Christian Action Commission

Substance Abuse: Methamphetamine

Much has been said in the news about the illegal drug methamphetamine (or meth) and cold and sinus medications like Sudafed containing the drug pseudoephedrine.

Meth is a highly addictive, illegal drug that has an intense stimulating effect on the brain.  Meth typically contains ingredients like Drano and ammonia nitrate (fertilizer), but the necessary ingredient for producing meth is pseudoephedrine.  Without pseudoephedrine meth cannot be made. 

In response to widespread use and problems associated with meth, Mississippi lawmakers recently passed a law that will make cold and sinus medications like Sudafed available only by a doctor’s prescription.  This law is effective July 1, 2010.

Meth comes in various forms and has the appearance of crystal, shards of glass, or white power if ground up.  Meth users typically smoke, ingest, or inject the drug.

The Partnership for a Drug-free America says that after consumption “the user experiences an intense sensation, called a ‘rush’ or ‘flash,’ that lasts only a few minutes and is described as extremely pleasurable. Snorting or swallowing meth produces euphoria - a high, but not a rush.  After the initial ‘rush,’ there is typically a state of high agitation that in some individuals can lead to violent behavior.  Other possible immediate effects include increased wakefulness and insomnia, decreased appetite, irritability/aggression, anxiety, nervousness, convulsions and heart attack.”

Users of this highly addictive drug can quickly develop a tolerance to meth that causes them to consume higher amounts of meth more frequently to get the same high.  They often go for long periods of time without food and sleep in order to feed their increasing addiction.  It is not uncommon for these addicts to consume more meth every few hours over a period of several days until they either run out of meth or become too dysfunctional to continue. 

The Partnership for a Drug-free America also states “chronic use can cause paranoia, hallucinations, repetitive behavior (such as compulsively cleaning, grooming or disassembling and assembling objects), and delusions of parasites or insects crawling under the skin. Users can obsessively scratch their skin to get rid of these imagined insects. Long-term use, high dosages, or both can bring on full-blown toxic psychosis (often exhibited as violent, aggressive behavior). This violent, aggressive behavior is usually coupled with extreme paranoia.”

The Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics made 981 arrests for meth and seized 620 meth labs in 2009.  The associated cost for the state to clean up these meth labs will average about $3 million.  The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, as of 2008, stated that meth is the fastest growing drug threat for Mississippi.  The agency also said that meth leads to violent crime because users need to steal so that they can sustain their addiction.

Not only does crime associated with the use of meth affect property owners, it also affects the family members of meth addicts.

The MS Department of Human Services has reported that so far this year they have removed at least 30 children from meth homes.  These children often become foster children who are also in need of medical care.  The Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics estimates the cost associated with ‘each’ meth-abuse case to be $100,000.

These innocent children are caught in the cross-hairs of their parent’s addiction who will do nearly anything to get their next ‘high’. 

The Clarion Ledger on March 2, 2010 quoted a Hinds County judge saying he “had one case where meth parents were letting their friends and their friends’ friends have sex with their 12 year-old daughter for crystal meth.” It is unfortunate to have to include this incident in this article but is necessary to understand the devastating effect meth has on people and those they know – even their family.

Mind-altering substances, like meth and even alcohol, hinder the user’s ability to speak wisely and make sound judgments (Prov. 23:29-33; Isaiah 28:7) that God requires (Rom. 12:1-2).

These people and their families need help.  There are many resources in Mississippi to help someone with substance abuse.  Among them is the Samaritan Counseling Center at the MS Baptist Medical Center.  They can be reached at 601-973-1697. Also, Summit Counseling Center at First Baptist Jackson at 601-949-1949.

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