2008 Woodie Awards
Crystal methamphetamine users aren't your average junkies
Scott Wagner
Issue date: 2/15/06 Section: Features
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Crystal Meth, Tweak, Skeech, Glass, Ice or Crank, whatever names you may know it by, it is Methamphetamine, and the appetite for the drug is growing in the United States.
Matt Wolf, president of business relations for Seabrook House, a well-credited rehabilitation center in a small town in New Jersey, is a recovering addict who has been sober and clean for 21 years. He said of the recent surge in stimulant use, "meth. went away for the past 15 years it seemed, but it has resurfaced stronger than ever."
Author Susan Ladika, who wrote "Meth Madness", talks about a survey recently conducted by the National Association of Counties in which 500 law enforcement agencies in 45 states were polled concerning their local drug scene.
58 percent of those polled said their most significant problem was with meth. The same study shows that 87 percent of the law agencies have seen increases in the number of methamphetamine related arrests in the past three years.
Crystal meth is growing as a fad amongst varying demographics as well. Users range from teenagers and truck drivers to businessmen and mothers. Most people engage in first time use, according to Narconon Rehab facility website, www.stopmethaddiction.com, because they are looking for an edge, something to keep them going physically and mentally.
Janice Kessler, drug and alcohol counselor of the past five years for SHU said, "I would estimate that perhaps only 1-2 percent of the current student population at SHU has ever experimented with methamphetamine. The preferred substances to use by most college students are alcohol and marijuana."
Rapid spread of abuse of methamphetamine can be directly related back to the ease of production and distribution. Meth is synthesized using chemicals from common household items such as cold medicines, lithium batteries, hydrogen peroxide, gasoline, as well as sulfuric acid and sodium hydroxide, which are found in drain cleaners.
"When it is easy to find it is easy to use. The drug market is a business. Drug dealers create demand by getting users addicted with free samples of their product. Once someone is hooked it is easy money in the dealer's pockets," said Kessler.
Matt Wolf, president of business relations for Seabrook House, a well-credited rehabilitation center in a small town in New Jersey, is a recovering addict who has been sober and clean for 21 years. He said of the recent surge in stimulant use, "meth. went away for the past 15 years it seemed, but it has resurfaced stronger than ever."
Author Susan Ladika, who wrote "Meth Madness", talks about a survey recently conducted by the National Association of Counties in which 500 law enforcement agencies in 45 states were polled concerning their local drug scene.
58 percent of those polled said their most significant problem was with meth. The same study shows that 87 percent of the law agencies have seen increases in the number of methamphetamine related arrests in the past three years.
Crystal meth is growing as a fad amongst varying demographics as well. Users range from teenagers and truck drivers to businessmen and mothers. Most people engage in first time use, according to Narconon Rehab facility website, www.stopmethaddiction.com, because they are looking for an edge, something to keep them going physically and mentally.
Janice Kessler, drug and alcohol counselor of the past five years for SHU said, "I would estimate that perhaps only 1-2 percent of the current student population at SHU has ever experimented with methamphetamine. The preferred substances to use by most college students are alcohol and marijuana."
Rapid spread of abuse of methamphetamine can be directly related back to the ease of production and distribution. Meth is synthesized using chemicals from common household items such as cold medicines, lithium batteries, hydrogen peroxide, gasoline, as well as sulfuric acid and sodium hydroxide, which are found in drain cleaners.
"When it is easy to find it is easy to use. The drug market is a business. Drug dealers create demand by getting users addicted with free samples of their product. Once someone is hooked it is easy money in the dealer's pockets," said Kessler.