Methamphetamine In Cherokee County METH Lab Sites http://www.justice.gov/dea/concern/map_lab_seizures.html

What is Methamphetamine? Methamphetamine is a central nervous system stimulant that forces the brain to overproduce chemicals such as Adrenaline and Dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that allows us to sense pleasure, normally released in the brain in small amounts, released and then recaptured by the brain, Is destroyed by enzymes if overproduced.

According to the United Nations, Methamphetamine is today, the most abused hard drug on Earth. In America alone, there are over one and a half million addicts and rising. Creating as many addicts as Cocaine and Heroin combined

Where does it come from? According to DEA, Mexican criminal groups are the predominant wholesale methamphetamine distributors in the country--even in the Northeast and Florida/Caribbean Regions--supplying various midlevel distributors, including other Mexican criminal groups, with powder methamphetamine and, increasingly, ice methamphetamine.

Avialability Methamphetamine availability is generally stable, with slight increases in eastern drug markets. National-level purity data reveal an overall rise in methamphetamine purity (2008) Today Meth Purity on the Streets is decreasing. Thus, addiction is decreasing.

Long term effects? Permanent Brain Damage Nervous System Imbalance Bipolar type behavior (found in recovering addicts) Feel GREAT!! Then, not so much…. Has lead to types of cancer (L.A.P.D. officer 2005, liver cancer)

Meth use Indicators: Irritability Aggressive / Violent behavior Anxiety & nervousness Lack of Focus Fast / constant speech Constant change of subject in conversation Constant movement by the user Profuse sweating Small sores, arms, face – Similar to Chicken Pox

Meth Use Indicators continued: Overall “rough” look, careless with appearance, discolored, missing or rotten teeth, dirty hands and nails Obsessive Compulsive type behavior including “tweaking” and “pack ratting” Increased sexuality and sexually related items Dramatic weight loss over short period of time

Items to look for: Glass Meth Pipes Modified crack pipes, melted at the end, sealed, blown Hypodermic needles, burnt spoons Cut straws, modified Bic pens, rolled up dollar bills Small digital weighing scales Burnt light bulbs, converted to smoking device Video Cameras and monitors

How it is Ingested

Methamphetamine Psychosis: EXTREME Paranoia Emotionally Unstable Extreme Fearfulness Aggression, HIGH potential for Violence * WELL FORMED DELUSIONS * Hyperactivity Disorder Lack of Focus

The end product of chronic Methamphetamine abuse results in the individual becoming clinically indistinguishable from a Paranoid Schizophrenic.

John New (770)704-2350 Office (770)366-5312 Cell