Pubdate: Mon, 14 Sep 2009
Source: Ka Leo O Hawaii (U of Hawai'i at Manoa, HI Edu)
Copyright: 2009 Ka Leo O Hawaii
Contact:  http://www.kaleo.org
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4129
Author: Kristi Kakiuchi

METH USE CLOSER TO HOME THAN YOU THINK

Youve seen the commercials, the ones with teenagers who end up 
destroying their lives because of meth, the commercials that show 
people trying meth for their first time, convinced they wont turn out 
like that guy. Its just a commercial, right?

Wrong. Put your ignorance aside and think about how much of a problem 
meth is. Think about how many lives it destroys and how prevalent its 
use is in our state.

According to the Hawaii Meth Project, $43 million is spent on 
meth-related emergency room visits in Hawaii. Our state ranks fourth 
highest for meth-related drug offenses. And meth use amongst Hawaiis 
10th graders has increased by 87 percent.

Whats more is that you dont have to actively be doing meth to reap 
its unhealthy effects. Meth labs contain chemical vapors that can 
cause health problems as well as death. Until, or if, the lab is 
cleaned up, the residues still pose as risks - meaning, unless 
someone is caught and arrested in a space with meth, hazardous 
exposure can remain undiscovered by unsuspecting home buyers and 
neighbors, as well as tourists in hotel rooms.

Keep in mind that for every pound of meth produced, approximately 
five pounds of toxic waste (are) generated, according to Hawaii Meth 
Projects Web site.

There are many products used to make methamphetamine. In fact, most 
of these can be found around your house and local stores. The base 
chemicals, ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, are common in 
over-the-counter medicines. Some additional ingredients used are 
acetone from nail polish remover, hydrochloric acid found in pool 
chemicals, lithium from batteries, sulfuric acid from drain cleaners, 
and anhydrous ammonia in fertilizer.

The Hawaii Meth Project lists startling facts concerning the vapors 
from cooking meth: they can become extremely unstable, creating 
explosions capable of burning and killing.

How does this affect my health? you may ask. Well, you wouldnt eat 
fertilizer and batteries, would you?

You dont have to be exposed to a contaminated area for a long time to 
acquire adverse symptoms. According to CBS News, even short-term 
exposure to vapors and residue where the drug is smoked or cooked can 
cause eye and skin irritation, vomiting, rashes, asthma problems and 
other respiratory issues.

Cleaning up the contaminated area is really the only solution, but an 
expensive one at an estimated $2,000 to $20,000. Keeping in mind our 
economy, who really has that much money to spare?

Being aware of the problem can help to fight the battle. If youre 
looking for a place to stay or if you happen to know a personal case 
of meth use, it all comes down to this: Meth affects the pleasure 
centers of the brain. The Hawaii Meth Project states that it is 
considered even more addictive than heroin. A meth user will have 
intense cravings for the drug and may do anything, such as having sex 
or using violence, to get more.

Many of us understand that drugs are bad, but at the same time, we 
dont truly take the message to heart. We may feel drugs do not affect 
us, because we dont personally do them, but in reality, there is no 
escape. We are all affected.
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart