2. What is meth? Methamphetamine is a powerfully addictive substance that affects the central nervous system. It is as addictive as crack and cocaine but is 10 times as strong and 10 times as dangerous.
13. Where are the labs found? Labs are found in rural, city and suburban residences; barns, garages and other outbuildings; back rooms of businesses; apartments; hotel and motel rooms; storage facilities; vacant buildings; and vehicles.
43. Dave’s story David Parnell is 39 years old, married and has seven children. He is also a methamphetamine and suicide survivor. David began using marijuana at the age of thirteen. He then progressed to harder drugs eventually discovering methamphetamine.
44. Dave’s Story continued He was addicted to meth for seven years before attempting suicide by shooting himself under the chin with a SKS assault rifle, literally blowing his face apart. Dave in the hospital Dave today Dave before
45. Dave’s Story continued His injuries were so severe he was written off as deceased by the sheriff's department while in transit to the hospital. He has had over 15 surgeries and still has many more to go. David is now sober after spending 23 years on drugs. He has personally shared his story in 13 states, Canada, and England.
46. How big of a problem? In 2004, 1.4 million persons aged 12 or older (0.6 percent of the population) had used methamphetamine in the past year, and 600,000 (0.2 percent) had used it in the past month.
47. How big of a problem? The number of past month methamphetamine users who met criteria for illicit drug dependence or abuse in the past 12 months increased from 164,000 (27.5 percent of past month methamphetamine users) in 2002 to 346,000 (59.3 percent) in 2004
48. Why is it Addicting? Meth is a amphetamine, through its stimulant effects, produces a positive feeling, but when it wears off it leaves a person with the opposite feelings.