Meth Addiction Resource Center

• Jul
  06

  Crystal Methamphetamine Statistics are Staggering

  

  Crystal meth is a drug that is capable of being snorted, smoked, injected or taken orally depending on the form it is in. Crystal meth originally began its popularity as a club drug, because it is an extremely addictive stimulant drug. When you smoke it or inject it, it gives you what is known as a flash or a rush. When you take the drug orally or when you snort it, the high that it produces is more euphoric in nature, and the high is capable of lasting for as long as half a day, which is why it is so popular among its users.

  Crystal meth is a drug that is regularly in the news for various reasons. For example, there are news stories circulating about people who are arrested due to the possession of crystal meth, people who are arrested because they are participating in the production of crystal meth, and stories about people who have died in a manner relating to the production or use of crystal meth.

  In Georgia, for example, two men were recently arrested for having nearly a kilogram worth of finished methamphetamine. This large amount of crystal meth, which was found in their car, is an example of possession with intent to sell, since clearly the men planned on distributing the crystal meth. The street value for this quantity of methamphetamine is estimated to be around $150,000. This is just one example of a large scale drug bust occurring in the United States, because drugs are becoming easier to come by, and more and people are beginning to use the, sell them and distribute them accordingly.

  Crystal meth is a problem that is not going away any time soon, and the statistics are staggering when it comes to crystal meth use and abuse.

  According to statistics from around the country, a tenth of a gram of crystal meth is generally going to cost between $5.00 and $20.00 depending on where it is imported from, with European crystal meth being the most expensive. Methamphetamine drugs are some of the more expensive illicit drugs that you can buy on the street.

  According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health or NSDUH, in 2005 more than 10.4 million people over the age of 12 had experienced the use of crystal meth at least one time in their lifetime.

  There were an estimated 1.3 million people who had reported having taken crystal meth between 2004 and 2005.

  According to the "Monitor the Future" Survey by the University of Michigan, as many as 5 percent of all high school seniors nationwide have used crystal meth drugs at least once in the past, and at least 3 percent of these students have taken crystal meth in its various forms during the most recent 12 months.

  The average high that is created by use of crystal meth can easily last between 4 hours and 12 hours. It takes as many as 12 hours before the body can remove only 50 percent of the drug out of the system.

  * Crystal meth has been associated with a variety of different physical problems including but not limited to:

  • Increases in Blood Pressure
  • Rapid Heart Rate
  • Damage to the Blood Vessels in Your Brain
  • Stroke and Inflammation of the Lining of the Heart

  These are just some of the most serious health issues associated with crystal meth, when in truth there are a number of other health issues that can arise when this drug is taken in any intensity level, whether recreational or chronic.

  Overdosing on crystal meth in its various forms is capable of causing a number of physical problems as well, including hyperthermia which is an elevation of the body temperature, feelings of convulsions and even death.

  When a drug user injects the crystal meth, they expose themselves to even more health risks. One of the most obvious is that they increase the likelihood of developing HIV the human immunodeficiency virus, but they can also contract a number of other viruses that are blood-borne in nature including hepatitis B and hepatitis C among others.

  People who use crystal meth on a chronic basis are going to experience additional health risks as well. For example, they may experience:

  • Scarring or Collapsing of the Veins
  • Infections in the Lining of the Heart and the Valves of the Heart
  • Pneumonia
  • Abscesses
  • Tuberculosis
  • Kidney Disease and Liver Disease

  With so much that is obviously wrong with using crystal meth, it may surprise you that so many people are trying it and using it. Arming yourself with the facts and statistics, however, can help you to keep your nose clean. If you are dealing with an addiction to crystal meth, or you know someone who is taking crystal meth despite the risks, then getting professional help is the next step. The right drug rehab is going to have a profoundly positive impact on a person's ability to overcome this addition smoothly and completely so that a sober lifestyle can be achieved once more.

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  Posted on July 6th, 2015

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