Methamphetamine is commonly known in North Dakota as:
Chalk
Chikin
Anny
G
Speed
Crank
Zoom
Tweak
Rocket
Ice
Glass
Poor Man's Cocaine
The
numbers have gone down recently in the state, but it is still a very serious
threat, and there are many severe ramifications of meth use. It is extremely addictive.
In fact, 90 out of 100 people who try methamphetamine twice become addicted to the drug.
Methamphetamine is a drug that is cheap and made
from commonly found items. At this time, the majority in North Dakota is
imported from Mexican producers. However, Methamphetamine labs, or clandestine
labs, are easily set up in rural areas. The number of lab incidents has been decreasing
in North Dakota, with 18 lab incidents in 2007, down from 37 in 2006 and 159 in
2005. The labs are extremely dangerous because the chemicals are not watched
very carefully and often cause explosions.
Every pound of meth that is created in a lab
creates five or six pounds of toxic waste. That waste is generally dumped down
drains or put into the soil, which is extremely hazardous for the environment.
The cost of cleanup for clandestine labs ranges from $5,000-$150,000.
It is very important to report any suspicious activities to the local police.
Suspicious activities include:
renting rural property with cash
a lot of
visible trash on the property
property that
is quiet during the day but has a lot of short term visitors at night
The drug causes a large number of physical and
mental health problems for its users. The addiction is so strong because the
drug causes an extremely strong high and a resulting extremely drastic low.
Studies have shown that the drug destroys cells in the brain which produce
dopamine (a chemical that makes a person feel pleasure). The brain is not the
only part of an addict's body that feels the affects of the drug. Meth addicts
often have:
heart problems
symptoms that lead to strokes
psychosis
hallucinations
extreme weight loss
poor hygiene
Suicide rates are also high for meth addicts.
Methamphetamine addicts often suffer from extreme
paranoia and can become unpredictable and violent. According to the National
Drug Intelligence Center, in
1996 a Fargo man under the influence of methamphetamine set his house on fire
because he believed that the police had installed surveillance equipment in it.
In May 2000, another methamphetamine user ripped the drywall off the entire
inside of his house and kicked in his television set because he believed that
police had invaded the house through the sewer and had installed listening
devices in his walls and television set.
Children of users are at risk for many difficulties
as well. According
to the El Paso Intelligence Center (EPIC) National Clandestine Laboratory
Seizure System, there were 611 children affected by or injured or killed at
methamphetamine labs during calendar year 2007. There are a
number of risks for a baby of an addict during birth and infancy, including low
birth weight, developmental delays, and lack of attachment to caregivers. Children
of users are much more likely to be abused or neglected, and are more likely to
be exposed to dangerous substances, including toxic chemicals and explosions.
They also have a higher rate of behavioral problems and learning disabilities.