Transcript MethCherokee - Cherokee County Schools

Methamphetamine In
Cherokee County
METH Lab Sites
http://www.justice.gov/dea/concern/map_lab
_seizures.html
What is Methamphetamine?


Methamphetamine is a central nervous system
stimulant that forces the brain to overproduce
chemicals such as Adrenaline and Dopamine.
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that allows us to
sense pleasure, normally released in the brain in
small amounts, released and then recaptured by
the brain, Is destroyed by enzymes if
overproduced.
According to the United Nations,


Methamphetamine is today, the most
abused hard drug on Earth. In America
alone, there are over one and a half
million addicts and rising.
Creating as many addicts as Cocaine and
Heroin combined
Where does it come from?

According to DEA, Mexican criminal groups
are the predominant wholesale
methamphetamine distributors in the
country--even in the Northeast and
Florida/Caribbean Regions--supplying
various midlevel distributors, including
other Mexican criminal groups, with
powder methamphetamine and,
increasingly, ice methamphetamine.
Avialability



Methamphetamine availability is generally
stable, with slight increases in eastern
drug markets.
National-level purity data reveal an overall
rise in methamphetamine purity (2008)
Today Meth Purity on the Streets is
decreasing. Thus, addiction is decreasing.
Long term effects?




Permanent Brain Damage
Nervous System Imbalance
Bipolar type behavior (found in recovering
addicts) Feel GREAT!! Then, not so
much….
Has lead to types of cancer (L.A.P.D.
officer 2005, liver cancer)
Meth use Indicators:









Irritability
Aggressive / Violent behavior
Anxiety & nervousness
Lack of Focus
Fast / constant speech
Constant change of subject in conversation
Constant movement by the user
Profuse sweating
Small sores, arms, face – Similar to Chicken Pox
Meth Use Indicators continued:

Overall “rough” look, careless with appearance,
discolored, missing or rotten teeth, dirty hands
and nails
Obsessive Compulsive type behavior including
“tweaking” and “pack ratting”
Increased sexuality and sexually related items

Dramatic weight loss over short period of time


Items to look for:







Glass Meth Pipes
Modified crack pipes, melted at the end, sealed,
blown
Hypodermic needles, burnt spoons
Cut straws, modified Bic pens, rolled up dollar
bills
Small digital weighing scales
Burnt light bulbs, converted to smoking device
Video Cameras and monitors
How it is Ingested
Methamphetamine Psychosis:







EXTREME Paranoia
Emotionally Unstable
Extreme Fearfulness
Aggression, HIGH potential for Violence
* WELL FORMED DELUSIONS *
Hyperactivity Disorder
Lack of Focus
 The
end product of chronic
Methamphetamine abuse
results in the individual
becoming clinically
indistinguishable from a
Paranoid Schizophrenic.