Quote: Originally Posted by CNN prison populations rise 2.6 percent The 56,428 new inmates -- including both convicts and those awaiting trial -- added to the system over the 12-month period account for a 2.6 percent rise in the U.S. prison and jail population, according to a synopsis of the Bureau of Justice Statistics report. Two-thirds of the nearly 2.2 million total inmates were in state or federal prisons, and the rest were in local jails. Montana's state prison population saw the largest increase -- 7.9 percent -- closely followed by South Dakota -- up 7.8 percent. Both states have reported a spike in methamphetamine addiction -- particularly among female prisoners -- in their facilities. In Montana, 85 percent of the state's female prisoners are incarcerated because of meth-related offenses, according to Rep. Denny Rehberg, a Republican member of the U.S. House Meth Caucus who has pushed for more funding of anti-meth media campaigns. South Dakota's Department of Corrections Administration reported that, during a three-month period in 2005, 41 percent of its female prisoners were addicted to meth -- a rise of 11 percent from the previous year. The state's male prisoner population grew by 3 percent, according to the administration, which released the numbers in January. "The data is clear: Drug use is driving up prison numbers throughout the region," the state's corrections secretary Tim Reisch said in the news release. "In South Dakota, we are directing our resources to address the issue head on." Montana and South Dakota were among 10 states that saw more than 5 percent growth in their state prison systems, while 12 others -- including Vermont, Idaho and New York -- reported decreases.

I see this as a bitter sweet piece of news. The good i see in this is that the US has no tolerance for the use of methamphetamine therefore incarcerate more dopers than any other country. Its good to know that the US is making an effort to send the message that dope doesn't get you anywhere but behind bars. This also sends a message to foreign smugglers, them knowing that the US has these laws, the records shown above prove there being enforced.

Knowing that not every law enforcer has the same judgement and background, ill take a guess that a small percentage of the minority that is incarcerated..didn't commit a crime that warranted the time due.

With such a large prison population, its hard not to think about all the families broken up because of each individuals actions.

US prison's aren't set up to handle rehabilitation of drug addictions, you should know of the issue being from Oregon with the largest meth problem in the world. Even rehab has low success rate with meth addiction. The saddest part of it all is that it can be easily stopped.

Methamphetamine is more of a home-grown drug as it is easy, cheap, and quick to make (just dangerous as hell working with lithium or red phosphorous) so the risk vs. reward isn't attractive enough for foreign criminal elements.

Additionally, the recidivism rate for methamphatamine can be as high as 90%. What it does is it unnaturally accelerates the release of high levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine. Dopamine is a naturally occuring chemical in the body that acts as mainly a stimulant for the brain. Continued use of methamphetamine causes a neurotoxic effect on the same brain cells that contain the dopamine (i.e., killing brain cells) in addition to destroying serotonin (a monoamine neurotransmitter). So, to "keep up" certain levels of the high that comes with the drug use, they must continually ingest increased amounts of methamphetamine to produce more dopamine since the dopamine receptors are damaged. If you really want to get into the physiological aspect of what dopamine disruption does to the human body, this is a good read.

However, one could argue that you could find one saving grace about methamphetamine users. It's not a drug that one can take for years and years as this drug destroys a person pretty damn quick. I've seen people say that they are only casual users only to be reading about their funeral a year later. Somehow, people just don't think when it comes to a drug in which the most popular method of manufacture involves using LITHIUM dissolved in ANHYDROUS AMMONIA (known as the "Nazi" method) to extract the drug.

Rob

Rob, very informative thanx.
so once someone starts and gets hooked, they have to use the stuff constantly just to function properly (well as proper as a meth user could) on a day to day basis. Sad to see this substance tare apart friends and family like it was going out of style.

If I'm not mistaken, don't they use Isopropyl Alcohol (Rubbing Alcohol) to make Methamphetamine (Speed), or is it crystal meth? As anyone ever seen the before and after pictures of some rehabed users, its OMG, their F*#$ing ugly!!

Quote: Originally Posted by The Captain If I'm not mistaken, don't they use Isopropyl Alcohol (Rubbing Alcohol) to make Methamphetamine (Speed), or is it crystal meth? As anyone ever seen the before and after pictures of some rehabed users, its OMG, their F*#$ing ugly!!

Methamphetamine and crystal meth are the same thing. I have no idea if alcohol is used in the process, but if it is, it's probably the least dangerous substance in the entire process. There's a reason the hazmat suits are broken out when investigating/cleaning up a meth lab.

Quote: Originally Posted by Boomer8450 Methamphetamine and crystal meth are the same thing. I have no idea if alcohol is used in the process, but if it is, it's probably the least dangerous substance in the entire process. There's a reason the hazmat suits are broken out when investigating/cleaning up a meth lab.

Actually it's arguably the most dangerous. Sedufed was changed several years ago, without explaining the "cook" but now alcohol is used and often catches fires and burns the place down. This doesn't seem so bad (images of a meth cook burning down his house seems good), but since the cooks are often done in abandoned buildings/rented houses, it's people that aren't really at fault that get a burned down hole that used to be their property. Then again if you look at the prices that it takes to clean up after a lab was shut down, it's not much worse to completely rebuild.

Here is reliable info on the subject matter:

http://leda.lycaeum.org/?ID=365

Quote: Originally Posted by Iateronmly Actually it's arguably the most dangerous. Sedufed was changed several years ago, without explaining the "cook" but now alcohol is used and often catches fires and burns the place down. This doesn't seem so bad (images of a meth cook burning down his house seems good), but since the cooks are often done in abandoned buildings/rented houses, it's people that aren't really at fault that get a burned down hole that used to be their property. Then again if you look at the prices that it takes to clean up after a lab was shut down, it's not much worse to completely rebuild.

I'm going to have to humbly disagree with you on this one. There's always been flammable/explosive solvents involved in the "cook", and often do result in the explosion and/or burning of the lab. Out of all of the solvents I'm aware off (which probably isn't many), alcohol is pretty damned benign.

All of them burn, all of them explode, alcohol doesnÂ’t leave a toxic morass that many of the others do, and that many of the other ingredients/byproducts/etc. do. IÂ’m fairly sure that at least one method results in phosphine gas, which is not something to be anywhere near. I have no idea what other toxic/acidic/caustic/flammable/explosive compounds may result from a batch, but I know that IÂ’d feel a lot safer lighting a smoke 5 feet from 50 gallons of denatured alcohol than I would being within a mile of a cloud off phosphine gas.

Quote: Originally Posted by Boomer8450 I'm going to have to humbly disagree with you on this one. There's always been flammable/explosive solvents involved in the "cook", and often do result in the explosion and/or burning of the lab. Out of all of the solvents I'm aware off (which probably isn't many), alcohol is pretty damned benign.

Yah - but you never had to put them over a burner before. Fires/explosions were not common til after the Sudafed change.

It may sound harsh, but I'd rather see tweakers go to jail than to meet the inevitable "long" term effects: Death. At least in jail they may have a chance to dry out and go on with life. I would also like to see the States start investigating the neurochemical causes for addiction and prescribing as much treatment as punitive measures. A counselor friend of mine has seen a lot of success with IV amino acid treatments. Here's his site.

Quote: Originally Posted by Wordbiker It may sound harsh, but I'd rather see tweakers go to jail than to meet the inevitable "long" term effects: Death. At least in jail they may have a chance to dry out and go on with life. I would also like to see the States start investigating the neurochemical causes for addiction and prescribing as much treatment as punitive measures. A counselor friend of mine has seen a lot of success with IV amino acid treatments. Here's his site.

I don't think that's harsh at all, I feel the same way. Would much rather have them in a place where they can be somewhat monitored 24/7 and actually have a chance at recovery, other than being on the streets with the intent to buy/sell/use in exchange for there livelihood.

That was a great site, i wouldnt mind at all if my tax money started to help fund some research on neurochemicals and the cause,effect and treatment for the human body.

I'm a Corrections Officer in Kansas, and I see these guys every day. We get them cleaned up, and they have programs they go to. They have more opportunities to improve themselves than most people on the outside, so I don't feel sorry at all for them if they re-offend, which a BIG chunk of them do. Break the law--Pay the price. We'll leave the light on for you.

Quote: Originally Posted by Slider We'll leave the light on for you.

Haha!!!

When I worked juvenile detention years ago this was one of our sayings.

Anyway, the unfortunate thing about meth is the relapse can find its origin in more of a physiological aspect rather than a psychological.

Quote: Originally Posted by Rob Methamphetamine is more of a home-grown drug as it is easy, cheap, and quick to make (just dangerous as hell working with lithium or red phosphorous) so the risk vs. reward isn't attractive enough for foreign criminal elements.

Mexico is becoming a major supplier of meth to the southern part of the country because the ingredients are easier to come by and with the state of things its not hard to get across the border...

Man, whatever happened to just smoking a joint or doing some bong hits, I never understood why people needed these extreme drugs. Marijuana is pretty much the most pleasurable high now considering it's not physically addicting or going to wreck your neurochemistry like narcotics and with some of the uber strains now, it's unbelievably powerful.

I guess it's a good thing coke, heroin, crack and meth weren't available or affordable when I was a kid in high school experimenting with drugs. Worst I ever did was some acid, which was about as addicting as having your balls kicked.