Well kids, it's official. You now need a prescription to buy your Sudafed in the state of Oregon when you've got the sniffles. The law, signed Tuesday, requires a prescription for previously over-the-counter drugs containing a component, known as Pseudoephedrine, which can be used by home-grown 'cooks' making meth. Nevermind that such sources represent a small source of the drug component since, "two-thirds of the meth in the nation is imported from "super labs" operating in Mexico" according to USA Today. Continued ...One bigger issue is that without national legislation it will be simple for home-grown producers to hop across state lines, and it will give Mexican drug cartels, which are already stepping up meth production, an obvious vacuum to fill. Nevertheless, it seems to me like the whole meth paranoia sweeping the nation seems highly reminiscent of the crack epidemic in the '80s - trumped up by ineffective police and drug agencies and overblown by politicians into a legislation frenzy. My girlfriend suggested I should stock up on a few boxes before I leave Washington, but it seems far more likely that I will just have my Mom send me a box when I get sick with a cold next winter.
Technorati: Newspaper | Journalism | Blogging | Writing | Meth | Oregon | Sudafed | Ephedrine
3 Comments:
yeah... I'm not amused. Isn't our governor just swell? Nice little feel good measure to pad the pre-election resume.
I plan on getting myself put on some watch list by stocking up on meds.
I'm not sure how I feel about this legislation. I grew up (and currently live) in a town with a severe meth problem. It's one of the worst places for meth abuse/manufacturing in the nation (random fact: meth cooks well at high elevations, which is why there's such a problem in KFalls). There are huge meth ring busts on almost a monthly basis and a HUGE number of children are in foster care because their parents are meth freaks, so I sort of see the need for it. Even if the majority of meth is imported, there is still a whole shitload of it being made. And the truth is, if it weren't so easy to make, the tweakers around here wouldn't have easy access to it. It's much more affordable when you know the people who make it. It's prevelant in this town because it's cheap and easy to make and it's really a big problem. I think everyone in Klamath Falls probably knows at least one person who uses meth. People high on meth are not safe to be around at a point. Every day the newspaper prints the names of the people arrested the previous day and there are always 5 or 6 arrested for meth or meth-related crimes. I've started going through the crimewatch section with my high-school yearbook next to me because so many of my former classmates have been arrested.
The process of making meth is incredibly toxic -- normally a building that has housed a meth lab has to be torn down, and people (ie children) unfortunate enough to live in a meth house against their will face YEARS of medical problems while their bodies detox -- so this isn't about stopping meth use, it's about stoping the manufacturing of it.
All that being said, I do have a problem with legislation which targets innocent people buying legal prodcuts. I've worked in retail and it's already hard enough to buy sudafed. My problem with this is that it targets poor people. I know I can't afford an 80 dollar doctor visit plus the cost of perscription medicine for the sniffles. OHP doesn't pay for perscriptions and I don't doubt that once it becomes perscription, medicine that once cost 3 bucks for a generic brand will now cost 30. It's going to screw the poor.
I have some other problems with Kulongowski, but that's another long-winded reply.
Please tell me that you all are smarter that this...
Yes, that's it. 'Meth is the NEW drug craze. It destroys all that are touched by it. It not stopped now, it will envelop the world in 15 years!' Well, that's an interesting effect from an eighty-six year old drug; from a nearly 120 year old drug class. No. It's not new. In all that time it's only been scheduled for thirty-three years. Hell, it's been a PRESCRIPTION drug for less than 50 years! Methamphetamine is not even listed as an addictive drug. Yes, it's habit forming, as is anything that someone will want to repeat. But, Addiction, by true meaning, is different. Look up the word. Hopefully you can find the REAL meaning of it (because the W.H.O. changed the definition to match the 'moronic brain fodder' TV talk shows.) You see, these days there is a much more damaging craze. It's called irresponsibility. It's just too damn easy for people to go be selfish, destructive, asses, full well knowing what they are doing. And then, whine 'I was addicted.' It's disgusting.
I am fortunate enough to know someone that is not like that; a rarity these days. He works two jobs and he works them by choice, not necessity. He also goes to school. He also uses meth. And, has proven time and time again that he really can stop any time. Furthermore, he did not relapse into an 'addiction.' He was simply told that the bet was over and he could proceed as he wished. He does not steal to support his drug of choice. He does not act violently (oh, did I mention that a meth user is in actuality nearly a third less likely to be violent than a non user. Sound crazy? Medical statistics. The kind the public don't usually dig deep enough to see.) Before using, he sets a limit on how much and he sticks to that limit. He is a productive, well mannered, decent headed member of society. Why is he different? Because he takes responsibility for his own actions instead of trying to find a scapegoat.
Jobetta Hedelman, Here are some real facts for you:
"meth cooks well at high elevations." - Why would that be? Usually, when someone refers to 'cooking' it, they are talking about a simple reduction with hydriodic acid. At higher elevations materials boil at a lower temperature. Boiling hydriodic acid results in a loss of hydriodic gas which results in a loss of reactant. So, higher elevations would actually work against the process. Matter of fact, the reaction works much better under pressure, but not to many chemists that I know really want to put hydriodic acid in a bomb (high pressure reaction chamber.)
"a HUGE number of children are in foster care because their parents are meth freaks" - Yes, I've seen this also. However, I have known many families that function very well, that later are revealed to show a few family members (with children) that are methamphetamine users. I believe I've seen a larger amount of said families due to my former employer. In nearly all cases, the children are damaged much, much more by 'storm troopers' ripping them from their families and putting them into child care. But, as long as the media myths persist, and people perpetuate those myths, this will continue. Now, my own personal opinion: If you are going to make a drug your #1 thing in life, that makes your kids at least #2. The kids should come first; always.
"Even if the majority of meth is imported, there is still a whole shitload of it being made" - Well, there is not as much being made as you've been led to believe. Less than 13% of all used in the US is made in the US. And, that statistic was coined BEFORE the new law went into effect. Have you wondered why there is so much concern about domestic production and so little concert for smuggling cartels? Well, I give it to you bluntly. Cartels make nice payoffs to officials. Punk kids do not.
"if it weren't so easy to make" - Wow, that's the myth they just wont let die. How many people do you know, that know how to do reduction? And, it's not nearly that simple anymore. The pills are real bear to extract. There are things placed in the pills to ruin the reaction. And, the pills are watched like a hawk. Today, thanks especially to PEG technology, you would be lucky to extract 20% of the pseudoephedrine from the pills. So, in a traditional package of 96(the huge box), 30mg each, 2.88grams gross. Extracted would be a little more than half a gram. And, since most of the people trying this reduction do not know squat about chemistry, a little less than half of that amount is converted to methamphetamine. After separation, cleaning, filtration, and chlorination (known as gassing), there is usually about half of that amount left. So, out of a large box of pills, you get between an eighth and a quarter gram. It's not easy and it's not very rewarding in terms of production. Even skilled chemists rarely reach 100% yields on their reactions.
"People high on meth are not safe to be around at a point" - I have to agree with you on this one. Meth is not a substitute for sleep or food, even if it alleviates the symptoms of hunger and fatigue. People that do not know this will often use the substance far too long. After being awake for a long time, especially when deprived of nutrients, the mind doesn't work very well. However, in nearly all cases, meth users have been about 30% less likely to be violent. That is one of the statistics that I refused to botch in my research. That is why I am currently jobless. Those statistics that you see are largely lies. While working for NIDA, I would often see colleagues outright lie to save their jobs. I didn't play ball and I got 'let go.' You find what they tell you to, or you find another job. The other statistic was in reference to neurotoxicity. 'They' wanted me to lie, and say that methamphetamine was extremely damaging. They would have you believe that it was saxitoxin.
"there are always 5 or 6 arrested for meth or meth-related crimes" - "Meth related crimes" encompasses just about anything that law enforcement and the courts want it to. I know someone that was pulled over for a non working turn signal. The officer saw a box of matches in a grocery bag along with groceries, and a half used worn box of generic Sudafed in a storage pocket of this particular vehicles storage pocket. This person, who was as clean as they get, was charged and convicted of conspiracy to manufacture a controlled substance and manufacturing chemicals. He's serving time, after losing his house, wife, and family. He was appealing it. But, between law enforcement property seizure and attorney fees, he's broke. Besides, when his wife left him he lost all meaning in life. Every person that perpetuates the lies about this stuff is responsible for this innocent mans (and many, many others) doom.
"The process of making meth is incredibly toxic" - No. Not near as much as you would believe. The most toxic parts of the hydriodic reaction are largely pH based. After all, acid is acid and does damage flesh. Another one that people overlook; hydroxides. In simplest terms, they are the anti-acids. They will burn flesh every bit as bad. But, once the process is over, these items are neutralized. Did I hear someone mention phosphine gas? That is some bad stuff. It's pyrophoric; it spontaneously catches fire and/or explodes at about 80 degrees and/or around water. It's also extremely deadly. It is also NOT PRODUCED when someone is doing a reduction of pseudoephedrine with hydriodic acid, UNLESS THEY HAVE THE HEAT TURNED UP WAY TOO HIGH!
"normally a building that has housed a meth lab has to be torn down" - Hogwash. That crap is media hype. The stuff left behind, iodides, are required by the body. This is what kills me. The media pushes this garbage and people believe it, and repeat it, like it's gospel. Here's another fun fact for you: People are not getting enough iodide salts in table salt. So, bread is being looked at as an additional carrier of iodide salts... ...to keep people healthy.
"people (i.e. children) unfortunate enough to live in a meth house against their will face YEARS of medical problems while their bodies detox" - And, what is it specifically that takes years to detox from? Again, media bullshit. Detox for years? You must be thinking heavy metals; mercury, lead, cadmium. Not hydriodic acid, not phosphorus, not meth. You'll have more to detox from a cheap landlord that uses electrical solder for indoor plumbing...
"it targets poor people" and "screw the poor" - Now you're on to something. Do you know anyone with ADD or ADHD? Amphetamines truly work miracles for people that have those problems (for most, anyway.) If you do, ask them how much their monthly medicine is. Ask yourself this: Why does it cost $300+ for a prescription that costs $10 for any freshman chemistry student to make. Here is a big hint for you: Bush has LOTS of money tied up in pharmaceutical and oil companies. The rich get richer and the poor get poorer. Well, I'm off. finding a job is rather difficult for me, these days. Forget that I am a Ph.D , and MD, and a research biochemist. Once your blackballed in this country for not playing ball, you're done.
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