Meth - The Cancer of Choice

[budman]

Wednesday, August 9, 2006

'The cancer of choice'

Meth Watch program gets community involved in spotting labs and dealers


Evelyn Cronce El Defensor Chieftain Reporter, ecronce@dchieftain.com

In 1999, there were 7,438 arrests nationally for drug labs — 47 of those in New Mexico.

The numbers continued to increase until 2004, when the numbers started going back down, according to Ricardo Berry form the District Attorney's Office. Although this looks good, methamphetamine use is on the increase. The reason is the suppliers have found a wealth of customers.

Lt. Frank Musitano from the New Mexico State Police Narcotics Section explains that 98 percent of the drug is coming from Mexico. The suppliers are large operations capable of turning out meth that is 95-98 percent pure. In contrast, the local manufacturer is turning out small quantities that are only 30 percent to 35 percent pure.

Musitano said it's like Wal-Mart — until there is a customer base in the area, they don't come in.

"Drugs is a business," said Berry. "The cooks like to be isolated, so they are coming to rural areas. Also, dealers know that law enforcement is stretched in rural areas."

According to Steve Mills, Project Director for Safe School Healthy Students in Alamo, the one police officer as to cover such a large territory that, for less than emergency situations, it can take him up to two days to respond.

"This is my 42nd year in law enforcement and I've never seen it worse," said Police Chief Lawrence Romero.

Fire Chief Joe Gonzales calls meth use "the cancer of choice."

Various community professionals discussed ways of discouraging the production of methamphetamines. Ernest Pargas, chairman of the Mayor's Drug Taskforce, presented an overview of meth and it's short- and long-term effects. He presented the statistic that in 2003, 14.9 percent of freshman at Socorro High School said they had used meth within the last 12 months. This was compared to 8.2 percent across the state. Many presenters referred to this as a disturbing statistic.

Nadine Ulibarri-Keller, representing Meth Watch, gave a presentation of the things that retailers should be looking for, besides the purchase of pseudophedrine, such as large quantities of matches. She suggested that casual visitors, such as meter readers might be on the lookout for things like baby monitors put outside the house or propane tanks with a blue discoloration on the tank valve. The local tip hotline is (505) 835-0325.

"All calls are anonymous and the calls are not traceable," she said.

Musitano said that neighbors or visitors could call the State Police meth tip hotline toll-free at (888) 442-6677.

"Call. We're not going to ask you to testify. It's our job to get the evidence. Your name and phone number will be asked but, after an agent returns your call, that information is destroyed," he said.

Athena Gassoumis, licensed alcohol and drug counselor with Terra Luna Counseling Center suggested the information being disseminated at the meeting needs to be seen in every living room in Socorro County. She said the relapse rate with meth use is high because meth is stored in the fatty tissue of the body. Unless detoxification is accomplished through controlled sweat therapy, the substance is released into the body by the fat cells long after a person stops using the drug.

Denise Sawyer, director of the Socorro County DWI council said about 10 percent of clients are randomly tested for drugs, usually because of smell, appearance, or erratic behavior. Of those, 100 percent are showing positive for both marijuana and meth. It seems that the marijuana is being cut with meth in an effort to increase the dealer's customer base. Meth is the more addictive drug. Approximately 98 percent of people who try meth will become addicted, most after only one use.

Congressman Steve Pearce, R-N.M., said that Clovis has purchased a large hospital and suggested the facility could be used as a detoxification center if a full medical staff would not be required. The experts in the room agreed that, if a detoxification regiment was written by a professional, non-medical people could be trained to administer the program with a minimum of health professionals on site.

"I don't think we can just sit around waiting for funding," said Pearce.

A recurring theme throughout the summit was family involvement as well as the success rate of faith-based treatment programs.

"We need to get back to the days when a neighbor would take a misbehaving kid back to his father to be dealt with," said Musitano.

The group discussed the reality that economic issues have changed the family, especially in high poverty areas. Mills pointed out that Alamo has 60 percent unemployment and an average per capita annual income of $6,500. He also pointed out to Pearce that it places a great financial burden on people at that income level to be forced to drive 30 miles one-way to get their mail, buy groceries and gasoline.

Pearce said in his introductory remarks to the meeting that any economic downturn in the state is not attributable to the current administration and the Space Port and NASCAR Track will greatly improve the economy of the area. He also stressed the need for better education.

The group discussed going to the faith-based community for volunteers to distribute packets and possibly low-cost videos to every family in Socorro County. There were also suggestions of a regularly scheduled show on Comcast's Channel 12 and shows in schools.

Musitano said that he is available to do shows in schools at the school's request.

The meeting, originally scheduled for two hours, had to be ended after more than 2-1/2 hours so Pearce could get to another meth summit, which was scheduled for the afternoon in Sierra County.

[palmspringsbum]

State hit by methamphetamine crisis

November 18, 2006 09:00pm
The Sunday Times

ICE is destroying the lives of thousands of ordinary West Australians.

An investigation by The Sunday Times has revealed the extent of the damage caused by the powerful crystal form of methamphetamine, which is up to 85 per cent pure.

Business owners, finance brokers, sales managers, tradesmen, computer experts and other professionals told of abusing the stimulant, which initially gave them energy and confidence, but later caused violent psychosis.

Users, who were often tertiary-educated, said ice drove them to theft, prostitution and the brink of suicide.

James, 45, a one-time bank manager who was until recently earning $90,000 a year as a finance broker, is in the middle of a second marriage break-up and is selling his home to pay $300,000 in debts, because of his ice addiction.

"For years people didn't realise I had a problem," he said. "I'd established myself, I had a family, a reputable job, I got properties.

"But I hurt everyone, my two wives, another partner. I damaged every relationship I ever had. I didn't steal, but I gathered debt - $60,000 or $70,000 in six months."

His habit started recreationally at parties.

"Then I was working as a bank manager and I hit a stumbling block in performance at work," he said. "I felt ice would help me cope with long hours and stress."

James started using heroin, tranquillisers, marijuana and alcohol to help him come down from the ice. He also wore make-up to hide the effects from colleagues. "There were times when skin would just come off my face," he said. He has been off the drug for two months.

Tony, a 28-year-old horticulturist, threw away a promising nursery career when he turned to ice. He quit his job and turned to dealing drugs and stealing from other users to bankroll his habit.

He once stayed awake for 7 1/2 days and shrivelled to 45kg. He is 180cm tall.

Despite his then-tiny stature and now tranquil demeanour he says the drug turned him psychotic and violent. And he saw young girls trade sex for ice and friends, many from affluent areas, lose their sanity. "People lost their minds, were kissing the sky, laughing at nothing, just totally gone," he said.

He has been clean for five months after naltrexone treatment.

Tony said the widespread prescription of dexamphetamines contributed to the problem.

Hospital emergency staff, mental health workers, police and ambulance workers said they dealt with hundreds of speed users a year, many of them violent from ice abuse.

Royal Perth Hospital's emergency department dealt with 620 speed-related cases a year, many of them ice-related, according to emergency medicine associate professor Daniel Fatovich.

Prof Fatovich said there were about 2 1/2 times the admissions for speed patients compared with heroin-related admissions at the peak of that drug's use.

He said about 20 per cent of speed patients were admitted to psychiatric wards.

Drug counsellors and the Australian Medical Association said more resources were needed to deal with the scourge.

But Drug and Alcohol Office spokesman Terry Murphy said drug and alcohol facilities were coping with amphetamine users by offering the best "consolidation of skills" and being "cost effective".

And he said a survey showed that amphetamine use in WA dropped to 4.5 per cent in people 14-years and older in 2004, down from 5.8 per cent in 2001.

But the same survey showed that WA still led the nation, ahead of the Australian average of 3.2 per cent, with the ACT and South Australia following at 4.3 and 4.1 per cent respectively.

Mr Murphy said the yearly number of amphetamine seizures rose 150 per cent from 1998-'05. He also said police dismantled 30-35 per cent more speed labs since 2002. But he and police attributed the two figures to more detection, rather than the problem worsening.

Users and counsellors also say ice and other forms of speed are rife among young Aborigines.

Mr Murphy estimated about 72,000 West Australians had used speed. But drug workers said the figure would be more like 200,000, with many trying ice.