1. Stupidity - - The top of the list for Satanic Sins. The Cardinal Sin of Satanism. It's too bad that stupidity isn't painful. Ignorance is one thing, but our society thrives increasingly on stupidity. It depends on people going along with whatever they are told. The media promotes a cultivated stupidity as a posture that is not only acceptable but laudable. Satanists must learn to see through the tricks and cannot afford to be stupid.
2. Pretentiousness. - - Empty posturing can be most irritating and isn't applying the cardinal rules of Lesser Magic. On equal footing with stupidity for what keeps the money in circulation these days. Everyone's made to feel like a big shot, whether they can come up with the goods or not.
3. Solipsism. - - This can be very dangerous for Satanists. Projecting your reactions, responses, and sensibilities onto someone else who is probably far less attuned than you are. It is the mistake of expecting people to give you the same consideration, courtesy, and respect that you naturally give them. They won't. Instead Satanists must strive to apply the dictum of "Do unto others as they do unto you." It works for most of us and requires constant vigilance lest you slip into a comfortable illusion of everyone being like you. As has been said, certain utopias would be ideal in a nation of philosophers, but unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately, from a Machaivellian viewpoint) we are far from that point.
4. Self-Deceit. - - It's in the Nine Satanic Statements but deserves to be repeated here. Another cardinal sin. We must not pay homage to any of the sacred cows presented to us, including the roles we are expected to play ourlselves. The only time self-deceit should be entered into is when it's fun, and with awareness. But then, it's not self-deceit!
5. Herd Conformity. - - That's obvious from a Satanic stance. It's all right to conform to a person's wishes, if it ultimately benefits you. But only fools follow along with the herd, letting an impersonal entity dictate to you. The key is to choose a master wisely instead of being enslaved by the whims of the many.
6. Lack of Perspective. - - Again, this one can lead to a lot of pain for a Satanist. You must never lose sight of who and what you are, and what a threat you can be, by your very existence. We are making history right now, everyday. Always keep the wider historical and social picture in mind. This is an important key to both Lesser and Greater Magic. See the patters and fit things together as you want the pieces to fall into place. Do not be swayed by herd constraints - - know that you are working on another level entirely from the rest of the world.
7. Forgetfulness of Past Orthodoxies. - - Be aware that this is one of the keys to brainwashing people into accepting something as "new" and "different", when in reality it's something thta was once widely accepted but is now presented in a new package. We are expected to rave about the genius of the "creator" and forget the original. This makes fro a disposable society.
8. Counterproductive Pride. - - The first word is important. Pride is great up to the point you begin to throw out the baby with the bathwater. The rule of Satanism is: If it work for you great. When it stops working for you, when you've painted yourself into a corner and the only way out is to say, "I'm sorry, I made a mistake, I wish we could compromise somehow," then do it.
9. Lack of Aesthetics. - - This is the physical application of the Balance Factor. It is important in Lesser Magic and should be cultivated. It is obvious that no one can collect any money off it most of the time so it is discouraged in a consumer society, but it is an essential Satanic tool and must be applied for magical effectiveness. It's not what's supposed to be pleasing - - it's what is. Aesthetics is a highly personal thing, reflective of one's own nature, but there are universally pleasing and harmonious configurations that should not be denied.
Monday, May 5, 2008
THE NINE SATANIC SINS
Sunday, April 27, 2008
weights and measures
We get asked all the time to translate dealer and user-speak into plain English and simpler mathematics: How much is in a teenager? What’s an 8-ball? If I buy a quarter-ounce, how many grams will I get?
Those of us still in the game have boned up on our weights and measures to make sure our dealer is giving us what we’ve paid for. We learned what lingo equals what weight and then what that weight looks like in its little baggie. No one wants to get ripped off, right?
The savvier shoppers among us know that the price of a stash might be negotiated, especially when we can be flexible about the amount we buy. In the ever-changing drug marketplace, there can be Costco-sized discounts available for customers who have the cash (and the nerve) to buy in bulk. That said, we think it’s really important to know how much we’re consuming, especially if we’re buying in bulk. Eating a pint of ice cream isn’t the same thing as downing a half-gallon, now is it?
Get out your pencils, here’s the crash course ...
A common “starter” weight that speed is sold in is a quarter. It’s called a quarter because it weighs a quarter gram, get it? That weight will usually fill up half of one of those cute 1” x 1” plastic zip-top baggies. Remember third grade math and the dreaded fractions? Here’s where that information you thought you’d never need comes in handy: a half is twice the amount of a quarter. Speed is also bought and sold in grams or in multiple quarters or grams.
Moving on beyond the quarters and halves of the weekend warrior, we enter the realm of the teener. Like mnemonic devices? To get to the weight a teener represents think “sweet 16” ‘cuz a teener is 1/16 of an ounce. Going up a rung (or down, depending on how you feel about increased quantities of meth in your life) we’ve got the magic 8-ball. That’s twice the weight of a teener or, 1/8 of an ounce. So an 8-ball is bigger than a teenager. Again with those damned fractions, right?
BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE:
* If you buy a teener (1/16th of an ounce) and divvy it up into quarters, you’ll get a little over 7 quarters. A teener is a little more than 1.75 grams.
* If you buy two teeners, you’ve got an 8-ball. An 8-ball’s got a little more than 14 quarters, or 3.5 grams.
* A little geography to confuse things a bit: teener and 8-ball are most often American terms. Remember that so you remember that they refer primarily to ounces.
Term Amount Going Rate in S.F.
Quarter 1/4 gram
(0.01 ounce) $20 - $40
Half 1/2 gram
( 0.02 ounce) $40 - $80
Teenager 1/16 ounce
(1.8 grams) $120 -
8-Ball 1/8 ounce
(3.5 grams) $250 -
Ounce 1.00
ounce $1200 -
tweaker vocabulary
Amped:
High on speed, in the way that is desired and sought by users; see also: Over-amped.
Bag Fag:
A straight man that has sex with other guys when he receives a bag of dope in return.
Bag Whore:
Cruising for drugs more than the hook-up, a bag whore is the person who is always happy to use your stash but never has or buys speed of their own; a person who replies to “has favors” and “can host” profiles but never provides the speed.
Bump:
A small amount of speed, usually less than a line, most often snorted.
Cook:
Someone who manufactures meth.
Crank:
A variety of speed commonly seen as “dirty” or “dishwater”; cheap, crappy speed; see also: Dick Dope, Raw.
Crash:
Coming down from high. Symptoms include physical exhaustion, sleepiness, depression and mental confusion.
Crystal:
The kind of speed we seek out, in its “pure” crystalline form, looking like bits of glass or ice; see also: Shards.
Dick Dope:
Also called Dirty Dope, this term refers to cheap, less-than-pure (though very little of what we get is truly pure, right?) speed.
Domer:
A hit from a pipe; blowing a white cloud of smoke so thick, it goes straight to your dome.
Hit:
The amount usually ingested via whatever means of administration one has chosen; this can be a Bump or a Line or whatever other amount one uses.
Kingsford:
Someone who burns the dope inside a PIZZO.
Line:
Think the 1970s and cocaine; a literal line of powdered speed ready for snorting.
Match Head:
The amount of crystal that used to get you through 12 cocktails and a whole night at an after-hours club (about the size of the ignitable end of a match, but isn't enough to get you out of bed today.
Over-Amped:
Higher than you want to be, too much of a good thing way too soon.
Pizzo:
Glass pipe used for smoking meth, also known as a bowl, stem, tool or utensil.
Point:
A syringe; also called Rigs, Sets, Fits, Pencils… check at your local needle exchange and ask what they call them.
Quarter:
One-fourth of a gram, the usual minimum purchase amount.
Ramping:
Using incrementally larger amounts over an accustomed, usually short period of time in a an attempt to reach the desired effect; this is something that comes with practice.
Raw:
As in Crank and Dick Dope above, this is crappy, dishwater dope akin to old-school biker speed.
Skid Marks:
Black carbon on the outside of a PIZZO, caused by the lighter or torch.
Toot:
A straw or gutted pen used to snort/scoop/handle meth.
Trail Mix
Ecstasy and speed in powdered form, usually heard &/or shared on the dance floor via a bumper. Sometimes it’s coke, not speed mixed with the E.
Z's:
Ounces, when purchasing or selling in such quantity/volume.
a brief history of meth
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what concerns us most about the current meth epidemic is its impact on the physical, emotional and social health of gay men. A big part of this impact is the clearly defined relationship between meth use and HIV transmission because men on speed are taking increased risks that they would not ordinarily take. That said, let us give you a little quickie down and dirty history lesson.
Way back in 1887, amphetamine was first synthesized in Germany. A related compound, methamphetamine - speed, crank, ice, Tina, whatever you currently call it - was later synthesized in Japan about 30 years later, in 1919.
In 1927, a British chemist researched the stimulating effects of meth. He quickly realized their potential for producing increased alertness, alleviating fatigue and inducing euphoria. Excited over the new prospects of the drug, he studied their ability to mimic an adrenaline rush in the body and the well-known 'fight or flight' response.
During WWII and due to their energizing and antidepressant properties, amphetamines were sanctioned by the governments of the United States, Germany and Japan and given to many men in their militaries. It has been estimated that during the last years of WWII, millions of Japanese soldiers, defense workers and civilians used amphetamines so that by the end of the war at least 2 percent of Japanese adults were dependent on the drug. Yeah but, you might think, 2 percent's not a large number until you realize that's 2 percent of the entire population!
In the United States, post-war studies of American military prisoners revealed that a notable number of these guys reported abusing amphetamine inhalers. In 1959, the first use in the United States of intravenous injection of the contents of a Benzedrine inhaler was reported; in 1971, the last non-prescription inhaler was removed from the U.S. market pursuant to the passage of the Controlled Substances Act of 1970. In the United States, there have been three distinct methamphetamine epidemics: one in the 1950s, a second in the late 1960s, and the third and current one that began in the mid-1990s.
meth production
You're already aware of the caricature of the meth cook racing around town to all the Walgreen's or Rite Aids or Eckerd's, frantically buying up all the cold medicine he can get his hands on. Why, you might ask? Here's why: the main active ingredients are ephedrine and pseudoephedrine. But because the state and Federal governments continue to control access to these substances, they can be very hard to get in quantity. Sure enough, there are cooks who make speed locally but depending on where you are in the country, the meth you see or use might have been produced in countries where access to ephedrine is less stringently controlled, if it's controlled at all.
Increased regulation of pure ephedrine and pseudoephedrine has meant that even more toxic substances are used in order to strip the desired chemicals from other products. Thus you have those alarming "It's made of battery acid and fertilizer" stories. Technically, it's made with a bunch of scary stuff. But that doesn't mean that some of the base ingredients' other chemicals won't remain in the finished product. And that's why there can be variations in the consistency and color of what you've ended up with in your quarter gram baggie.
Cooking speed is a very dangerous process, involving a variety of liquids and solids, almost all of which are toxic all by themselves. The most common way to produce meth is a quick cook process that requires only a few hours. And that's a chemistry class disaster waiting to happen since there's all that liquefying and making gaseous and heating in makeshift pressure cookers and filtering and on and on and on. Trailer park firestorms or explosions in out of the way motel rooms, anyone? The mess that's left over after production is really nasty and there's lots of it. For each pound of product there's about five pounds of residual chemical crap to contend with and whom do you think takes care of that stuff? When the authorities go in to clean up, those guys are wearing Haz-Mat space suits!
Last though not at all least, you've got to wonder about what the speed is cut with, meaning what solid substances have been added to the meth to stretch out what has been produced. Do you really think you're getting pure product? Think again. In California we've heard about a variety of things being used as cut: talcum powder, salt, sugar, antidepressant meds like Prozac, HIV meds like protease inhibitors, Ritalin, adult and infant laxatives and Epsom salts.
Party and Play
PNP or ‘Party and Play’ means doing speed (the party) and having sex (the play). It can last for several hours or days of near continuous sexual activity.
Things to watch out for:
Breaks in the skin: All that friction during long sex sessions can cause abrasions. Your dick can feel like it has been sunburned, your nipples can feel like you ran a marathon without a jog bra and your asshole can feel like the TransBay Tube. All this activity can increase your chances of exchanging an STD, including HIV, but it will also just leave you sore for a few days. Condom Breakage – For some reason they have yet to develop a condom that will last for 9 hours of continuous fucking! Not eating or sleeping for several days plays havoc with your entire body and increases susceptibility to all diseases. Sharing toys – dildos, butt plugs, that type of thing – can also mean you're sharing diseases. Before anything goes in you, make sure it's clean. Most guys notice that their standards for sex partners change between 3pm and 3am. Well, on a three-day jag, your impeccably high standards in sexual partners can change from Mr. Right for the Night, to Mr. Right Now, only to end up with Mr. Available. And who knows the sexual health of these people? Find out! And of course, you end up being Mr. Available to someone else. A multi-day sex jag can undo several months at the gym, a fifty dollar hair-cut, hundreds of dollars of skin and hair care products, and the hours you spent selecting the right outfit. For heavy sexual scenes (heavy SM, role play, fisting etc), especially with relative or complete strangers, the more loaded you are, the more you can get lost in the scene which, of course, is one of its attractions. Generally, it is a good idea to keep at least one foot in reality just in case the fantasy takes a nasty turn and you need to break the scene.
Strategies to reduce possible harm:
Change sexual positions often, increase the amount of lube that you use or put on new condoms on some prearranged schedule. Set a timer to remind yourself to give your body what it needs: water, medications, a rest, some food, etc. You can use an alarm, timer, when a CD or video stops playing, or timed lights. Not recommended: candles (fire hazard), or relying on a non-alarm clock (Do you really think you could remember a target time or look at the clock regularly?). Cock rings, when left on for hours, can cause major problems down there. Best advice: use a leather tie and loosen it every once in a while. Set target limits for how long you want to binge before your binge begins. You can control this by controlling your available cash. Giving the rest of your available cash, credit and ATM cards to a trusted friend may work and will certainly prove if you can trust your friend. A better method would be to put your money and plastic in a safe deposit box on Friday so it’d be difficult to get until Monday. Drugs, heavy sex (S-M, role playing or fisting) and strangers can be a very dangerous combination. Don't get into anything too heavy with a stranger or someone you don't trust. Even if you set limits, if both or all of you are on drugs, your limits may go out the window.
what is crystal meth
When we talk about anything with a pop culture aspect we use coded language. And when we do that there are always regional differences, cultural differences and subcultural differences to contend with. Crystal methamphetamine goes by lots of different street names: Crystal Meth, Crystal, Crissy, Tina, Crank, Speed, Shards, Glass, Ice, Go, Whizz, Dope... you get the picture.
Whatever name it goes by, crystal is a stimulant - an 'upper.'
Just like when you use other uppers -caffeine, chocolate, cocaine - using crystal induces a chemical "fight-or-flight" response and changes a whole host of bodily functions: your heart rate goes up and thus your blood pressure increases, the pupils in your eyes open up wide, you feel more alert and as though you have more stamina, you get a sense of physical motivation and you definitely have increased verbal activity even though some of what you're saying might not make sense to other people. Meanwhile, other functions decrease, like the sense of hunger and thirst or the need for sleep, you know, things that will get in the way of this "fight-or-flight" action.
The color of meth can vary a lot, depending on its purity. In its cheapest and less processed form called crank, the drug takes on varying shades of greasy-brown, sometimes with black flecks. Meth gets its nickname crystal because of the appearance of its most sought after form. Usually it's found, seen or acquired as a clear-to-white crystalline substance that can look like long, thin shards of broken glass. The crystals can be swallowed or smoked as is, crushed into a powder for snorting or dissolved in a liquid before swallowing, injecting or booty bumping.
meth sex
For guys who use and even for some who don’t, crystal meth has earned an infamous association with sex. After having sex on crystal, some guys find that plain old sex is boring, not intense enough, not exciting enough. Eventually some of us felt like we couldn’t have sex without it. We might like being dominated in bed, but being dominated by crystal isn’t fun for anyone.
Some of us use when we cruise because we find that meth heightens arousal and increases sexual stamina. There’s also the delayed orgasm which makes play time go on and on and on. It’s a big drag that impotence is a common side effect. This impotence is sometimes called crystal dick. You’re sexually aroused but your cock won’t cooperate; you can’t keep it up or, even worse, get it up in the first place.
Crystal meth may increase your confidence at the same time it lowers inhibitions. Under the influence, we might give in to our impulses and do stuff we might not otherwise have done. There’s a big risk of HIV infection through unprotected sex and perhaps more so while under the influence of meth. How come? Often enough, when we’re zooming, everything we’ve been told, learned and practiced in terms of safe sex seems to be forgotten. And it’s forgotten when we need it most because when we’re high sexual activity and the desire for it increases like nobody’s business. Some men who get fucked while they’re high on speed are less sensitive to pain and may find themselves seeking out, asking for and having more aggressive sex for longer periods. Nothing wrong with an aggro-fuck now and again, but without feeling all of what’s going on, injury is more likely to occur and the risk of HIV infection is increased. If you party and play, use lots of lube and, if you can, condoms to decrease the risk of HIV infection.
ISO Hunt goes down!
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"One of the most popular torrent search sites, IsoHunt, was taken down on tuesday. The owners of the site say that the move came from their ISP without prior notice, though it is probably linked with the MPAA's lawsuit against various torrent search sites earlier this year. They plan on moving ISPs from the US to Canada, and say that moving the servers so someplace like Sweden or Sealand is not an option, as they put it: "BitTorrent was created for legitimate distribution of large media files, and we stand by that philosophy as a search engine and aggregator."" This is a story we've heard before with other sites, only serving to further demonstrate that playing wack a mole with torrent aggregators isn't the solution to anything.
Study: Meth Use Declining
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Methamphetamine use continued to decline in nearly every part of the country last year as the government sharpened its crackdown on precursor chemicals used to make the illegal drug.
Overall, the number of workplace employees who tested positive for meth dropped 22 percent last year, according to a study released Wednesday by New Jersey-based Quest Diagnostics Inc., the nation's largest drug-testing company. Meth use in the Northeast, however, remained steady.
At the same time, the Drug Enforcement Administration issued a report showing the number of illegal meth lab seizures plunged 31 percent last year, from 7,347 to 5,080.
White House drug policy director John Walters said laws restricting the sale of cold medicines containing pseudoephedrine, a key ingredient used to cook meth, and efforts to thwart drug trafficking from Mexico have disrupted the market for meth.
"When we are able to put strategic pressure on the supply of these drugs, what we're seeing is a direct effect for the better on the number of users that we can actually measure with drug tests," Walters said.
The Quest report also found cocaine use in the general work force fell by 19 percent in 2007, the biggest single-year decline in a decade. Figures are based on the results of more than 8.4 million drug tests performed for employers.
While meth use decreased, the Quest study reports that positive tests for amphetamines - less potent stimulants - increased by 5 percent over the same period. Quest researcher Barry Sample said the increase in amphetamine use suggests some workers might be replacing one stimulant drug for another.
As the number of meth labs began shrinking in the United States, they have been replaced by "superlabs" in Mexico and Mexican-run labs in some U.S. border states. DEA Acting Administrator Michele Leonhart said interdiction efforts, coupled with U.S. pressure on the Mexican government to reduce imports of pseudoephedrine into that country, have helped cut down meth trafficking across the border.
"We for the first time on the meth front hear the traffickers themselves and informants report that there's a change," Leonhart said. "They are having a hard time getting the product out of Mexico."
Bill Hansell, commissioner of Umatilla County in Oregon, said he's noticed a decrease in meth usage in his state, but he stressed that it's still a top law enforcement problem.
"We're still seeing a huge percentage of crimes committed that are meth-related," Hansell said.
Some lawmakers in Congress have complained that the Bush administration has cut hundreds of millions of dollars in law enforcement grants used to fight meth and other drug crimes in rural areas.
Walters said the administration is targeting resources where they can have the most benefit.
Grandpa
Police: Man Known As 'Grandpa' Sold Meth
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (AP) ― Police arrested a 68-year-old man nicknamed "Grandpa" on suspicion that he was dealing methamphetamine from an apartment complex for retirees.
A court affidavit shows the arrest of Robert Hakel came after authorities launched an investigation against him in 2007. Hakel is facing five felony drug distribution charges.
Police say they also arrested eight people suspected of buying drugs from Hakel Wednesday. He was arrested outside of a liquor store with two ounces of meth and about $1,300.
Police say they suspect Hakel was getting meth from an Arizona man.
Meth Users Turning To Urine To Get High
(WCCO) When Wright County deputies opened up a smelly rented storage locker last June, they had no idea what they would find. Inside a man had stored 50 gallon jugs of urine.
"The officers that responded looked at it and said, 'yeah, that's odd,'" said Wright County Narcotics Sgt. Becky Howell.
The deputies gave the go-ahead to the owners to throw out the urine. When they did, they got sick.
A week and half later, that report hit Howell's desk.
"I said, 'Oh my gosh, this is a meth lab, this is a urine extraction lab,'" Howell said.
It's a new way to get meth. Some people drink the meth-tainted urine outright to get high. Others filter the drug back out through the cooking process.
"I'm not 100 percent sure what this guy was doing," said Howell. "Five years ago, I probably would have been surprised at that. But now, knowing and understanding methamphetamine and an addict's addiction to it, it doesn't surprise me."
It did surprise Jeremy Rezac. He's a recovering meth addict who used to cook up to $20,000 worth of the drug a day. Back then, he said it was easy to buy pseudoephedrine or ephedrine in the form of pills.
"A couple hundred bucks, send junkies, out to get your pills for you. A couple of hours later you were ready to rock and roll," he said.
But all of that changed in the summer of 2005 when lawmakers passed one of the toughest meth laws in the country. It added 10 new BCA agents, dealt out new penalties for child endangerment and placed limits on the amount of pseudoephedrine and ephedrine one person can buy in a month. It also put those pills behind the pharmacy counter and made everyone sign a log.
The state said that brought homegrown meth labs down by 70 percent.
"You can't find that product no more. You can't find it on the streets no more. The government did what they needed to do," said Rezac. "It takes a lot of time and money and I think the average meth user, meth cook, they don't want the hassle anymore."
Howell said there's still a group that does deal with the hassle and has quickly found a way around the law.
She's seen addicts travel in packs to different drug stores because they know the pharmacies do not communicate with each other.
Of the big retail chains, only Walgreens and Target keep an internal database to track pseudoephedrine pills purchases within their own stores. None of chains share with their competitors.
"They know they can still go shopping for pills and go to the various stores and obtain their packages. They can sign the ledger, prove their ID and then they can move to the next store," Howell said.
She said her deputies don't have the time or resources to cross-check all of the logs to match the addict with their purchase.
State Sen. Julie Rosen, R-Fairmont, wants that loophole to change.
"The meth law that was passed in 2005 was tremendous," she said, "but now that drug scene has morphed. It's changing. Meth is morphing and changing. We need to adapt and be quick on our feet also."
She's considering legislation that would track pseudoephedrine and prescription drug purchases across different stores. Pharmacies would enter a patient's personal information and their purchase into a central database.
Only officers with a search warrant would have access to that information.
Rosen would also like more money for treatment programs.
"I feel we are sitting back on our heels a little bit," Rosen said. "We are saying OK, we did our job, our job has been done. We passed that great bill and now we're good."
Rosen plans on working closely with the state's new meth coordinator.
In December Gov. Tim Pawlenty appointed Chuck Noerenberg to this newly-created position.
His job is to figure out where the state stands on meth and where Minnesota has to go.
"We have the foundation in place but we still have a very serious problem in Minnesota," he said, pointing out that 80 percent of meth in the state is imported from Mexico.
His initial priorities will focus on a new child-endangerment protocol and assessing what types of treatment work best.
"Meth treatment is longer and more complex than other chemical dependency treatment and that's something we need to have a better understanding before we sink a lot of money into it," Noerenberg said.
While the state has made great progress in combating homegrown meth, no one in government, law enforcement or even on the streets expects the drug to go away soon.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
deleted the other blog so thought this should go here..
Lost In Illusions
Lost in illusion within the land of confusion,
Shadows dance within the hands of exclusion.
Lightning lights the morbid nights, the clouds explode with rain,
Thunder rolls contortin' souls the sound corrodes the brain.
The habitat of savage rats disturbed by scorchin' flames,
Massive bats and phantom cats emerge from fortress caves.
Cold stones enfold, let go there hold on captives of the graves,
Skinless bones with no control held ransom as deaths slaves.
Emerge in legion cross the region seeking out the source,
Something breathing is the reason, these things scout the shore.
Past shipwrecked debris ,dead fish swept from sea there lie a mortal man
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
The meth Song
The Meth Song is the popular name for a famous anti-drug advertisement from the late 1990s. It features an upbeat commercial jingle, remarkably similar to the songs used in the Folgers coffee commercials around the same time (this is likely no coincidence), singing about the effects of Methamphetamine on the body. The song was created by Cat in partnership for a Drug Free America. It was pulled shortly after it was introduced because many people misconstrued the irony of the lyrics. The ironic nature of the ad, and the catchiness of the tune, have made this commercial a cult classic.
The lyrics to the jingle read as follows:
- Look at me, busy as a bee
- Where'd I get all this energy?
- Oh, meth. Mmm, meth!
- I don't sleep and I don't eat
- but I've got the cleanest house on the street
- Oh, meth. Mmm, meth!
- Get these hairs all out of my face
- Get these bugs all out of my place
- One more hit, no time to waste
- Oh, meth. Mmm, meth!
Meth Mouth
is an informal name for advanced tooth decay attributed to heavy methamphetamine use. According to the American Dental Association, meth mouth "is probably caused by a combination of drug-induced psychological and physiological changes resulting in xerostomia (dry mouth), extended periods of poor oral hygiene, frequent consumption of high calorie, carbonated beverages and tooth grinding and clenching."[1]
Characteristics include:
- xerostomia (dry mouth): Methamphetamine use may decrease the production of saliva. A lack of saliva's natural protective effects directly leads to increased tooth decay, particularly at the gumline. Many users also smoke tobacco or consume highly sugared soft drinks, worsening the problem.
- cracked teeth: Methamphetamine induces clenching and grinding of the teeth, leading to wear or cracks.
- neglect of oral hygiene: This is likely among the most important causes of poor oral health among methamphetamine users. After a prolonged binge, users may sleep for a day or more with their mouths open, exacerbating the problems of poor saliva supply.
Meth mouth is "difficult to distinguish" from a simple case of poor oral hygiene.[2] Dentists are advised to look for "unaccounted for and accelerated decay in teenagers and young adults" and "malnourished appearance in heavy users, because methamphetamine acts as an appetite suppressant."[1]
Contrary to a number of media reports, meth mouth's contributing causes do not include a "corrosive", "acidic", or "caustic" effect of the drug itself on tooth enamel or gum tissue. Jack Shafer of Slate magazine has written a series of articles disputing the role of "chemical" or "contaminant" factors in causing meth mouth.
ICE ICE BABY
Methamphetamine (methylamphetamine or desoxyephedrine), popularly shortened to meth and also nicknamed "ice" and Tina, is a psychostimulant and sympathomimetic drug. The dextrorotatory isomer dextromethamphetamine can be prescribed to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, though unmethylated amphetamine is more commonly prescribed. Narcolepsy and obesity can also be treated by the aforementioned isomer under the brand name Desoxyn. It is considered a second line of treatment, used when amphetamine and methylphenidate cause the patient too many side effects. It is only recommended for short term use (~6 weeks) in obesity patients because it is thought that the anorectic effects of the drug are short lived and produce tolerance quickly, whereas the effects on CNS stimulation are much less susceptable to tolerance. It is also used illegally for weight loss and to maintain alertness, focus, motivation, and mental clarity for extended periods of time, and for recreational purposes.
Methamphetamine enters the brain and triggers a cascading release of norepinephrine, dopamine and serotonin. To a lesser extent methamphetamine acts as a dopaminergic and adrenergic reuptake inhibitor and in high concentrations as a monamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI). Since it stimulates the mesolimbic reward pathway, causing euphoria and excitement, it is prone to abuse and addiction. Users may become obsessed or perform repetitive tasks such as cleaning, hand-washing, or assembling and disassembling objects. Withdrawal is characterized by excessive sleeping, eating and depression-like symptoms, often accompanied by anxiety and drug-craving.[2] Users of methamphetamine often take one or more benzodiazepines as a means of "coming down".
History
Methamphetamine was first synthesized from ephedrine in Japan in 1893 by chemist Nagayoshi Nagai.[3] In 1919, crystallized methamphetamine was synthesized by Akira Ogata via reductionephedrine using red phosphorus and iodine. The related compound amphetamine was first synthesized in Germany in 1887 by Lazăr Edeleanu. of
World War II
One of the earliest uses of methamphetamine was during World War II when the German military dispensed it under the trade name Pervitin.[4] It was widely distributed across rank and division, from elite forces to tank crews and aircraft personnel. Chocolates dosed with methamphetamine were known as Fliegerschokolade ("flyer's chocolate") when given to pilots, or Panzerschokolade ("tanker's chocolate") when given to tank crews. From 1942 until his death in 1945, Adolf Hitler was given daily intravenous injections of methamphetamine by his personal physician, Theodor Morell as a treatment for depression and fatigue. It is possible that it was used to treat Hitler's speculated Parkinson's disease, or that his Parkinson-like symptoms which developed from 1940 onwards were related to use of methamphetamine.[5]
Post-war use
After World War II, a large supply of amphetamine, formerly stockpiled by the Japanese military, became available in Japan under the street name shabu (also Philopon, pronounced ヒロポン, or Hiropon, a tradename)[6]. The Japanese Ministry of Health banned it in 1951; and its prohibition is thought to have added to the growing yakuza-activities related to illicit drug production.[7] Today, methamphetamine is still associated with the Japanese underworld, but its usage is discouraged by strong social taboos.
In the 1950s there was a rise in the legal prescription of methamphetamine to the American public. According to the 1951 edition of Pharmacology and Therapeutics by Arthur Grollman, it was to be prescribed for "narcolepsy, post-encephalitic Parkinsonism, alcoholism, ... in certain depressive states... and in the treatment of obesity."
The 1960s saw the start of significant use of clandestinely manufactured methamphetamine as well as methamphetamine created in users' own homes for personal use. The recreational use of methamphetamine peaked in the 1980s. The December 2, 1989 edition of The EconomistSan Diego, California as the "methamphetamine capital of North America."[citation needed] described
In 2000, The Economist again described San Diego, California as the methamphetamine capital of North America, and South Gate, California as the second capital city.
Legal restriction in the United States
In 1983 laws were passed in the United States prohibiting possession of precursors and equipment for methamphetamine production; this was followed a month later by a bill passed in Canada enacting similar laws. In 1986 the U.S. government passed the Federal Controlled Substance Analogue Enforcement Act in an attempt to curb the growing use of designer drugs. Despite this, or perhaps in part because of this, usage of methamphetamine expanded throughout rural United States, especially through the Midwest and South.
Since 1989 five federal laws and dozens of state laws have been imposed in an attempt to curb the production of methamphetamine. Methamphetamine can be produced in home laboratories using pseudoephedrine or ephedrine, the active ingredients in over-the-counter drugs such as Sudafed and Contac. However, preventative legal strategies of the past 17 years have steadily increased restrictions to the distribution of pseudoephedrine/ephedrine-containing products.
As a result of the Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act of 2005, a subsection of the PATRIOT Act, there are restrictions on the amount of pseudoephedrine and ephedrine one may purchase in a specified time period, and further requirements that these products must be stored in order to prevent theft.[8]
Natural occurrence
Methamphetamine occurs naturally in Acacia berlandieri and possibly Acacia rigidula, trees which grow in west Texas. Acacia trees contain numerous other psychoactive compounds (ex.amphetamine, mescaline, nicotine, DMT, ...[9]), but scientific papers specifically mentioning the presence of methamphetamine did not exist until 1997 and 1998.[10]
Pharmacology
Methamphetamine is a potent central nervous system stimulant which affects neurochemical mechanisms responsible for regulating heart rate, body temperature, blood pressure, appetite, attention, mood and responses associated with alertness or alarm conditions. The acute effects of the drug closely resemble the physiological and psychological effects of an epinephrine-provoked fight-or-flight response, including increased heart rate and blood pressure, vasoconstrictionbronchodilation, and hyperglycemia (increased blood sugar). Users experience an increase in focus, increased mental alertness, and the elimination of fatigue, as well as a decrease in appetite. (constriction of the arterial walls),
The methyl group is responsible for the potentiation of effects as compared to the related compound amphetamine, rendering the substance on the one hand more lipid soluble and easing transport across the blood brain barrier, and on the other hand more stable against enzymatic degradation by MAO. Methamphetamine causes the norepinephrine, dopamine and serotonin(5HT) transporters to reverse their direction of flow. This inversion leads to a release of these transmitters from the vesicles to the cytoplasm and from the cytoplasm to the synapse (releasing monoamines in rats with ratios of about NE:DA = 1:2, NE:5HT= 1:60), causing increased stimulation of post-synaptic receptors. Methamphetamine also indirectly prevents the reuptake of these neurotransmitters, causing them to remain in the synaptic cleft for a prolonged period (inhibiting monoamine reuptake in rats with ratios of about: NE:DA = 1:2.35, NE:5HT = 1:44.5[11]).
Methamphetamine is a potent neurotoxin, shown to cause dopaminergic degeneration.[12][13]reactive oxygen species such as hydrogen peroxide. It is likely that the oxidative stress that occurs after taking methamphetamine mediates its neurotoxicity. [14] It has been demonstrated that a high ambient temperature increases the neurotoxic effects of methamphetamine.[15] High doses of methamphetamine produce losses in several markers of brain dopamine and serotonin neurons. Dopamine and serotonin concentrations, dopamine and 5HT uptake sites, and tyrosine and tryptophan hydroxylase activities are reduced after the administration of methamphetamine. It has been proposed that dopamine plays a role in methamphetamine induced neurotoxicity because experiments which reduce dopamine production or block the release of dopamine decrease the toxic effects of methamphetamine administration. When dopamine breaks down it produces
Recent research published in the Journal of Pharmacology And Experimental Therapeutics (2007) [2], indicates that methamphetamine binds to a group of receptors called TAAR. TAAR is a newly discovered receptor system which seems to be affected by a range of amphetamine-like substances called trace amines.
Effects
Common immediate effects.:[16]
- Euphoria
- Increased energy and attentiveness
- Diarrhea, nausea
- Excessive sweating
- Loss of appetite, insomnia, tremor, jaw-clenching (Bruxism)
- Agitation, compulsive fascination with repetitive tasks (Punding)
- Talkativeness, irritability, panic attacks
- Increased libido
Side effects associated with chronic use:
- Drug craving
- Weight loss
- Withdrawal-related depression and anhedonia
- Rapid tooth decay ("meth mouth")
- Amphetamine psychosis
- Dopamine receptor downregulation and hypersensitization
- Axonic degeneration of the dopamine axon terminals in the striatum, frontal cortex, nucleus accumbens, and amygdala.
Side effects associated with overdose:
- Brain damage/ Meningitis (Neurotoxicity)
- Formication (sensation of flesh crawling with bugs, with possible associated compulsive picking and infecting sores)
- Paranoia, delusions, hallucinations, which may trigger a tension headache.
- Rhabdomyolysis (Muscle breakdown) which leads to Kidney failure
Death from overdose is usually due to stroke, heart failure, but can also be caused by cardiac arrest (sudden death) or hyperthermia.
Buffenstein et al. (1997) showed through SPECT scanning of methamphetamine abusers in Hawaii that brain deterioration continues for months after abstinence, possibly suggesting another unique and pathological feature of methamphetamine.
Pharmacokinetics
The half life of methamphetamine is 9-15 hours. It is excreted by the kidneys and its half life depends on urinary pH. One of the metabolites of methamphetamine is amphetamine. [17]
Tolerance
As with other amphetamines, tolerance to methamphetamine is not completely understood, but known to be sufficiently complex that it cannot be explained by any single mechanism. The extent of tolerance and the rate at which it develops varies widely between individuals, and even within one person it is highly dependent on dosage, duration of use and frequency of administration. Many cases of narcolepsy are treated with methamphetamine for years without escalating doses or any apparent loss of effect.
Short term tolerance can be caused by depleted levels of neurotransmitters within the vesiclessynaptic cleft following subsequent reuse (tachyphylaxis). Short term tolerance typically lasts until neurotransmitter levels are fully replenished, because of the toxic effects on dopaminergic neurons, this can be greater than 2-3 days. Prolonged overstimulation of dopamine receptors caused by methamphetamine may eventually cause the receptors to downregulate in order to compensate for increased levels of dopamine within the synaptic cleft.[18] To compensate, larger quantities of the drug are needed in order to achieve the same level of effects. available for release into the
Addiction
Methamphetamine is addictive[19], especially when injected or smoked.[20] While not life-threatening, withdrawal is often intense and, as with all addictions, relapse is common. To combat relapse, many recovering addicts attend 12 Step meetings, such as Crystal Meth Anonymous.
Methamphetamine-induced hyperstimulation of pleasure pathways leads to anhedonia. Former users have noted that they feel stupid or dull when they quit using methamphetamine. It is possible that daily administration of the amino acids L-Tyrosine and L-5HTP/Tryptophan can aid in the recovery process by making it easier for the body to reverse the depletion of Dopamine, Norepinephrine, and Serotonin. Although studies involving the use of these amino acids have shown some success, this method of recovery has not been shown to be consistently effective.
It is shown that taking ascorbic acid prior to using methamphetamine may help reduce acute toxicity to the brain, as rats given the human equivalent of 5-10 grams of ascorbic acid 30 minutes prior to methamphetamine dosage had toxicity mediated, yet this will likely be of little avail in solving the serious behavioral problems associated with methamphetamine use that create many of the problems the users experience.[citation needed] Large doses of ascorbic acid also lower urinary pH, reducing methamphetamine's elimination half-life[citation needed].
To combat addiction, doctors are beginning to use other forms of amphetamine such as dextroamphetamine to break the addiction cycle in a method similar to methadone for heroinnaloxone, which blocks opiate receptors and is therefore used in treating opiate dependence, for use with methamphetamine problems.[21] However, experiments with some monoamine reuptake inhibitors such as indatraline have been successful in blocking the action of methamphetamine.[22] There are studies indicating that fluoxetine, bupropion and imipramine may reduce craving and improve adherence to treatment.[23] Research has also suggested that modafinil can help addicts quit methamphetamine use.[24] [25] addicts. There are no publicly available drugs comparable to
Since the phenethylamine phentermine is a constitutional isomer of methamphetamine, it has been speculated that it may be effective in treating methamphetamine addiction. Although phenteremine is a central nervous stimulant that acts on dopamine and norepinephrine, it has not been reported to cause the same degree of euphoria that is associated with other amphetamines.
Abrupt interruption of chronic methamphetamine use results in the withdrawal syndrome in almost 90% of the cases. Withdrawal of amphetamine often causes a depression which is longer and deeper than even the depression from cocaine withdrawal.[23]
Medical use
d-Methamphetamine
Methamphetamine is used medically under the brand name Desoxyn for the following conditions:
Because of its social stigma and toxicity, Desoxyn is not generally prescribed for ADHD unless other stimulants, such as methylphenidate (Ritalin®), dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine®) or mixed amphetamines (Adderall®) have failed.
Related Health Issues
In an article about his son's addiction to methamphetamine, California writer and former methamphetamine user David Schiff said "This drug has a unique, horrific quality." In an interview, Stephan Jenkins, the singer in the band Third Eye Blind, said that methamphetamine makes you feel "bright and shiny."
It also makes you paranoid, incoherent and both destructive and pathetically and relentlessly self-destructive. Then you will do unconscionable things in order to feel bright and shiny again.[26]
Meth mouth
Methamphetamine addicts may lose their teeth abnormally quickly, a condition known as "meth mouth". This effect is not caused by any corrosive effects of the drug itself, which is a common myth. According to the American Dental Association, meth mouth "is probably caused by a combination of drug-induced psychological and physiological changes resulting in xerostomia (dry mouth), extended periods of poor oral hygiene, frequent consumption of high calorie, carbonated beverages and tooth grinding and clenching."[27] Similar, though far less severe symptoms have been reported in clinical use of other amphetamines, where effects are not exacerbated by a lack of oral hygiene for extended periods.[28]
Like other substances which stimulate the sympathetic nervous system, methamphetamine causes decreased production of acid-fighting saliva and increased thirst, resulting in increased risk for tooth decay, especially when thirst is quenched by high-sugar drinks.[29]
Hygiene
Serious health and appearance problems are caused by unsterilized needles, lack of hygiene, and especially pollutants in street-grade methamphetamine. The use of methamphetamine may lead to hypertension, damage to heart valves, vastly deteriorated dental health, and increased risk of strokes.[30] Obsessive skin-picking by chronic methamphetamine users may lead to abscesses.[23]
Sexual behaviour
Users may exhibit sexually compulsive behaviour while under the influence. This disregard for the potential dangers of unprotected sex or other reckless sexual behavior may contribute to the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) or sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
Among the effects reported by methamphetamine users are increased libido and sexual pleasure, the ability to have sex for extended periods of time, and an inability to ejaculate or reach orgasm[31] or physical release. In addition to increasing the need for sex and enabling the user to engage in prolonged sexual activity, methamphetamine lowers inhibitions and may cause users to behave recklessly or to become forgetful. Users may even report negative experiences after prolonged use, which contradict reported feelings, thoughts, and attitudes achieved at similar dosages under similar circumstances but at earlier periods of an extended or prolonged cycle.
Additionally, many chronic users find themselves engaging in excessive and repeated masturbation. According to a recent San Diego study[citation needed], methamphetamine users often engage in unsafe sexual activities, and forget or choose not to use condoms. The study found that methamphetamine users were six times less likely to use condoms. The urgency for sex combined with the inability to achieve release (ejaculation) can result in tearing, chafing, and trauma (such as rawness and friction sores) to the sex organs, the rectum and mouth, dramatically increasing the risk of transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. Methamphetamine also causes erectile dysfunction due to vasoconstriction.
Epidemiology of methamphetamine abuse
In the US methamphetamine use is the highest in Native Hawaiians and Pacific islanders (2.2%) and Native Americans (1.7%), lower among whites (0.7%) and Hispanics (0.5%), and much lower in Asians (0.2%) and blacks (0.1%). According to one study in large cities, 13% of men having sex with men used methamphetamine in the previous 6 months.[23]
Use in pregnancy and breastfeeding
Methamphetamine passes through the placenta and is secreted in the breast milk. Half of the newborns whose mothers used methamphetamine during pregnancy experience withdrawal syndrome; this syndrome is relatively mild and required medication in only 4% of the cases.[23]
Routes of administration
The usual route for medical use is oral administration. In recreational use, it can be swallowed, snorted, smoked, dissolved in water and injected (or even without water, in what is called a dry shot), inserted anally (with or without dissolution in water; also known as a booty bump or shafting), or into the urethra.[32] The potential for addiction is greater when it is delivered by methods that cause the concentration in the blood to rise quickly, principally because the effects desired by the user are felt more quickly and with a higher intensity than through a moderated delivery mechanism.
Studies have shown that the subjective pleasure of drug use (the reinforcing component of addiction) is proportional to the rate that the blood level of the drug increases.[citation needed] In general, smoking is the fastest mechanism (i.e., it causes the blood concentration to rise the most quickly in the shortest period of time as it allows the substance to travel to the brain through a more direct route than intravenous injection), followed by injecting, anal insertion, insufflation, and swallowing.
Smoking
"Smoking" amphetamines actually refers to vaporizing it to produce fumes, rather than burning and inhaling the resulting smoke, as with tobacco. It is commonly smoked in glass pipes, or in aluminum foil heated by a flame underneath. This method is also known as "chasing the whitechasing the dragon"). There is little evidence that Methamphetamine inhalation results in greater toxicity than any other route of administration. Lung damage has been reported with long-term use, but manifests in forms independent of route (pulmonary hypertension and associated complications), or limited to injection users (pulmonary emboli). dragon" (as derived from the method of smoking heroin known as "
Injection
Injection is a popular method for use, also known as slamming, but carries quite serious risks. The hydrochloride salt of methamphetamine is soluble in water; injection users may use any dose from 125 mg to over a gram, using a small needle. This dosage range may be fatal to non-addicts; addicts rapidly develop tolerance to the drug. Injection users often experience skin rashes (sometimes called "speed bumps") and infections at the site of injection. As with any injected drug, if a group of users shares a common needle or any type of injecting equipment without sterilization procedures, blood-borne diseases such as HIV or hepatitis can be transmitted as well.
Other methods
Very little research has focused on suppository or anal insertion as a method, and anecdotal evidence of its effects is infrequently discussed, possibly due to social taboos in many cultures regarding the anus. This is often known within communities that use methamphetamine for sexual stimulation as a "butt rocket," "booty bump," "keistering,", "plugging," "shelving," or "bumming" and is anecdotally reported to increase sexual pleasure while the effects of the drug last.[33] The rectum is where the majority of the drug would likely be taken up, through the membranes lining its walls. (See Methamphetamine and sex for further information on other risk factors.) Another way of ingesting methamphetamine is to crush the crystals up and insufflate (snort) them. This also bypasses first pass metabolism and goes straight into the bloodstream.
Illicit production
Synthesis
Methamphetamine is most structurally similar to methcathinone and amphetamine. When illicitly produced, it is commonly made by the reduction of ephedrine or pseudoephedrine. Most of the necessary chemicals are readily available in household products or over-the-counter cold or allergy medicines. Synthesis is relatively simple, but entails risk with flammable and corrosive chemicals, particularly the solvents used in extraction and purification. Clandestine production is therefore often discovered by fires and explosions caused by the improper handling of volatile or flammable solvents.
Most methods of illicit production involve hydrogenation of the hydroxyl group on the ephedrinepseudoephedrine molecule. The most common method for small-scale methamphetamine labs in the United States is primarily called the "Red, White, and Blue Process", which involves red phosphorus, pseudoephedrine or ephedrine(white), and blue iodine, from which hydroiodic acid is formed. In Australia, criminal groups have been known to substitute 'red' phosphorus with either hypophosphorus acid or phosphorus acid [3]. or
This is a fairly dangerous process for amateur chemists, because phosphine gas, a side-product from in situ hydroiodic acid production, is extremely toxic to inhale. An increasingly common method uses the process of Birch reduction, in which metallic lithium, commonly extracted from non-rechargeable lithium batteries is substituted for metallic sodium, to circumvent the difficulty of procuring metallic sodium.
The Birch reduction, however, is dangerous because the alkali metal and liquid anhydrous ammonia are both extremely reactive, and the temperature of liquid ammonia makes it susceptible to explosive boiling when reactants are added. Anhydrous ammonia and lithium or sodium (Birch reduction) may be surpassing hydroiodic acid (catalytic hydrogenation) as the most common method of manufacturing methamphetamine in the US and possibly in Mexico. Hydroiodic acid "super lab busts" receive more media attention because the equipment employed is much more complex and visible than the glass jars or coffee carafes commonly used to produce methamphetamine with Birch reduction.
A completely different procedure of synthesis uses the reductive amination of phenylacetonemethylamine[4], both of which are currently DEA list I chemicals (as are pseudoephedrine and ephedrine). The reaction requires a catalyst that acts as a reducing agent, such as mercury-aluminum amalgam or platinum dioxide, also known as Adams' catalyst. This was once the preferred method of production by motorcycle gangs in California,[citation needed] until DEA restrictions on the chemicals have made this difficult. Other less common methods use other means of hydrogenation, such as hydrogen gas in the presence of a catalyst. with
Methamphetamine labs can give off noxious fumes, such as phosphine gas, methylamine gas, solvent vapors; such as acetone or chloroform, iodine vapors, white phosphorus, anhydrous ammonia, hydrogen chloride/muriatic acid, hydrogen iodide, lithium/sodium metal, ether, or methamphetamine vapors. If performed by amateurs, manufacturing methamphetamine can be extremely dangerous. If the red phosphorus overheats, because of a lack of ventilation, phosphine gas can be produced. This gas, if present in large quantities, is likely to explode upon autoignition from diphosphine, which is formed by overheating phosphorus.
Production and distribution
Until the early 1990s, methamphetamine for the US market was made mostly in labs run by drug traffickers in Mexico and California. Since then, authorities have discovered increasing numbers of small-scale methamphetamine labs all over the United States, mostly in rural, suburban, or low-income areas. Indiana state police found 1,260 labs in 2003, compared to just 6 in 1995, although this may be a result of increased police activity.[34] Recently, mobile and motel-based methamphetamine labs have caught the attention of both the US news media and the police.
These labs can cause explosions and fires, and expose the public to hazardous chemicals. Those who manufacture methamphetamine are often harmed by toxic gases. Many police departments have specialized task forces with training to respond to cases of methamphetamine production. The National Drug Threat Assessment 2006, produced by the Department of Justice, found "decreased domestic methamphetamine production in both small and large-scale laboratories", but also that "decreases in domestic methamphetamine production have been offset by increased production in Mexico." They concluded that "methamphetamine availability is not likely to decline in the near term."[35]
In July 2007, a ship was caught by Mexican officials at the port of Lázaro Cárdenas, originating in Hong Kong, after traveling through the port of Long Beach with 19 tons of pseudoephedrine, a raw material needed for meth.[36] The Chinese owner was found to have $206 million at his Mexico City mansion. It went undetected at Long Beach.
Methamphetamine is distributed by prison gangs, Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs, street gangs, traditional organized crime operations, and impromptu small networks. In the U.S. illicit methamphetamine comes in a variety of forms, at an average price of $150 per gram for pure substance.[37] Most commonly it is found as a colorless crystalline solid. Impurities may result in a brownish or tan color. Colourful flavored pills containing methamphetamine and caffeine are known as yaa baa (Thai for "crazy medicine").
At its most impure, it is sold as a crumbly brown or off-white rock commonly referred to as "peanut butter crank."[38] Methamphetamine found on the street is rarely pure, but adulterated with chemicals that were used to synthesize it. It may be diluted or "cut" with non-psychoactive substances like inositol or dimethylsulfone. Another popular method is to combine methamphetamine with other stimulant substances such as caffeine or cathine into a pill known as a "Kamikaze", which is particularly dangerous due to the synergetic effects of multiple stimulants on the heart. It may also be flavored with high-sugar candies, drinks, or drink mixes to mask the bitter taste of the drug. Coloring may be added to the meth, as is the case with "Strawberry Quick."[39][40]
Legality
Australia
Strictly speaking, as a Schedule 8 drug, the medical use of methamphetamine is recognized in Australia, however in practice this is not the case. It is also known as Ice and has become the focus of a nation-wide crackdown. As of 2007, this has become part of the election agenda for both major political parties.
Canada
Methamphetamine is not approved for medical use in Canada. The maximum penalty for the production and distribution is imprisonment for life.
Hong Kong
Methamphetamine is regulated under Schedule 1 of Hong Kong's Chapter 134 Dangerous Drugs Ordinance. It can only be used legally by health professionals and for university research purposes. The substance can be given by pharmacists under a prescription. Anyone who supplies the substance without prescription can be fined $10000(HKD). The penalty for trafficking or manufacturing the substance is a $5,000,000 (HKD) fine and life imprisonment. Possession of the substance for consumption without license from the Department of Health is illegal with a $1,000,000 (HKD) fine and/or 7 years of jail time.
The Netherlands
Methamphetamine is not approved for medical use in The Netherlands. It falls under Schedule I of the Opium Act. Although production and distribution of this drug are prohibited, few people who were caught with a small amount for personal use have been prosecuted.
New Zealand
Methamphetamine is a Class "A" controlled drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975. The maximum penalty for production and distribution is imprisonment for life. While in theory a doctor could prescribe it for an appropriate indication, this would require case-by-case approval by the director-general of public health. In New Zealand, Methamphetamine is most commonly referred to by the street name P.[41]
South Africa
In South Africa, methamphetamine is classified as a Schedule 5 drug, and is listed as Undesirable Dependence-Producing Substances in Part III of Schedule 2 of the Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act, 1992 (Act No 140 of 1992).[42] Commonly called Tik, it is mostly abused by youths under the age of 20 in the Cape Flats areas.[43]
United Kingdom
As of 18 January 2007,[44] methamphetamine is classified as a Class A drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 following a recommendation made by the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs in June 2006.[45] It had previously been classified as a Class B drug, except when prepared for injection.
United States
| Year | Seizures |
|---|---|
| 1999 | 7,438 |
| 2000 | 9,902 |
| 2001 | 13,357 |
| 2002 | 16,212 |
| 2003 | 17,356 |
| 2004 | 17,710 |
| 2005 | 12,484 |
| 2006 | 6,435 |
Methamphetamine is classified as a Schedule II substance by the Drug Enforcement Administration under the Convention on Psychotropic Substances.[46] It is available by prescription under the trade name Desoxyn, manufactured by Ovation Pharma. While there is technically no difference between the laws regarding methamphetamine and other controlled stimulants, most medical professionals are averse to prescribing it due to its notoriety.
Illicit methamphetamine has become a major focus of the 'war on drugs' in the United States in recent years. In addition to federal laws, some states have placed additional restrictions on the sale of precursor chemicals commonly used to synthesize methamphetamine, particularly pseudoephedrine, a common over-the-counter decongestant. In 2005, the DEA seized 2,148.6kg[47] In 2005, the Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act of 2005 was passed as part of the USA PATRIOT Act, putting restrictions on the sale of methamphetamine precursors. of methamphetamine.
On November 7, 2006, the US Department of Justice declared that November 30, 2006 be Methamphetamine Awareness Day.[48]
DEA El Paso Intelligence Center EPIC data is showing a distinct downward trend in the seizure of clandestine drug labs for the illicit manufacture of methampetamine from a high of 17,356 in 2003. Lab seizure data for the United States is available from EPIC beginning in 1999 when 7,438 labs were reported to have been seized during that calendar year.
Legality of similar chemicals
See pseudoephedrine and ephedrine for legal restrictions in place as a result of their use as precursors in the clandestine manufacture of methamphetamine.
