1. Methamphetamine In Cherokee County
METH Lab Sites

2. 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.

3. 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

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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)

7. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. How it is Ingested

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

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

32. John New
(770) Office
(770) Cell