Pubdate: Wed, 08 Nov 2006
Source: Valley Sentinel, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2006 The Valley Sentinel
Contact:  http://www.thevalleysentinel.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4237
Author: Bill Mahoney

THE IRONY IN CRYSTAL METH

A human brain has as many connections in it as the world's telephone 
system. It is made up of about 100 billion cells and each cell 
communicates with about 10,000 other cells. That means the human 
brain has as many cells as there are trees in the Amazon rainforest 
and as many connections to other cells as there are leaves on those trees.

For years highly trained scientists have used the most sophisticated 
equipment trying to find out how the brain works so they could treat 
diseases like Parkinson's Disease, multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer's 
Disease as well as mental illness. There is still a long way to go.

And yet, when it comes to concocting a substance that will 
dramatically alter the way the brain works, it takes only a few 
dollars, some kitchen utensils and enough moxie to find the way 
around a hardware store.

The excerpt below is word for word from a website explaining how to 
make crystal meth:

There are only 3 main ingredients to making crystal meth. This are 
how to get them...

1. Psuedoephedrine (E)

This is the active ingredient in Sudafed. I would recomend getting 
the generic brand. They are about $8.00 for 96 pills. You can get 
these at any Pharmacy. Of course they are over the counter. The 
easiest way is to crush the pills and let them soak in denatured 
alcohol for 4 to 8 hours. You can get denatured alcohol at any 
hardware store. It is by the paint thinner and mineral spirits.

Concern about crystal meth is worldwide. A South African website 
says: Health professionals are concerned about the devastating 
effects of this drug on the user-among its many effects, crystal meth 
induces psychotic symptoms, such as seeing or hearing things that are 
not there, and violence, making it a far more dangerous drug than 
most other drugs available in South Africa.

Tolerance develops quickly, which means that higher doses of the drug 
need to be used to get the same effect, or the drug needs to be taken 
more frequently.

Chronic abuse can lead to out-of-control rages, violence, anxiety, 
confusion, mood disturbances and insomnia.

The drug causes increased heart rate and blood pressure and can lead 
to irreversible damage to the blood vessels in the brain, producing strokes.

Perhaps the most dangerous thing about crystal meth is the speed with 
which users become addicted to it. Users begin to crave it almost as 
soon as they begin using it.

When the addictive nature of the drug is combined with its low cost 
and widespread availability, crystal meth appears to be an 
unstoppable catastrophe. In many places this is the case, but perhaps 
not here. In other places there are large numbers of willing buyers 
and organized crime makes good money producing and distributing 
crystal meth. So far, the market here has been small and resistant.

It is important to keep it that way.
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MAP posted-by: Elaine