Unbelievable. A 32-year-old attorney from Ripley, West Virginia has been arrested for trying to sell methamphetamines. She smoked some meth, then tried to sell some to a police informant. Well you know what? That is a no-no in any city, county or state – and she was busted. The story is here.
What is equally amazing are the on again, off again meth related charges that Sullivan has faced. See here and here.
Meth is a white, odorless, bitter-tasting crystalline powder that easily dissolves in water or alcohol. It is often taken in combination with other drugs such as cocaine and marijuana and, like heroin and cocaine, can be inhaled, injected, ingested, or smoked. Meth is classified as a central nervous system stimulant drug. Street meth is referred to by many names, such as speed, tweak, uppers, glass, bikers’ coffee, poor man's cocaine, chicken feed, and stove top. Methamphetamine hydrochloride, which is meth in clear chunky crystal form resembling ice, can be inhaled by smoking. This “crystal meth” is also referred to as ice, crank, crystal, tina, and glass.
Meth is similar in chemical structure to amphetamine. It was first synthesized in 1919 as a synthetic substitute for ephedrine. Although meth can be prescribed, its medical uses are limited. It is sometimes used in very low doses for the treatment of narcolepsy (a sleep disorder) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The doses that are prescribed are much lower than those typically abused. Because it is so easily abused, meth is classified as a Schedule II drug, which means that it is only available through a doctor’s prescription that cannot be refilled.
Meth acts by increasing the release of dopamine in the brain, which leads to feelings of euphoria. However, this pleasure high is followed by a low or "crash" that often leads to increased use of the drug. With continued use, some users may have difficulty feeling any pleasure at all, especially from natural rewards. Long-term meth abuse results in many damaging physical and psychiatric effects, such as: addiction, violent behavior, anxiety, confusion, insomnia, psychotic features (e.g. paranoia, hallucinations, delusions), and cardiovascular problems (e.g. rapid heart rate, irregular heartbeat, increased blood pressure, stroke). Essentially, meth acts by changing how the brain works. It also speeds up many functions in the body.
Smoking meth, which results in the drug acting quickly on the brain, has become more common in recent years. This has amplified meth’s addiction potential and adverse health consequences.
Approximately 10 million people 12 years and older have abused meth in their lifetimes. It has been reported that in 2005, approximately 500,000 people were current users. Abuse has been especially noteworthy in certain areas of the country with indicators suggesting particular problems in Hawaii, California and the West Coast states, rural areas of the West and, more recently, the Midwest.
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