METH USE CLOSER TO HOME THAN YOU THINK

Youve seen the commercials, the ones with teenagers who end up
destroying their lives because of meth, the commercials that show
people trying meth for their first time, convinced they wont turn out
like that guy. Its just a commercial, right?

Wrong. Put your ignorance aside and think about how much of a problem
meth is. Think about how many lives it destroys and how prevalent its
use is in our state.

According to the Hawaii Meth Project, $43 million is spent on
meth-related emergency room visits in Hawaii. Our state ranks fourth
highest for meth-related drug offenses. And meth use amongst Hawaiis
10th graders has increased by 87 percent.

Whats more is that you dont have to actively be doing meth to reap
its unhealthy effects. Meth labs contain chemical vapors that can
cause health problems as well as death. Until, or if, the lab is
cleaned up, the residues still pose as risks - meaning, unless
someone is caught and arrested in a space with meth, hazardous
exposure can remain undiscovered by unsuspecting home buyers and
neighbors, as well as tourists in hotel rooms.

Keep in mind that for every pound of meth produced, approximately
five pounds of toxic waste (are) generated, according to Hawaii Meth
Projects Web site.

There are many products used to make methamphetamine. In fact, most
of these can be found around your house and local stores. The base
chemicals, ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, are common in
over-the-counter medicines. Some additional ingredients used are
acetone from nail polish remover, hydrochloric acid found in pool
chemicals, lithium from batteries, sulfuric acid from drain cleaners,
and anhydrous ammonia in fertilizer.

The Hawaii Meth Project lists startling facts concerning the vapors
from cooking meth: they can become extremely unstable, creating
explosions capable of burning and killing.

How does this affect my health? you may ask. Well, you wouldnt eat
fertilizer and batteries, would you?

You dont have to be exposed to a contaminated area for a long time to
acquire adverse symptoms. According to CBS News, even short-term
exposure to vapors and residue where the drug is smoked or cooked can
cause eye and skin irritation, vomiting, rashes, asthma problems and
other respiratory issues.

Cleaning up the contaminated area is really the only solution, but an
expensive one at an estimated $2,000 to $20,000. Keeping in mind our
economy, who really has that much money to spare?

Being aware of the problem can help to fight the battle. If youre
looking for a place to stay or if you happen to know a personal case
of meth use, it all comes down to this: Meth affects the pleasure
centers of the brain. The Hawaii Meth Project states that it is
considered even more addictive than heroin. A meth user will have
intense cravings for the drug and may do anything, such as having sex
or using violence, to get more.

Many of us understand that drugs are bad, but at the same time, we
dont truly take the message to heart. We may feel drugs do not affect
us, because we dont personally do them, but in reality, there is no
escape. We are all affected.