The Meth Epidemic
October 3rd 2008 03:59
Siren Visual are distributing an American hour-long documentary called The Meth Epidemic (2006), co-produced by the investigative journalism programme Frontline in conjunction with The Oregonian newspaper. It is a disturbing documentary everyone should watch, especially since it depicts a nightmare that is consuming the world at an alarming rate.
In 1919 a Japanese chemist first synthesized amphetamine in a lab. It was used during World War II by the Japanese and the Germans chiefly to keep their tank drivers awake. A giant leap to 2006 and there are now 26 million methamphetamine addicts worldwide, 1.5 million in America alone, but with the highest concentration in East and Southeast Asia. Australia is feeling the scourge, just talk to any staff at Sydney’s St. Vincent hospital.
Crystal meth as it looks off the street
The ravaging effects of crystal meth abuse
By radically affecting the brain’s production of dopamine (the natural chemical release that makes you feel good i.e. after eating food or having sex), meth triggers a huge totally unnatural release of dopamine, so that when the user comes down their physical surrounds and psychological state seems so grey and dull that all they crave is to be riding that intense high again. Whereas a cocaine high might last ten minutes, a meth high can last eight hours! When U.S. police raid homes they often find semi-comatose couch addicts; users who’ve crashed after days of speeding. According to one U.S. police officer meth makes crack-cocaine look like a Hershey bar.
A pipe specifically designed for smoking Ice
The doco narrates a timeline from the 60s through to the current day, focusing on the DEA’s frustrating battle against pharmaceutical industry giants and government legislation to attack the epidemic at its source: ephedrine and pseudoephedrine. It’s depressing when people like ex-DEA Gene Haislip had been trying for twenty years to try and get the government to prevent the availability of cold and flu medicines over the counter at pharmacies, so that guerilla cooks couldn’t have easy access to the key ingredient: ephedrine. This was due to the fact that the crystal meth is not produced naturally like opiates, cannabis or cocaine; methamphetamine has to be specially cooked up in factories (or in makeshift labs). The American government was more concerned with cocaine smuggling, and didn’t see crystal meth as a serious problem.
One of the many academic books on the subject
Bogus pharmaceutical companies began to emerge, some even producing tablets without the chemical binder, so that underground labs could make crystal meth even easier. In the late 90s “smurfing” (a term referring to gatherers) started to occur where users keen for a fast buck would buy the maximum amount of cold tablet packs (three) from a pharmacy and then pop out all the tablets and sell them to underground labs.
The portrait painted in The Meth Epidemic is not a pretty picture. It’s a real nightmare that shows no sign of dissipating. It appears the lure of the drug’s effects obscures the catastrophic side-effects to too many people. It’s true it is the most addictive drug in the world. In many cases it only takes a few hits off a crystal meth pipe to get a real taste, a burning desire to continue.
Model Kumari Fulbright, just one of millions of victims of meth abuse
Perhaps the battlefield of Armageddon will be littered with crystal meth pipes …?!
The Meth Epidemic is an eye-opening and fundamentally important case study. I knew a fair amount about the drug’s effect on society, but this documentary hammered home many damaging truths I was not aware of. I get the impression most people are only aware of the tip of the Iceberg.
For more information visit pbs.org
The Meth Epidemic DVD (rating classification exempt) is courtesy of Siren Visual, many thanks!
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Comment by Raquelle
thanks for the post.
R
Comment by Damo
For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics
Disturbing images of reality.
Before and after.
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
yes, Australia and New Zealand have been seized around the throat by this heinous scourge! It is very disturbing.
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Comment by Lady Henrietta Muddling
Potter in a Harry
Interesting post in light of recent events. And powerful. A couple of months ago, I was in Sydney, and a couple of friends gave me a lift to Mascot Airport. First question I was asked was, 'You want some ice?" It wasn't a hard decision. "Um ... no thanks?" I'm silly enough without drugs.
One of the friends is female. Pretty outrageous. And pretty. For now? (The bottom 'before and now' image is scary. Guess this site is an appropriate place for an image like that).
Anyway, this female friend. We catch up a bit via webcam due to living interstate. She does some pretty outrageous things on webcam, but slashing her wrists wasn't the best show she ever put on. (She's much more attractive coming than going).
She's one of the lucky ones. She only managed to sever the tendons. Nothing microsurgery can't or didn't fix. But she gave suicide a 'healthy' attempt.
She's lucky a few friends were watching. But I'm not convinced she's out of the danger zone.
Anyway, this post was a great read. Very well written.
On a filmic note, I remember watching Taxi Driver. The scene where Travis buys his guns. And the gun dealer goes something like, "Anything else you want? Crack, smack, crystal meth? ... etc." And I always wondered what crystal meth was. Without ever bothering to ask. As you do.
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
thank you for sharing that upsetting incident ... I hope your friend doesn't stray too far again and manages to repair her life.
One of the slasher flicks I reviewed recently (one I'm sure would amuse you), Slumber Party Massacre had a scene near the beginning when the high school students are leaving school and one of the guys asks the girls if they've sorted all their supplies for the weekend overnight party, and the girls ask "what kind of supplies?", and he replies words to the effect of, "oh you know, pot, booze, crystal meth ..." you'd almost miss it, but my ears pricked when i heard it. and this movie was from 1982.
yeah, i remember the gun dealer mentioning crystal meth in taxi driver too. he was an addict in real life, and scorcese made a short film on him around the same time called american boy.
thanks for the props also, means a lot coming from you.
Comment by alt_ed
Alted Opinion
ArtCombat
The Inner Saintdom
It's also not so much the addictive quality of the drug, as it is the effects of it on ones body. Marijuana one might argue, is just as addictive as ice, yet the effects of it are much less visible or easily identified as those of ice use.
I think we need to tackle 'addiction' rather than a particular drug of choice- treat the problem first I guess because people will always find something else to get hooked on until we do.
Great post, and the before and after images are a great way of displaying the effects of substance abuse.
Comment by Dianna G
I Wish This Was 42
Fictional Worlds
Wasn't one of the Olson twins on Meth or something? *Doesn't pay much attention*
Reading this made me remember Requiem for a Dream. Ever seen that movie? Now that was screwed up.
~Dianna
Comment by Someone
Evil Pleasures
Random Musings on Life, Love and Everything
Let's Get Down To Business
Scary, scary stuff.
Oh yeah, and tip of the Ice-berg? Classic.
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Dianna, Requiem for a Dream is a brilliant film. Disturbing, but powerful. I plan to review it further down the track.
Someone, The Ice Man huh? He could be the Boogeyman for the Z-Gen.
Comment by Cheryl J
Funny Videos
Rhythmatism
Zentertainment
Budget Centsability
If you want a rush go do some exercise, if you want to chill spark up a doobie, at least you aren't going to end up going apeshit in the street attacking people and ripping at your own skin?!
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Comment by Bethany
It's sad, I've worked with a couple of meth addicts, and they are certainly the saddest.
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
You're right. Just as trying to save people who want to commit suicide is usually in vain. They'll find a way.