Presentation Goal : 1.To educate you about the threat of meth. 2.To motivate you to take action in your family and community. Presentation Topics: Meth.

Presentation Goal:1. To educate you about the threat of meth.

2. To motivate you to take action in your family and community.

Presentation Topics:Meth Facts

Effects of Meth Use on Individuals

Effects on Communities

Families and Prevention

Treatment and Intervention

Communities and Prevention

FRIENDS FAMILIES

PARENTS

CHILDREN NEIGHBORS

LAW ENFORCEMENT

ENVIRONMENTEDUCATION

TAKING ACTION

Meth Affects the Whole Community

Meth is a highly addictivestimulant drug

•Snorted •Smoked •Injected Intravenously •Eaten or rubbed on the gums

Also known as:• Crank • Ice• Crystal • Speed• Tweak • Poor Man’s

Cocaine• Tina• Chalk

What is Methamphetamine

?

Meth is made by combining pseudoephedrine and household chemicals

Meth Facts

“If you can bake a cake, you can make meth”

Meth Facts

Up to 80% of all meth used in the United States is

made in super labs in

Mexicoand California

and trafficked intoother states

Meth Facts

1990 1992 1995

1996 1997 1999

2000 2001 2005

Meth Facts

How Meth Affects Users

“It’s like running five marathons at one time”


Who Uses Meth?

12 million people have tried meth:• Men and women (Heroin = 4:1; Cocaine = 3:1) • Largest age group: 18-25 • More White users than other ethnicities

Meth isn’t only used to get high or escape: • Working moms• Students • Truck drivers • Busy professionals


SHORT TERM: Powerful rush, euphoria, long-lasting high can stretch on for days after binge

INCREASES: ENERGYCONFIDENCESEX DRIVEBLOOD PRESSUREHEART RATE

DECREASES: INHIBITION APPETITE NEED FOR SLEEP

Your Body on Meth


Dopamine is a feel-good chemical produced by

the brain

Meth kicks dopamine production into high gear, lighting up the

brain

The Brain on Meth

*

BEFORE AFTER BEFORE AFTER

June 2001 November 2004

July 2003 17 months later

December 1999 3 months later

Source: Multnomah County Detention Center, Oregon, photos by Deputy Bret King (The Oregonian, p. D1, 12-28-04)

August 1996 4 years later


Long term effects– Paranoia – Hallucinations – especially of bugs

crawling under the skin– Depression– Obsessive behavior– Agitation – Insomnia – Aggression or violent behavior– Convulsions – Death



Meth changes brain chemistry, and after extended use, the

brain stops responding to dopamine.

The result: users can’t feel good.

Inside the Brain…

Impact of Meth on Communities

“When you smell a meth lab for the first time, it’s like a homicide detective smelling a dead body for

the first time”-Shawn Johnson, DEA

Cooking one pound of meth produces five tosix pounds of toxic waste

Cleaning up one meth lab cancost thousands of taxpayer dollars




Children at Risk• Meth users neglect

children

• Dangerous home environment


Source: National Association of Counties, 2007; 500 Counties in 45 States


Crime

Meth is an escalatingproblem for law enforcement

– 47% view meth as the #1 illegal drug problem

– 55% say meth is driving up robberies and burglaries

– Identity theft


Meth’s Costs to Communities

Hospital and Emergency Room Care

Dental care

HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis

First Responders

Social Services

*


“You have to become a warrior on behalf of your child. We must use all the strategies, weaponry

and cunning we can muster up.” – Lea Minalga


THE POWER OF PARENTS

• Kids who learn a lot about the risk of drugs from their parents are up to 50% less likely to use drugs.

• But only 31% of teens say they learn a lot about the risk of drugs from their parents.

Source: 2007 PATS Parents, 2009 PATS Teens


Underestimate Use (“Not My Kid”)

ParentsMy teen hastried marijuana

TeensI have triedmarijuana

18%

44%

Source: 2007 PATS Parents, 2009 PATS Teens


Overestimate Risk Perception

Parents

My teen sees great risk in using methamphetamine

Teens

I see great risk in usingmethamphetamine

72%

62%


Reality Check

• 1 in 5 teens has a friend who tried meth

• About 1 in 4 don’t believe trying meth once or twice would be very risky

• Impact on user, family & community is disproportionate to the number of users

UsePerception of Risk

Social Disapproval

Perception of Risk Use

SocialDisapproval

Preventing drug abuse means building strong anti-drug attitudes among kids


AVERAGE AGE OF FIRST USE

Source: Monitoring the Future, 2009

A: 12 B: 13-14C: 15-17D: 18 AND UP

When Should I Start Talking to My Kids About Drugs?

AGE 5



Talking About Drugs

• Use Teachable moments: Using real-life situations as conversation starters

• Monitoring: Where, What, When and With Whom?

• Be a Parent, not a Pal: Set rules, expectations and boundaries…and enforce them.

*

Intervention and Treatment

“I was sick of hurting all the time, and sick and tired of the addiction. ..doing drugs was no longer something

that gave me pleasure”

-Eric Stone, recovering from meth addiction


Addiction is a disease, and like other diseases, it can be treated

Addiction can affect anyone: men, women, adults, teens, rich and poor

22 million Americans afflicted; 3 million get treatment


• She can stop if she really wants to

• People need to hit “rock bottom”

• Treatment won’t work

• Meth addiction is hopeless and untreatable

• People need help with addiction

• Acting sooner is better

• Treatment can help – it works for many

• Meth addiction is challenging and treatable

Myths & Realities

Research shows there are several approaches showing positive results in treating meth addiction


• Need good nutrition and sleep regimen• Highly agitated – short attention span• Co-occurring psychiatric disorders• May need significant medical and dental attention

Challenges of Meth Treatment

Treatment requires persistence but it pays off for individuals, families and communities


“It’s everybody’s job to stop it”

-Hazelden Foundation: Meth, Our Nation’s Crisis


• Families• Children• Neighborhoods• Homeowners• Landlords• Healthcare workers• First responders• Hotel workers

• Real estate agents• Meter readers• Park employees• Business owners• Letter carriers• Teachers• Taxpayers

We are all affected:


How Can You Help? • Educate yourself

– Learn about meth, its threat to the community and what you can do about it

at www.drugfree.org/meth• Educate others

– Spread the word about the dangers of meth, and the importance of the Meth360 presentation


How Can You Help?

BE ALERT:

Signs of use: Agitation, mood swings, extreme weight loss, aggression, sores or skin lesions, insomnia or sleeping for days

Signs of production: Strong chemical smells, like ammonia or cat urine, excess trash, unusual activity at a home, visitors at odd hours, blacked out windows or shades always drawn

If you “see something, say something”

Taking Action

Take action in your family – educate, talk, monitor and e-mail

Take action in your community –network, volunteer, and speak out

Taking Action in Your Family

• Talk to everyone to keep the conversation going– your kids, fellow parents, colleagues and neighbors

• E-mail 3 friends about the presentation, what you have learned and the resources available

• Think about what other community groups would be interested in seeing the Meth360 presentation

• Monitor your child’s behaviors

Taking Action in your Community

Volunteer to help with prevention programs• Neighborhood schools and community groups• United Way, Boys and Girls Clubs, YMCA/YWCA• Places of worship

Talk to influential people in your community:• School boards, teachers, PTA groups• Community leaders• Newspaper editors, TV station managers, etc.

Program Resources and Materials

Online Presenter Training

drugfree.org/pact360

eNewsletterTimely News, Tools and Tips

Parenting Tips In Your Inbox: Receive helpful information for raising healthy kids at www.drugfree.org

Find us @drugnews on Twitter for the latest news about drugs and alcohol.

Keep up-to-date by on becoming a friend of the Facebook page of The Partnership at Drugfree.org

Stay connected to theThe Partnership at

Drugfree.org

Resources to help parents have conversations with their kids at www.timetotalk.org

Presentation Goal : 1.To educate you about the threat of meth. 2.To motivate you to take action in your family and community. Presentation Topics: Meth.

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