the forced temporary closure or even seizure of the property
• Rental income is forfeited during the eviction and repair periods
• Good renters may move out because of meth-related troubles, resulting in lost rental income
• Feelings of bitterness and anger damage relationships between neighbors and property managers
• Being forced to address with dangerous and threatening tenants generates fear and frustration

Signs of meth activity at a rental property:
Landlords might observe behavior in renters that suggests potential meth or other drug use and, possibly, drug dealing:

• Failure to pay rent or utility bills
• Failure to keep the house in good condition

A combination of the indicators below may be significant.
Vehicle traffic and automobiles

• Expensive vehicles that seem out of place for the area
• Regular car switching, particularly at unusual hours:
• people arrive in one car and leave in another
• Vehicles stopping for short stays - fewer than 20 minutes
• Regular late-night deliveries
• Considerable increase in vehicular traffic
• Suspicious vehicles: clean license plates on a dirty car, damage consistent with the car being a stolen vehicle

Foot traffic

• People parking away from the premises and walking in
• Ungroomed, disoriented visitors or neighbors
• People taking in tools, electronics, or other items that might be used to sell or trade for drugs

Change in property conditions

• Collections of garbage or junk
• Deterioration of the premises or yard
• Disassembling of vehicles or machinery (frequently the high gives meth users the energy to begin projects, but they lack the ability to focus enough to complete them)

Residents' appearance and behavior

• Ungroomed, dirty appearance
• Children show signs of abuse or disregard
• Pets are uncared-for, neglected
• Occupant is awake for days at a time
• Occupant sleeps for days at a time
• There's frequent partying in the dwelling
• There are a lot of young visitors, even when the residents do not have children in the same age group as the visitors

Surroundings

• Increased crime in the neighborhood, particularly crimes of opportunity like vehicle thefts and burglaries
• Other neighbors displaying strange behavior - hanging out at the drug house or defending the occupants, for instance

Steps you can take to prevent meth at your property:

• Show tenants that you are partnering with local law enforcement by displaying their decals
• Conduct background checks on renters. Check references, credit histories, and, if you get the required approval, criminal background
• Inspect your property on a regular basis
• Encourage tenants and others in the community to be mindful of suspicious individuals and activities
• Encourage nearby residents to alert you to any worries that they have

How can a meth lab be cleaned up?
Property owners are responsible for proper cleanup and costs. Owners who choose to clean buildings on their own ought to be aware that household building materials and furniture may absorb contaminants and, in some cases, emit toxic fumes. Private cleanup contractors can and should be hired to conduct safe meth lab testing and decontamination of any property known or suspected to have been a meth lab.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Patricia_Abney

Crystal meth use is of growing concern nationwide as the latest statistics shows that more young people across the nation have becoming dependant on this drug. It once dominated the streets in the western states in the early 60's, has once again began to make its mark across the United States. It was isolated in Midwest but due to the fact that it is easy to manufacture, using readily accessible over the counter ingredients and its cheap value the market for meth is now nationwide.

It has, within a short period of time, became the most common drug of abused, second to cocaine.
There are many sources of information on crystal meth available online, in school libraries, social clubs, on the negative affects it has on the human mind and body. Like unsafe sex and other explicit behavior that should be avoided, meth use has still been domineering.


While they may have similar effects, crystal meth has more long lasting effects and far more toxic to the body than pure methamphetamines. Meth is used clinically for attention deficit disorder and obesity. Young girls are drawn more to meth because of its appetite suppression effects. The misuse of the drug and overdosing exposes them to that euphoric feeling that associates with meth use, and after a while they become "hooked". Yes, meth may help you lose weight and to keep you alert but due to its negative effects, it pays not to use the drug.

While some may argue that the information on crystal meth available to young people may be the contributing reason for the surge in meth use, others argue that it is important that young people know all the facts about meth, both positive and negative. There is adequate amount of information on crystal meth available in all media forms; however this information alone is not enough to curb this growing addiction.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Steve_Hill

Crystal Meth Drug Treatment
By Steve Hill

  The alarming increase in the use of crystal meth addicts has contributed the much needed research into the demography and market of this drug.

Research has shown that 10.4 million people 12 years and over have tried meth at least once in their lifetime.
Approximately 1.3 million reported using meth over between the year 2004 - 2005 and 512,000 reported using meth within the last month this meth statistic was taken.

The United Nations also disclaimed that the use of meth has become of international concern since it is the number 2 most widely used illegal drug worldwide, second to marijuana, and in the United States, Cocaine.

Crystal meth drug treatment programs have been deemed the most challenging of addiction treatment.
There are many crystal meth drug treatment programs available such a rehab, meth treatment centers, and self help programs.

Most of these programs follow the classical 12 step program to recovery.
Crystal Meth addicts who have been through the rehabilitation process still need to get involve in counseling and group monitoring sessions to help them remain sober.

Research has shown that only about ten percent of addicts remain sober, an alarming statistic.
It is essential that continued support is maintained and that the addict keeps attending the monitoring sessions to avoid becoming one of those ninety percent who do not succeed.

The person needs to realise and understand the damage that they are doing for themselves and the affect that their addiction is having on their families and friends. Help is available therefore have the courage to take it.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Steve_Hill

Crystal Meth Addiction
Knowledge is power, yet do you really know the disastrous effects of crystal meth?
Commonly sold on the street and “cooked” in clandestine labs, crystal meth is a vile and poisonous drug extremely popular in Canada - and that’s only part of the problem.
Unlike other types of drugs, crystal meth is highly addictive. A user is much likely to become addicted simply after one use; putting his own health in peril and continually resorting to dealers for more.
Police have reported that in several cases, crystal meth has been sold as ecstasy in parties. Its effects might be appealing to some, but they will never come close to outweigh the deadly and extremely harmful side effects.
A high from crystal meth appears very promising, since it is said to provide endless energy, removing the need to eat or sleep, super focus, increased productivity and euphoria. Imagine a euphoric flood, a complete body orgasm, infinite energy; the most boring of tasks becomes a riveting experience, even house-cleaning. Great, eh?
Far from that! The day after, the user feels sick, depressed, guilty, ashamed and angry. And what would take away those nasty feelings? More crystal meth of course. That’s where the problem begins, and before the user knows it, he is completely hooked on crystal meth, trying to attain maximum energy and euphoria. The problem is that after awhile, the high of meth becomes disappointing, euphoria turns to numbness, super focus is replaced by confusion, and productivity is limited to simple tasks.
Severe side effects are associated with the use of crystal meth. Some of them include:
Behavioral Effects:
Excited

Pressed Speech

Disorganized

Irrational

Distrust

Violence
Cognitive Effects:
Agitation

Panic

Confusion

Paranoia, Hallucinations

Confusion

Speed Bugs

Psychotic Episode
Physical Effects:
Increased Heart Rate

Rise in Blood Sugar

Insomnia

Shakiness

Fever

Kidney and Liver Damage

Chest pain

Death
Crystal meth does not discriminate; it preys on businessmen, professionals, students, teenagers, the working class, the "average Joe", the street bum and everybody in between.
“Crystal meth can just take over a community, because of its highly addictive properties and the ease with which it can be synthesized in labs in homes. It's alarming. You have small communities that are awash in this drug,” said Sgt. Ian Sanderson, an RCMP drug expert in Edmonton.
Not only in Alberta, but in other Canadian provinces too, the popularity of crystal meth is increasing dramatically. Canada's crystal meth problem is the worst in British Columbia. The number of deaths there related to methamphetamine has risen from three in 2000 to thirty-three in 2004. Most of those deaths have been drug overdoses or car accidents in which the driver was high on meth. A rise in certain types of crime in B.C. in recent years is in part attributable to the increased use of methamphetamines. Car theft, fraud and sex assaults are all fuelled by the adrenaline rush from crystal meth.
One of the main factors creating hardships for the police force in dealing with crystal meth, is the abundance of crystal meth labs in homes and warehouses. These labs deal with toxic and lethal chemicals throughout a complex process of transformation. Frighteningly enough, these labs are situated in the heart of residential neighbourhoods and business areas. The discovery of such labs is usually after a serious explosion occurs, often resulting in several injuries and deaths.
It gets worse. Families, including children, live in these home-based labs, eating and sleeping next to highly toxic chemicals. Health officials fear children exposed to these chemicals are at a significantly higher risk of long-term health problems, including Parkinson’s disease, and many are developmentally delayed. Yet unless the lab is discovered, the children remain in a perilous situation.
The environment is equally affected. The creation of crystal meth in those clandestine labs produces huge amounts of chemical waste. For every pound of crystal meth produced, 5 pounds of chemical waste has to be disposed of. Usually, it is either flushed down the bathtub, or simply thrown out into the environment.
Crystal meth is an all-round poisonous drug. It is a growing crisis affecting families, friends and neighbourhoods, just like yours. No one is sheltered from its harmful effects, be it by the drug itself, the toxicity of producing it, or the dangers of being nearby a hidden clandestine lab. Additional drug prevention campaigns and resources need to be put forth to help eliminating this threat. Crystal meth is a killer that must be stopped.
Certain Canadian provincial governments are beginning to take measures to counteract the increasing popularity of crystal meth. Drug prevention campaigns across tthe country are being se in place to inform the youth and teenagers of the grave dangers of this drug. For those who wish to get help with their drug addiction, there are several drug rehabilitation and treatments centers scattered throughout the country.
One of them is Narconon® (a unique biophysical 100% drug rehabilitation program). Its exceptional methods have proven countless times to be effective and have shown positive results. The qualified staff is present and attentive to the needs of each individual, and is determined to help the individual in overcoming his drug addiction. If you are affected by crystal meth, don’t let it dictate your life, get help now.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jonathan_Kelly

Hello people. My name is Wayne and im an ex user from drugs who was on almost everything drug related, but meth was my conclusion to my destruction. Got 2 1/2 yrs of clean time on my belt from meth but it doesnt even feel like a f**king day, an hour, 30 minutes with out gettting some kind of thought from it. I just want peace from it but i know i cant get that because of the physical and mental problems i received from abusing it. 

Had my life infront of me and i let it take it away from me so easily, like i wanted it to and had no say over it but did because i had a choice like all of us do, do good or, do bad...Im 26 and feel like im in my middle 30's inside. Im so beat up from all those nights staying awake and wasteing my life away. Rather then going to class to learn how to cook, id rather be in my dorm room in frisco smokeing meth and trying to find a girl to have sex with all night. Just to say that kills me because its ugly and i became ugly, disgusting to probably have people not want to be around me because i see it when i look in the mirror and tell myself i hate you when i wish i didnt because i say that because i want my life back, like that movie the Shawshank Redemption when Morgan says in close to the end, "I just want things to make sense again so i wont have to feel scared all the time" <--- what it exactly says yo! I hate feeling so scared. 

Just f**king scared to wake up and except the next day when i was never expecting it to be ok because i wasnt ok, because i was so high and took modivation away, grow to be someone, leave the child and grow to be an adult, successful, just happy and not scared all the time. My shadow people still haunt me at night and i cant believe it..maybe its from the nights and still not being able to get a good nights rest because im so lost in my mind, so many thoughts on my mind from the past of my war on drugs till now, staying clean, fighting for my sobriety, trying to keep a job in these tough times, have friends, REAL friends, have family love me for who i am someday which they cant and i dont blame them. 

Drugs dont just hurt me, they hurt them so much, cry just like me at night when i was down fallin and i would call them so jittery, worry them, bring hell to not just me, to them at thier door steps and its something hard to get over for many out their, like mine i see everyday. I look so beat up still, fatigued, weight gain, like im eating my cravings away so much, contantly. Id rather eat then pick up that bubble i'll tell you that much, but the weight needs fixing.

Tryin to get my own place again so i can have my peace from my mom and how i burden her it seems like when i have to live here. She worries and i dont blame her. Get my place when i have money saved and a job on the side to keep it, like i know i can because ive been doing. Just the economy and the way it is kicked me out of Bend, OR, lost my small business with my business partner and had to move because he was upset to have me for a roomate i guess, took it hard, who knows? I alone, had friends their, had a life taking away when i was making one but nothing never works out how you want it to, like you have no controll of the next day, week, month, shit just happens, that famous quote..i just need peace people! 

I want to be able to wake up and feel ok. I cant believe what meth and my addictions have done to me and i wish every god dame day i could take it all back because i wouldnt be struggleing so bad, i could get my life back! 

For those of you struggleing to stay clean, or still using and want to get off the shit know you are not alone if you feel like you are and know one understands because i do...stop now before its to late for you, save anything you got left in you thats still human because your body is crying inside and whats you to help it. 

i will never do it again, the insanity from it i got and everyday is so hard now....do your body a favor and give it a chance, people a chance again, it will be worth it in the long run because we might find that happiness that drugs, specially meth in my opinion cant give us. Thanks for hearing me out you guys and take care.
--Wayne