Transcript Document 7153826

Methamphetamine:
The newest of the “Kentucky Uglies”
Prepared by: Holly E. Hopper, MRC
Extension Associate for Health
Crystal Methamphetamine
What is methamphetamine?
A psycho-stimulant known as:
• “meth”
• “speed”
• “crystal”
• “ice”
• “uppers”
• “poor man’s cocaine”
• “black beauties”
Who is at risk?
• Women
• Men
• Teens
• Abusers of other drugs
Anyone willing to try it.
Why women?
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Buying into weight loss advertisements
Myths about energy
Myth of productivity
Attempts to be “Super Woman”
Child care
Why youth?
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Adult family members’ use
Think it is fun
Cheap and popular
Easy to find
Believe local availability means safety
Why men?
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Belief it provides more energy
Belief they will be more productive
Looking to improve work performance
To escape from life stress
Dangers associated with Methamphetamine
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Addiction
Aggression
Brain damage
Paranoia
Family violence
Criminal involvement
Multiple health risks
Death
How did methamphetamine get to Kentucky?
1970-California discovered meth
1990’s: Moving eastward…
Utah, Kansas and Iowa
Arkansas:
www.co.benton.ar.us
1994
1998
2002
6 labs
434 labs
953 labs
2001 Missouri Extension targets problem
2002 Oklahoma Extension targets problem
2003 Iowa Extension partners with area Substance Abuse Council
--part of Healthy County programming
2003 Indiana Extension (Purdue) targets methamphetamine
2003 KENTUCKY BECOMES FAMOUS FOR DRUG PROBLEMS
THE PROBLEM FEELS OVERWHELMING…
What does meth do to you?
In the short-term:
•Euphoria
•Increased alertness
•Dilated pupils
•Paranoia
•Decreased appetite
•Increased physical activity; jerky or flailing
movements, picking at skin or pulling hair
•Irritability, nervousness
•Trouble sleeping
•Aggression and psychological distress
•Teeth grinding
•Non-stop talking
•Rapid heart beat and increased blood pressure
•Heart-failure, high body temperature, or
death
What are some other effects?
Common long-term effects are:
•Tooth decay
•Acne or skin sores (“speed bumps”)
•Anger
•Panic
•Paranoia
•Hallucinations
•Repetitive behavior patterns
•Fatal kidney and lung disorders
•Brain damage
•Liver damage
•Blood clots
•Chronic depression
•Malnutrition
•Disturbed personality
•Deficient immune system
•Violent or psychotic behavior
Why don’t people just stop using?
• People can go without sleep for as many as 13
days while using methamphetamine.
Upon waking, users will experience intense :
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Drug craving
Irritability
Loss of energy
Depression
Fearfulness
Drowsiness
Shaking
Nausea
Heart palpitations
Sweating
Hyperventilation
Increased appetite
It doesn’t make sense
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Impaired reasoning
Lost jobs
Lost lives
Lost friends
Damaged relationships
Paranoia
Psychological pain
Physical pain
Disease
Death
Employment and Livelihood
• 38 to 50% of all workers’ comp claims
are drug and alcohol related.
(National Council on Compensation Insurance, 1993)
• 71% of current drug users 18 and older
were unemployed.
(1995 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse, SAMHSA, August 1996).
Methamphetamine & Environment
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Toxic waste
Water pollution
Soil pollution
Risk to food supply
Property contamination
Exposure risk can last years
Landowner’s Responsibility
• Know what happens on your land
• Maintain safety of rental property
• Become aware of potential liability
Protect yourself and your farm
What are signs of production?
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Strange smells
Strange looking trash
Blacked out windows
Night traffic
DO NOT attempt clean-up on your own.
This requires special protective equipment
and training to reduce health risks from
corrosive burns, asphyxiation, toxic
exposure, fire, and toxic psychological
effects from exposure to
methamphetamine oil.
Methamphetamine “lab”
Risks to Families and Children
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Fetal defects, abnormality
Domestic violence
Child neglect
Child sexual abuse
Child physical abuse
Child poisoning
Brain damage
Toxic living environments
Death
Family members as victims
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Loaning money
Theft of money
Theft of valuables
Threats of violence
Threats of harm
Community crime increase
Meth production on family property
Social & cultural strengths of East Kentucky
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Family
Pride
Hope
Privacy
Faith
Resilience
Tradition
Unconditional support
Strong emotional expression
History
What if I find a meth production site?
DO NOT attempt to clean or inspect the
site yourself.
Pennyrile Narcotics Task Force:
1-800-624-4596
Kentucky State Police:
1-800-222-5555
Meth-certified officers are available to handle
such situations.
What can I do to help?
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Talk to others
Get involved
Talk to your kids
Encourage users to seek treatment
Seek the aid of law enforcement
Support others affected by drug use
Become aware of national trends
Build community assets
Build developmental assets
What is the role of extension?
Sources:
• http://www.health.org/newsroom/rep/215.aspx
• http://training.ncjfcj.org/rural_issues.htm
• http://www.nida.nih.gov/Infofax/methamphetamine.
html
• http://www.kci.org/meth_info/faq_meth.htm
• http://www.iir.com/centf/guide.htm
• http://parentingteens.about.com/library/sp/drugs/blmeth-kentucky.htm
• http://www.accesskansas.org/drugenforcement/retail
meth.htm
• Methamphetamine Fact Book, A Community Handbook
and Resource Guide, Speed Prevention and Awareness
Network (SPAN)
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Newspaper clippings from the Lexington Herald Leader
Lab photos courtesy of the Fayette County Police Dept.
Brain and meth user photos from, Hawaii’s Ice Age
The DAWN Report: Club Drugs, 2001 Update, October
2002, SAMHSA.
www.samhsa.gov
www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov
www.drugabuse.gov
www.monitoringthefuture.org
www.notometh.org
Movie that accurately portrays methamphetamine use:
• Requiem for a Dream
Warning: This movie is an accurate but graphic
portrayal.
For more information on health issues
in Kentucky, contact your local County
Extension Office or visit the HEEL
website at:
www.ca.uky.edu/HEEL
Educational programs of Kentucky Cooperative Extension serve all people
regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability, or national origin.
This information is provided by the H.E.E.L. Program. Health Education through Extension Leadership (H.E.E.L.) is a partnership among the
University of Kentucky College of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service, Kentucky State University Cooperative Extension Program, the
University of Kentucky College of Medicine, and the Kentucky School of Public Health.
The development of the HEEL program was made possible by Senator Mitch McConnell with funds earmarked for the University of Kentucky, College
of Agriculture, Lexington, KY and budgeted through the CSREES/USDA Federal Administration.