Methamphetamine Abuse: A Perfect Storm of Complications

Abstract

Previously restricted primarily to Hawaii and California, methamphetamine abuse has reached epidemic proportions throughout the United States during the past decade, specifically in rural and semirural areas. Particular characteristics of methamphetamine production and use create conditions for a "perfect storm" of medical and social complications. Unlike imported recreational drugs such as heroin and cocaine, methamphetamine can be manufactured locally from commonly available household ingredients according to simple recipes readily available on the Internet. Methamphetamine users and producers are frequently one and the same, resulting in both physical and environmental consequences. Users experience emergent, acute, subacute, and chronic injuries to neurologic, cardiac, pulmonary, dental, and other systems. Producers can sustain life-threatening injuries in the frequent fires and explosions that result when volatile chemicals are combined. Partners and children of producers, as well as unsuspecting first responders to a crisis, are exposed to toxic by-products of methamphetamine manufacture that contaminate the places that serve simultaneously as "lab" and home. From the vantage point of a local emergency department, this article reviews the range of medical and social consequences that radiate from a single hypothetical methamphetamine-associated incident.

Long-Term Methamphetamine Administration in the Vervet Monkey Models Aspects of a Human Exposure: Brain Neurotoxicity and Behavioral Profiles

“…As methamphetamine (METH) abuse becomes more widespread, increases in the number of METH-dependent individuals have been reported (Lineberry and Bostwick, 2006). Although behavioral consequences associated with long-term METH exposure have been extensively documented in METH abusers (Cretzmeyer et al, 2003;Ling et al, 2006;Meredith et al, 2005), the corresponding magnitude and duration of brain alterations remain unclear due, in part, to the paucity of relevant human data.…”

Exposures associated with clandestine methamphetamine drug laboratories in Australia

“…Children removed from homes where methamphetamine has been manufactured (112)(113)(114)(115)(116) have been reported to display a range of behavioural issues including academic difficulties (12), developmental delay (78), a higher incidence and risk of externalising (acting out) problems (112)(113)(114)(115)(116), aggressive behaviour (112-116), post-traumatic or dissociative symptoms (114,115) and internalising problems (115). In addition children in environments where methamphetamine, and other drugs or abuse, are used or manufactured can also be exposed to a wider range of other chemicals, neglect, criminal behaviour, abuse (emotional, physical and sexual) that place these children at risk of developmental, behavioural and other mental health problems (114,115,(117)(118)(119)(120).…”

“…Children from homes where there is drug abuse and manufacturing frequently live in squalor, neglect and abuse (69,71,73,135,136) where lack of stimulation, poor nutrition, unsanitary conditions and medical problems associated pre-and post-natal exposure to drugs and chemicals (12,69). Children from homes with a history of parental drug abuse or from a home with domestic violence were 3-3.5 times more likely to test positive to illicit drugs in urine or hair (137).…”

“…There are many general reviews that identify a range of chemical hazards associated with the manufacture of methamphetamine that include the use of corrosive, explosive, flammable and toxic chemicals (5,12,(26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32). More generally, the manufacturing of methamphetamine from ephedrine and pseudoephedrine (most common and preferred method in Australia) has the potential to result in contamination from the storage and use of precursors and chemicals, gases released during various stages of manufacture, methamphetamine residues and waste materials.…”

“…The clandestine manufacture of ATS places several groups of people at risk including adults (such as the drug "cooks"), children, neighbours, police, forensic scientists and emergency workers (7,(9)(10)(11). Children living in proximity to clandestine laboratories operated by parents or family members are at increased risk of injury and adverse health effects (9,12). Australia has developed guidelines relating to the assessment and remediation of contamination (3,13) that include human health risk-based guidelines for indoor air, indoor surfaces and outdoor environments in residential, commercial and public open space areas (3).…”