04/14/08

WHAT IS IT?

• Methamphetamine was discovered in 1919.  It is a highly addictive drug.  Most users become addicted after the first use. (University of Nebraska, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources)

• Methamphetamine is a Schedule II stimulant, which means that it has a high potential for abuse and is available through prescription.  It is prescribed for the treatment of narcolepsy and attention deficiency hyperactivity disorder (University of Nebraska, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources)

• Meth can be mixed with any water-based liquid.  It has shown up cooked in a variety of candles, colas, and chocolate flavors.  Most recently it was found mixed with Strawberry flavored children's drink mix. (The Morning News; Strawberry Meth Mix Aimed at First Time Users)

• Some chemicals used in meth production:  Starting fluid (ether), Paint thinner, Freon, Acetone, Anhydrous ammonia, Iodine crystals, Red Phosphorus, Brake Cleaner, Drain cleaner, Battery acid, Reactive metals, and cold tablets containing pseudo ephedrine (US Department of Justice/DEA)

• Methamphetamine's high lasts for 12 hours and 50% of the drug is removed from the body in 12 hours. (Narconon)

• The estimated cost of making meth is $100 an ounce, with a street value of $800 per ounce (Narconon)

• From January through June 2007 the mid-level wholesome (involving amounts between one and ten ounces) price per gram of meth increase 42% from $91.02 to $129.02 (US Department of Justice/DEA)

WHO USES IT

• Approximately 14.5% of 8th graders state that methamphetamine would be "fairly easy" or "very easy" to obtain.  20.8% of 10th graders and 26.7% of 12th graders state the same (University of Michigan; Monitoring the Future Study)

• A 2003 national survey on drug use and heath, done by the US Department of Health and Human Services, found that 12.3 million Americans age 12 and older had tried methamphetamine at least once. (US Department of Heath and Human Services)

• Americans spent $64 billion on illegal drugs in 2000. (NADCP; What America's Users Spend on Illegal Drugs)

HEALTH EFFECTS

• Methamphetamine can kill you.  An overdose of meth can result in heart failure.  Long-term physical effects such as liver and lung damage may also kill you (US Department of Justice/DEA)

• Meth decreases user' blood flow, causing an itching sensation that causes users to scratch themselves repeatedly, leading to skin lesions.  Decreased blood supply also damages the soft tissue of the gums and chemicals attack the tooth enamel, causing "meth mouth" with teeth decayed down to the gum line (HR Magazine, Meth in the Workplace)

• Meth affects the central nervous system (University of Nebraska, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources

• Meth affects dopamine levels in the brain.  Dopamine is involved in motivation, the experience of pleasure and motor function.  Continued use of meth causes the abuser to have a difficult time feeling pleasure with the drug (University of Nebraska, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources)

CRIME AND PUNISHMENT

• Meth lab seizures have gone up 577% nationally since 1995 (Narconon)

• Meth lab incidents in Arkansas have decreased from 714 in 2003 to 407 in 2006 due to an increase in law enforcement education as well as stricter laws on buying the products to make the drug.

• The cost to clean up a single meth lab ranges from $3000 to $160,000 (US Department of Justice/DEA)

• Meth arrests have gone up 300% nationally since 1993 (Narconon)

• In 2006 in Arkansas there was 34.6 kilograms of meth seized.  That is equal to 76.13 pounds or the average size of an 11 year old boy (Us Department of Justice/DEA)

• An individual who has severe addiction commits nearly 63 crimes a year (NADCP, National Association of Drug Court Professionals)

• As of July 2007 - Arkansas population is 2,779,154.  The state prison population is 13,807.  The probation population is 29,128 (US Department of Justice/DEA)

• Drug testing of arrestees at numerous jails across the nation establishes that 66% of all arrestees test positive for illegal drugs (NADCP, National Association of Drug Court Proffesionals)

• Drug offenders accounted for 72% of the overall increase in the federal prison population between 2000 and 2004. (NADCP, National Association of Drug Court Professionals)

• Overall about 2/3 of probationers, approximately 2 million person may be characterized as alcohol or drug involved offenders. (NADCP, National Association of Drug Court Professionals)

DRUG COURTS

• Drug Courts were developed in the late 1980's in response to the costly and time consuming approach to dealing with non-violent, substance abusing offenders that were overwhelming the criminal justice system (NADCP, National Association of Drug Court Professionals)

• There are over 1,500 drug courts throughout the nation (NADCP, Nation Association of Drug Court Professionals)

• Over 400,000 persons have entered drug court programs (NADCP, National Association of Drug Court Professionals)

• Retention rates among Drug Courts are between 65% and 85% (NADCP, National Association of Drug Court Professionals)

• Most Drug Court participants have at least a 15 year history of drug use. (NADCP, National Association of Drug Court Professionals)

• Over 70% of all drug-using offenders who have entered drug court programs since their inception in 1989 have either successfully completed the program or are currently participating in one (NADCP, National Association of Drug Court Professionals)

• A year of drug court costs $1800 to $4400 per participant.  This compares to at least $20,000 a year to jail an offender. (NADCP, National Association of Drug Court Professionals)

• 50% of defendants convicted of drug possession recidivate within 2 to 3 years.  Recidivism among al Drug Court participants has ranges from 5% to 28% and less than 4% for drug court graduates (NADCP, National Association of Drug Court Professionals)