Meth Addiction in Texas

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health services, meth addiction in Texas has quadrupled between 1993-2003. In 2008 a report from DEA confirmed that the availability of meth remains high and continues to rise in North Texas even after the bill on prohibition of pseudoephedrine products was passed in 2005. Plus, the meth seizures in Dallas division that have risen up from 196.5 kg in 2007 to 574 kg in 2013 is a clear indication that much more needs to be done in the fight against meth abuse in Texas.

Due to its ease of manufacture and relative availability, meth is and continues to be the drug of choice for quite a number of teens and adults in Texas. With 2.3 % of 5,178 youth treatment admissions, 80% being Caucasians, 12 % beings Hispanics and 2% being African American, there is a great need to check on the meth addiction in Texas. However, experts reveal that the meth addiction or rather meth cases are more of a cycle or rather a game of whack-a-mole. No sooner does the federal government enact laws to stamp out domestic producers of meth than Mexican drug dealers pop in the scene to replace them, one of the main reasons why this destructive drug continues to be a problem in Texas.

Being extremely addictive (even a single dose can get you hooked) and having unpleasant effects on the body, meth addiction continues to ruin the lives of many young people. Eliciting feelings of an intense rush or rather feelings of happiness, the highs of meth wear off after 6-24 hours leaving the user feeling fatigued, depressed and having an extreme urge to get the high feeling back. What's even worse, is that some of the ingredients used to cook meth include toxic chemicals such as brake cleaner, batteries and even fertilizers. However, those addicted to meth are often too engrossed in getting their high back on that they care less where or what their meth comes from. Some signs of meth addiction include tooth decay, paranoia, dilated pupils, unusual body odor, picking at the skin and loss of appetite. The abuse of meth has been linked to several serious medical complications including stroke, heart damage, psychosis and even death.

According to Jane Maxwell, a research scientist in the School of Social work, University of Texas at Austin, there is need for treatment programs since most of meth users are physically and mentally impaired. However she does worry that there is going to be a de-emphasis on treatment for meth users what with the cyclic nature of meth addiction in Texas. She concludes that meth use has actually joined the ranks of heroin and cocaine in Texas.

In a bid to apprehend the widespread meth addiction in Texas, a program sponsored by CHPA (Consumer Healthcare Products Association) 'Meth Watch' has been introduced with the main aim of eliminating theft suspicious sales of pseudoephedrine products which end up in meth labs all over Texas. Although, Meth Watch is sponsored by CHPA, retailers and law enforcers have also vowed to increase awareness on use of legal products for the manufacture of illegal substances such as meth.