Created in neighborhoods across the country,

"Methamphetamine has become the most dangerous drug problem of small-town America," according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.1 It seems to hit small towns more than big cities.

methamphetamine (meth) is American's homegrown drug epidemic. It's sweeping the Nation from the California coast to the eastern seaboard. Meth is leaving a path of destruction, particularly among small towns, where youth are more than twice as likely to use the drug than young people living in larger cities.

What is meth?

This powerful drug works in the brain and gives users a sense of energy that can make them push their bodies faster and further than they are meant to go. Even small amounts of meth can cause a person to be more awake and active, but it also makes people lose their appetite and become irritable and aggressive. Meth also causes a person's blood pressure to increase and heart to beat faster.²

Why are small towns more affected?

Most drugs-such as cocaine or heroin-come from other countries and are sold by dealers. Meth can be cooked at home in kitchens and garages, in vacant barns, and in other buildings. It is created with common household items such as batteries and cold medicine. These items are cheap and can be bought in local stores. The chemicals in them can pollute neighborhoods and make the environment unsafe for kids.

Treatment for meth use can be hard to find in small towns. Rural communities often have fewer health facilities and treatment options than larger cities. This means that youth and adult meth users may find it hard to get the help they need.

How many people are using it?

Numbers on meth use can be deceiving. While statistics show that use among teens and middle school students has been the same for the past few years, those numbers don't tell the whole story. Meth seems to spread in pockets, leaving some areas or populations nearly untouched while others are devastated.³

Why would anyone use meth?

Some people use it for the strong "rush" they get when they smoke or inject the drug. Other people use meth to help them lose weight or give them an energy boost so they can work more. Athletes and students sometimes begin using meth because it makes them feel like they are doing better in sports or schoolwork. At first, meth gives them more energy to practice sports and to study for longer periods of time.

What are the effects of meth use?

When the high wears off, people who use meth go through a severe "crash."

Recent studies have shown that meth causes more damage to the brain than alcohol, heroin, or cocaine.6

Because meth can be made from lethal ingredients like battery acid, drain cleaner, lantern fuel, and antifreeze, there is a greater chance of having a heart attack, stroke, or serious brain damage with this drug than with other drugs.⁴ Long-term meth use can result in fatal kidney and lung disorders, brain damage, liver damage, chronic depression, paranoia, and other physical and mental disorders.⁵

How can you tell if someone is using meth?

Symptoms of meth use may include⁷:

Inability to sleep Increased sensitivity to noise Nervous physical activity, like scratching Irritability, dizziness, or confusion Extreme anorexia Tremors or even convulsions Increased heart rate, blood pressure, and risk of stroke Presence of inhaling paraphernalia, such as razor blades, mirrors, and straws Presence of injecting paraphernalia, such as syringes, heated spoons, or surgical tubing.

For treatment options, call your local health department, family doctor, or health care provider.

Meth use poses a real and growing threat to individuals, families, and communities across the country. Talk with your children about the dangers of using meth and help them find safe ways to "boost their energy." For example, they can take a 15-minute power nap after school, eat a high-energy snack, or exercise for 30 minutes. Meth is sweeping the Nation, but you have the power to prevent it from reaching your family.

Sources

Additional Resources:

• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. April 23, 2003. The NCADI Reporter. Get Up to Speed on Methamphetamine Abuse, last referenced 7/14/2005.
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. March 9, 2001. Prevention Alert. Meth: What's Cooking in Your Neighborhood?, Volume 4, Number 5. last referenced 7/14/2005.
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. 2002. Meth: What's Cooking in Your Neighborhood?, last referenced 7/20/05. (Also available as a print publication.)