Last Updated 3/29/2007

Methamphetamine, also known as speed, crystal, or crank, is a synthetic stimulant and a legal schedule II drug prescribed for Attention Deficit Disorder under the brand name Desoxyn. The drug is an odorless, white or off-white bitter tasting powder. It is found in pill or crystal form and can be dissolved in liquid, ingested orally, snorted or injected.

Methamphetamine was first synthesized in the early 1900s. It was used widely in World War II to keep soldiers alert, and had a variety of prescription uses later in the 20th century. Recreational methamphetamine use has been popular in various subcultures since the 1960s. Starting in about 2004, methamphetamine jumped into the national consciousness as the latest U.S. "drug epidemic." Alarmist media coverage and draconian political responses to the dangers of methamphetamine have been reminiscent of the public reaction to crack cocaine in the 1980s.

Reality contradicts many of the myths perpetuated by the media. Amphetamine use rates among high school seniors have actually remained steady for the last ten years, and treatment statistics show that users of the drug have a treatment success rate similar to that of other drugs.

The Drug Policy Alliance is working to keep the policy response to methamphetamine focused on treatment and education, and make sure that public concern over methamphetamine does not translate into a new round of ineffective mandatory minimum sentences levied by politicians eager to appear "tough on crime."

A federal law passed in 2006 puts medicines containing pseudoephedrine, which can be used to make methamphetamine, behind the counter, on the heels of several state laws doing the same. Federal law also now requires people purchasing medicines containing pseudoephedrine to show identification and sign a logbook. This change has in some cases reduced the number of methamphetamine labs found in people's homes, but has not reduced demand, which is being met by methamphetamine imported from Mexico.

Work in the States

New Mexico

Backed by a federal grant awarded in early 2007, DPA New Mexico will create a statewide methamphetamine education program. The program will include a methamphetamine prevention campaign designed by and for youth, which will be broadcast on television and radio stations throughout New Mexico. The program, DPA's first federally funded effort, will focus on credible, science-based information rather than ineffective, overly simplistic scare tactics.

During the 2007 legislative session, DPA New Mexico supported bills to increase funding for substance abuse treatment. In 2006, advocacy by DPA-NM simultaneously fought off bad methamphetamine sentencing bills and increased treatment funding and availability.

In fall 2005, a coalition headed by DPA-New Mexico and the state drug czar issued comprehensive methamphetamine recommendations focusing on prevention, harm reduction, treatment and enforcement.

California

More than 19,000 methamphetamine users are treated each year in California under the state's treatment-instead-of-incarceration initiative, Proposition 36, which was initiated and co-authored by the Drug Policy Alliance Network. Prop. 36 has been called the most comprehensive public health response to methamphetamine in the country. A report from UCLA indicates that the program treats methamphetamine users as successfully as it does users of other drugs.

Hawai'i

DPA was one of over 60 groups that filed an amicus brief in an important case decided by the Supreme Court of Hawai’i in 2005. The brief urged the court to overturn the manslaughter conviction of a woman after a lower court asserted that the death of her baby was caused by the fact that she used methamphetamine while pregnant. The brief asserted that such a precedent would deter women from seeking prenatal care or substance abuse treatment for fear of being arrested. The state Supreme Court agreed and overturned the conviction.

Work at the Federal Level

Legislation

DPA Network fought off several bad methamphetamine bills in 2005. The most high-profile was a bill called the "Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act," introduced by Rep. Mark Souder (R-IN), which sought to enact draconian mandatory minimum sentences for methamphetamine that would have been worse than those established for crack cocaine in the 1980s. DPA and other groups other groups waged a successful campaign to get those mandatory minimums removed in committee. A revised version of the bill was incorporated into the renewal of the PATRIOT Act in 2006, but the controversial mandatory minimums were excluded.

Conferences

DPA participated in the Harm Reduction Project’s two national conferences on methamphetamine in 2005 and 2007, presenting on several panels. DPA staffers joined with policy experts, health departments, scientists and treatment providers to share knowledge and gain insight about how best to approach the complex issues surrounding methamphetamine through the collaborative efforts of the drug prevention, drug treatment, harm reduction and law enforcement communities.

Methamphetamine was also a prominent topic at the 2005 International Conference on Drug Policy Reform, hosted by DPA in November 2005. Sessions at the conference explored the concept of the "meth epidemic" and policy solutions for dealing with methamphetamine.

Drug Effects

Users feel alert, confident, and energetic and lose their appetite and ability to sleep. When taken very frequently or in excess, methamphetamine can cause paranoia, visual and auditory hallucinations, violent or erratic behavior and self-absorption. In extreme cases, the lack of appetite can result in malnutrition. Methamphetamine can cause psychological dependence, high levels of tolerance, and an intense craving for more of the drug to produce the same effect. Individuals with heart conditions should be extremely careful when using methamphetamine since the drug increases heart rate and blood pressure.

Depending upon the dose and purity of methamphetamine, physical effects may include some or all of the following:

    * Increase in breathing and heart rate
    * Rise in blood pressure
    * Dehydration
    * Loss of appetite
    * Enlarged pupils
    * Decreased circulation in arms, legs, hands and feet
    * Constipation or diarrhea
    * Dryness of mouth
    * Sweating
    * Headaches
    * Teeth grinding and jaw clenching
    * Acute mood swings
    * Malnutrition

How it Works

Methamphetamine affects the central nervous system in the same way that adrenaline works. It speeds up the body’s functioning by increasing the heart rate and pulse and increasing your wakefulness, which, in turn, intensifies your concentration and thought processes. Meth is generally stronger than other drugs such as benzedrine or dexadrine. It stimulates the parts of your brain and the chemicals responsible for thought organization, focused concentration, pleasure and reward, fine motor control, sex drive, and increased energy levels. Dopamine is the “pleasure” chemical in the brain most affected by speed. Speed initially increases the functioning of these systems and the production of dopamine. Eventually, the brain’s natural receptor sites stop producing dopamine on their own, resulting in a dependence on the drug.