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Where Does Methamphetamine Come From?
Where Does It Come From?
Methamphetamine is a man-made stimulant that’s been around for a long time. During World War II, soldiers took meth to stay awake. People have also taken the drug to lose weight, ease depression, and manage attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Today, the only legal meth product is a prescription pill. Rarely, it’s used to treat obesity and ADHD.
Meth contains chemicals that are similar to amphetamine, a drug used to treat ADHD and narcolepsy. Find out the differences between Adderall and methamphetamines, as well as amphetamines vs. methamphetamines.
Crystal meth is often made with a common cold medicine ingredient called pseudoephedrine, which helps ease congestion. Because it’s used to make meth, the federal government closely regulates products with pseudoephedrine.
Illegal methamphetamine may also contain chemicals found in household products such as batteries, drain cleaner, fertilizer, nail polish remover, or paint thinner.
Most of the crystal meth and other meth products used in this country are made by transactional criminal organizations (TCOs)in Mexico. In addition to these Mexican “superlabs,” there are many small home labs in the U. S. Making meth is a dangerous process because of the chemicals involved. Along with being toxic, they can cause explosions.
How Common Is Meth Use?
Almost 2.5 million people in the U.S. aged 12 or older say they use meth every year. That’s almost 1% of the population. In general, people use it a little less often than other stimulants such as cocaine. But certain groups are more likely to use meth.
Disparities in meth use
In the past, middle-aged white people used this cheap drug most often. But over the past decade, rates have gone up among Black people and younger folks aged 18-23.
People who commonly use meth in a risky way often face socioeconomic disadvantages, such as:
- Less education
- Low household income
- Less access to health insurance
- Unstable housing
- A history with the criminal justice system
You may be more likely to use meth in unsafe ways if you have:
- HIV/AIDS
- Hepatitis
- Other sexually transmitted infections
- Depression
- Another substance use problem
Meth Legality
Methamphetamine hydrochloride (Desoxyn) is the only legal methamphetamine in the U.S. It’s a pill approved to treat ADHD, but doctors don’t prescribe it very often. Crystal meth and all other meth products are illegal.
How long does meth stay in your system?
Your body doesn’t break down meth as fast as some other stimulant drugs, such as cocaine. You may feel the effects for 8-24 hours. But it may stay in your urine or blood for around 72 hours and in your hair for up to 90 days.
How long meth makes you high or stays in your system depends on several things, such as:
- How much you take
- What time of day you take it
- How you put it in your body (by mouth or through a vein in your arm)
- How healthy your kidneys and liver are
- Your metabolism
How Do People Use Meth?
There are different ways to get meth into your body. Some people swallow it in a pill form or smoke it by heating up crystals in a glass bowl or pipe and breathing in the vapors.
Here’s a breakdown of some slang terms used to describe other ways people use crystal meth:
- Slamming. You use a needle to inject the drug right into your veins.
- Booty bumping. You dissolve crystal meth in water and shoot the mixture into your anus with a syringe. Some people place a crystal meth rock or meth-covered finger into their rectum.
- Snorting. You chop up a crystal or crush it into a powder before sniffing it.
- Hot railing. You heat up a glass stem until it’s very hot and place that over a meth rock or powder. Then you breathe in the vapors through your nostril.
