Methamphetamine-The REAL reason the U.S. isn't focusing on this epidemic

[Epic Beard Man]

Methamphetamine is a real problem in the United States, and as someone who regularly deal with psychiatric patients, I'm often confronted with patients who come in not just with their baseline psychiatric condition, but also their condition is often compounded by methamphetamine use. Almost every day, I'm easily treating at least eight different patients with meth induce psychosis. According to Kaiser Health News meth use across the country reports on overdose deaths involving meth more than quadrupled from 2011 to 2017. Admissions to treatment facilities for meth are up 17%. Hospitalizations related to meth jumped by about 245% from 2008 to 2015. And throughout the West and Midwest, 70% of local law enforcement agencies say meth is their biggest drug threat (see source here).

Although a cross country problem, policymakers in D.C. are intimately focusing their efforts on combating the opioid problem. But my concern as a healthcare worker is that there aren't enough resources to combat this problem, and I firmly believe that the shift in focus is more intently class and racial. According to a research article by Santoro and Santoro, historical and cognitive biases, along with physician bias and media portrayals, of opioid abuse and governmental regulation are all polyfactorial root causes for racial inequities in the opioid epidemic (See source).

When it comes to this epidemic I firmly believe that there are racial discrepancies in Washington D.C. focus on combating the opiate and meth drug epidemic. When looking at what matters people like New Jersey Governor Chris Christie who shared his personal experience with alcoholism that killed his brother or Businesswoman Carly Fiorina who shared her experience of the death of her daughter due to drugs show how lived experience and personal relationships can influence policy decisions. However, many of these stories also expose the impact on another issue that may not be seen initially and that is race.

According to an article by Vox:

"Even after decades of progress on racial issues, America remains a very segregated country. On a day to day basis, most Americans closely interact only with people of the same race. And that impacts our politics and policies. Consider the opioid epidemic, which contributed to the record 52,000 drug overdose deaths reported in 2015. Because the crisis has disproportionately affected white Americans, white lawmakers — who make up a disproportionate amount of all levels of government — are more likely to come into contact with people afflicted by the opioid epidemic than, say, the disproportionately black drug users who suffered during the crack cocaine epidemic of the 1980s and ’90s. And that means a lawmaker is perhaps more likely to have the kind of interaction that Christie, Trump, Bush, and Fiorina described — one that might lead them to support more compassionate drug policies — in the current crisis than the ones of old."

The article continues.....

"Is it any wonder, then, that the crack epidemic led to an incredibly punitive “tough on crime” crackdown focused on harsher prison sentences and police tactics, while the current opioid crisis has led more to more compassionate rhetoric and calls for legislation, including a measure Congress passed last year, to focus on treatment instead of incarceration? (Although some states have passed “tough on crime” laws in response to the opioid epidemic-source."

So while many minorities suffer from a drug epidemic of meth and crack cocaine, the response from policymakers is usually to lock them up while the response for the opioid epidemic, is to fund treatment programs. As a healthcare worker it just seems that there is not enough focus on treating people who turn to meth, and I feel as a professional that it is largely because it does not impact the personal relationships of policymaker. New York Mayor Svante Myrick shares my sentiment when referring to his black constituents:

"Oh, when it was happening in my neighborhood it was ‘lock ’em up.’ Now that it’s happening in the [largely white, wealthy] Heights, the answer is to use my tax dollars to fund treatment centers. Well, my son could have used a treatment center in 1989, and he didn’t get one.”

 

[Milton Platt]

Methamphetamine is a real problem in the United States, and as someone who regularly deal with psychiatric patients, I'm often confronted with patients who come in not just with their baseline psychiatric condition, but also their condition is often compounded by methamphetamine use. Almost every day, I'm easily treating at least eight different patients with meth induce psychosis. According to Kaiser Health News meth use across the country reports on overdose deaths involving meth more than quadrupled from 2011 to 2017. Admissions to treatment facilities for meth are up 17%. Hospitalizations related to meth jumped by about 245% from 2008 to 2015. And throughout the West and Midwest, 70% of local law enforcement agencies say meth is their biggest drug threat (see source here).

Although a cross country problem, policymakers in D.C. are intimately focusing their efforts on combating the opioid problem. But my concern as a healthcare worker is that there aren't enough resources to combat this problem, and I firmly believe that the shift in focus is more intently class and racial. According to a research article by Santoro and Santoro, historical and cognitive biases, along with physician bias and media portrayals, of opioid abuse and governmental regulation are all polyfactorial root causes for racial inequities in the opioid epidemic (See source).

When it comes to this epidemic I firmly believe that there are racial discrepancies in Washington D.C. focus on combating the opiate and meth drug epidemic. When looking at what matters people like New Jersey Governor Chris Christie who shared his personal experience with alcoholism that killed his brother or Businesswoman Carly Fiorina who shared her experience of the death of her daughter due to drugs show how lived experience and personal relationships can influence policy decisions. However, many of these stories also expose the impact on another issue that may not be seen initially and that is race.

According to an article by Vox:

"Even after decades of progress on racial issues, America remains a very segregated country. On a day to day basis, most Americans closely interact only with people of the same race. And that impacts our politics and policies. Consider the opioid epidemic, which contributed to the record 52,000 drug overdose deaths reported in 2015. Because the crisis has disproportionately affected white Americans, white lawmakers — who make up a disproportionate amount of all levels of government — are more likely to come into contact with people afflicted by the opioid epidemic than, say, the disproportionately black drug users who suffered during the crack cocaine epidemic of the 1980s and ’90s. And that means a lawmaker is perhaps more likely to have the kind of interaction that Christie, Trump, Bush, and Fiorina described — one that might lead them to support more compassionate drug policies — in the current crisis than the ones of old."

The article continues.....

"Is it any wonder, then, that the crack epidemic led to an incredibly punitive “tough on crime” crackdown focused on harsher prison sentences and police tactics, while the current opioid crisis has led more to more compassionate rhetoric and calls for legislation, including a measure Congress passed last year, to focus on treatment instead of incarceration? (Although some states have passed “tough on crime” laws in response to the opioid epidemic-source."

So while many minorities suffer from a drug epidemic of meth and crack cocaine, the response from policymakers is usually to lock them up while the response for the opioid epidemic, is to fund treatment programs. As a healthcare worker it just seems that there is not enough focus on treating people who turn to meth, and I feel as a professional that it is largely because it does not impact the personal relationships of policymaker. New York Mayor Svante Myrick shares my sentiment when referring to his black constituents:

"Oh, when it was happening in my neighborhood it was ‘lock ’em up.’ Now that it’s happening in the [largely white, wealthy] Heights, the answer is to use my tax dollars to fund treatment centers. Well, my son could have used a treatment center in 1989, and he didn’t get one.”

I think you are right to question this. I also think that attitudes have been changing over the years, too, hence states relaxing marijuana laws. However the change has been and is slow. Now with a Republican led government, we may see some return to the old ways you speak of.

 

[The Reverend Bob]

I always thought that whites make up the majority of meth addicts, I know I could be wrong

 

[Curious George]

Methamphetamine is a real problem in the United States, and as someone who regularly deal with psychiatric patients, I'm often confronted with patients who come in not just with their baseline psychiatric condition, but also their condition is often compounded by methamphetamine use. Almost every day, I'm easily treating at least eight different patients with meth induce psychosis. According to Kaiser Health News meth use across the country reports on overdose deaths involving meth more than quadrupled from 2011 to 2017. Admissions to treatment facilities for meth are up 17%. Hospitalizations related to meth jumped by about 245% from 2008 to 2015. And throughout the West and Midwest, 70% of local law enforcement agencies say meth is their biggest drug threat (see source here).

Although a cross country problem, policymakers in D.C. are intimately focusing their efforts on combating the opioid problem. But my concern as a healthcare worker is that there aren't enough resources to combat this problem, and I firmly believe that the shift in focus is more intently class and racial. According to a research article by Santoro and Santoro, historical and cognitive biases, along with physician bias and media portrayals, of opioid abuse and governmental regulation are all polyfactorial root causes for racial inequities in the opioid epidemic (See source).

When it comes to this epidemic I firmly believe that there are racial discrepancies in Washington D.C. focus on combating the opiate and meth drug epidemic. When looking at what matters people like New Jersey Governor Chris Christie who shared his personal experience with alcoholism that killed his brother or Businesswoman Carly Fiorina who shared her experience of the death of her daughter due to drugs show how lived experience and personal relationships can influence policy decisions. However, many of these stories also expose the impact on another issue that may not be seen initially and that is race.

According to an article by Vox:

"Even after decades of progress on racial issues, America remains a very segregated country. On a day to day basis, most Americans closely interact only with people of the same race. And that impacts our politics and policies. Consider the opioid epidemic, which contributed to the record 52,000 drug overdose deaths reported in 2015. Because the crisis has disproportionately affected white Americans, white lawmakers — who make up a disproportionate amount of all levels of government — are more likely to come into contact with people afflicted by the opioid epidemic than, say, the disproportionately black drug users who suffered during the crack cocaine epidemic of the 1980s and ’90s. And that means a lawmaker is perhaps more likely to have the kind of interaction that Christie, Trump, Bush, and Fiorina described — one that might lead them to support more compassionate drug policies — in the current crisis than the ones of old."

The article continues.....

"Is it any wonder, then, that the crack epidemic led to an incredibly punitive “tough on crime” crackdown focused on harsher prison sentences and police tactics, while the current opioid crisis has led more to more compassionate rhetoric and calls for legislation, including a measure Congress passed last year, to focus on treatment instead of incarceration? (Although some states have passed “tough on crime” laws in response to the opioid epidemic-source."

So while many minorities suffer from a drug epidemic of meth and crack cocaine, the response from policymakers is usually to lock them up while the response for the opioid epidemic, is to fund treatment programs. As a healthcare worker it just seems that there is not enough focus on treating people who turn to meth, and I feel as a professional that it is largely because it does not impact the personal relationships of policymaker. New York Mayor Svante Myrick shares my sentiment when referring to his black constituents:

"Oh, when it was happening in my neighborhood it was ‘lock ’em up.’ Now that it’s happening in the [largely white, wealthy] Heights, the answer is to use my tax dollars to fund treatment centers. Well, my son could have used a treatment center in 1989, and he didn’t get one.”

Except Meth was for the longest time considered a drug of white people. Now we see meth affecting people across all ethnicities. While I agree that the crack epidemic and crackdown had huge racial undertones, I think i would like to see more evidence that such racial undertones are present beyond the consequences of over policing urban centers with disparate populations of black Americans.

In otherwords, I recognize that heavy policing (and heavier handed policing) exists in larger urban populations that have larger black populations. But can you show that this,as well as racial disparity in conviction sentencing, parole, and access to rehabilitation doesn't account for any difference in disparate treatment of meth vs. Opioids?

Keep in mid that I am discussing, here, many systemic racial disparities that need to be addresses. I am just not convinced that meth use specifically is one.

Our nations reaction to the crack epidemic sharply contrasts with the reaction towards opioid crisis. Hell even the names illustrate our different perception of the problem. But, why is it that meth falls into the same boat as crack here. I would argue that meth which is does not have the same racial disparity in addiction as crack is actually treated more severely.

And while black offenders, statistically, do get more severe sentences, decreased chance of parole, increased rate of conviction, and less access to rehabilitation, we, ultimately can not frame our nations treatment of meth, (as a drug), as a racial issue. Rather it is more likely a socioeconomic issue.

This doesn't mean that our treatment of offenders does not reflect racial disparity. Just that, i don't see how meth reflects the same racial undertones as crack vs. Opioids.

 

[The Reverend Bob]

Except Meth was for the longest time considered a drug of white people. Now we see meth affecting people across all ethnicities. While I agree that the crack epidemic and crackdown had huge racial undertones, I think i would like to see more evidence that such racial undertones are present beyond the consequences of over policing urban centers with disparate populations of black Americans.

In otherwords, I recognize that heavy policing (and heavier handed policing) exists in larger urban populations that have larger black populations. But can you show that this,as well as racial disparity in conviction sentencing, parole, and access to rehabilitation doesn't account for any difference in disparate treatment of meth vs. Opioids?

Keep in mid that I am discussing, here, many systemic racial disparities that need to be addresses. I am just not convinced that meth use specifically is one.

Our nations reaction to the crack epidemic sharply contrasts with the reaction towards opioid crisis. Hell even the names illustrate our different perception of the problem. But, why is it that meth falls into the same boat as crack here. I would argue that meth which is does not have the same racial disparity in addiction as crack is actually treated more severely.

And while black offenders, statistically, do get more severe sentences, decreased chance of parole, increased rate of conviction, and less access to rehabilitation, we, ultimately can not frame our nations treatment of meth, (as a drug), as a racial issue. Rather it is more likely a socioeconomic issue.

This doesn't mean that our treatment of offenders does not reflect racial disparity. Just that, i don't see how meth reflects the same racial undertones as crack vs. Opioids.

For a long time meth was called the white mans crack

 

[Epic Beard Man]

I always thought that whites make up the majority of meth addicts, I know I could be wrong

Depends on the geography. Here on the west coast in particular California like Watts, Compton, South Gate, Lynwood and those cities it's predominantly Hispanic. Places like Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, you'll see a demographic shift.

 

[Stevicus]

Methamphetamine is a real problem in the United States, and as someone who regularly deal with psychiatric patients, I'm often confronted with patients who come in not just with their baseline psychiatric condition, but also their condition is often compounded by methamphetamine use. Almost every day, I'm easily treating at least eight different patients with meth induce psychosis. According to Kaiser Health News meth use across the country reports on overdose deaths involving meth more than quadrupled from 2011 to 2017. Admissions to treatment facilities for meth are up 17%. Hospitalizations related to meth jumped by about 245% from 2008 to 2015. And throughout the West and Midwest, 70% of local law enforcement agencies say meth is their biggest drug threat (see source here).

Although a cross country problem, policymakers in D.C. are intimately focusing their efforts on combating the opioid problem. But my concern as a healthcare worker is that there aren't enough resources to combat this problem, and I firmly believe that the shift in focus is more intently class and racial. According to a research article by Santoro and Santoro, historical and cognitive biases, along with physician bias and media portrayals, of opioid abuse and governmental regulation are all polyfactorial root causes for racial inequities in the opioid epidemic (See source).

When it comes to this epidemic I firmly believe that there are racial discrepancies in Washington D.C. focus on combating the opiate and meth drug epidemic. When looking at what matters people like New Jersey Governor Chris Christie who shared his personal experience with alcoholism that killed his brother or Businesswoman Carly Fiorina who shared her experience of the death of her daughter due to drugs show how lived experience and personal relationships can influence policy decisions. However, many of these stories also expose the impact on another issue that may not be seen initially and that is race.

According to an article by Vox:

"Even after decades of progress on racial issues, America remains a very segregated country. On a day to day basis, most Americans closely interact only with people of the same race. And that impacts our politics and policies. Consider the opioid epidemic, which contributed to the record 52,000 drug overdose deaths reported in 2015. Because the crisis has disproportionately affected white Americans, white lawmakers — who make up a disproportionate amount of all levels of government — are more likely to come into contact with people afflicted by the opioid epidemic than, say, the disproportionately black drug users who suffered during the crack cocaine epidemic of the 1980s and ’90s. And that means a lawmaker is perhaps more likely to have the kind of interaction that Christie, Trump, Bush, and Fiorina described — one that might lead them to support more compassionate drug policies — in the current crisis than the ones of old."

The article continues.....

"Is it any wonder, then, that the crack epidemic led to an incredibly punitive “tough on crime” crackdown focused on harsher prison sentences and police tactics, while the current opioid crisis has led more to more compassionate rhetoric and calls for legislation, including a measure Congress passed last year, to focus on treatment instead of incarceration? (Although some states have passed “tough on crime” laws in response to the opioid epidemic-source."

So while many minorities suffer from a drug epidemic of meth and crack cocaine, the response from policymakers is usually to lock them up while the response for the opioid epidemic, is to fund treatment programs. As a healthcare worker it just seems that there is not enough focus on treating people who turn to meth, and I feel as a professional that it is largely because it does not impact the personal relationships of policymaker. New York Mayor Svante Myrick shares my sentiment when referring to his black constituents:

"Oh, when it was happening in my neighborhood it was ‘lock ’em up.’ Now that it’s happening in the [largely white, wealthy] Heights, the answer is to use my tax dollars to fund treatment centers. Well, my son could have used a treatment center in 1989, and he didn’t get one.”

I think the so-called "War on Drugs" has been a contributing factor in all of this. I've always thought that this should be viewed as a medical issue rather than a criminal issue - although I'll admit that I haven't had a great deal of confidence in the treatment center industry either. But they're still better than throwing people in prison for having an addiction or other mental health issue.

I've heard some theories that the reason most drugs have been pumped into the inner cities was to keep people doped up and pacified. Plus, by keeping it as a criminal offense, the police have an instant and convenient charge by which people can be arrested for whatever reason. If they don't have any drugs on them, they can be easily planted by unscrupulous cops.

Another thing that might be mentioned is that, at least recalling earlier times during my wild and misspent youth, whites who do drugs or spend time looking for drugs often do have extensive interactions with blacks and Hispanics who are involved in the drug trade.

 

[Epic Beard Man]

I've heard some theories that the reason most drugs have been pumped into the inner cities was to keep people doped up and pacified.

Well, that is one conspiratorial theory.

Plus, by keeping it as a criminal offense, the police have an instant and convenient charge by which people can be arrested for whatever reason.

Correct.

If they don't have any drugs on them, they can be easily planted by unscrupulous cops.

Right.

 

[Epic Beard Man]

Except Meth was for the longest time considered a drug of white people. Now we see meth affecting people across all ethnicities.

Well I would have to see the statistics on this but in SoCal meth is still considered a drug used by whites and Hispanics, but there is a growing trend of blacks using meth now. But typically blacks are still using crack, and pcp. What I'm seeing in my ER is the rise in the growing number of African-Americans who have long term crack cocaine usage dabbling into meth (because it's cheaper) and is cut with different stuff.

While I agree that the crack epidemic and crackdown had huge racial undertones, I think i would like to see more evidence that such racial undertones are present beyond the consequences of over policing urban centers with disparate populations of black Americans.

There are research articles on this.

But can you show that this,as well as racial disparity in conviction sentencing, parole, and access to rehabilitation doesn't account for any difference in disparate treatment of meth vs. Opioids?

I would have to sift through some research articles.

And while black offenders, statistically, do get more severe sentences, decreased chance of parole, increased rate of conviction, and less access to rehabilitation, we, ultimately can not frame our nations treatment of meth, (as a drug), as a racial issue. Rather it is more likely a socioeconomic issue.

Well, again that is my current argument that, in comparison to the opioid issue which is garnering more attention due to white kids dying from it, meth like cocaine which is used by people living in low income areas is an issue not looked at the same way as the opioid crisis. This is why I provided the links above. The idea here is when white policymakers are personally affected by the personal experiences of opioids (such as a death in the family) this influences their decisions without giving a thought to the other drug issues afflicting the inner city. When I see a young Hispanic kid that is 22 years old coming in with Supraventricular Tachecardiya due to meth use, which in severe cases leads to heart attack and death and is common in Emergency rooms across the west and midwest, it needs to be nationally addressed in the same manner as opioids. When it isn't, its a problem.

 

[Shad]

I think the so-called "War on Drugs" has been a contributing factor in all of this. I've always thought that this should be viewed as a medical issue rather than a criminal issue - although I'll admit that I haven't had a great deal of confidence in the treatment center industry either. But they're still better than throwing people in prison for having an addiction or other mental health issue.

It can be both. Reform needs to focus on the individual and level of involvement in the drug industry not one way or the other. Addicts shouldn't be in the general population for being a low level consumer. Addicts that are producers go to prison after completing whatever addiction programs are used.

 

[Shad]

Methamphetamine is a real problem in the United States, and as someone who regularly deal with psychiatric patients, I'm often confronted with patients who come in not just with their baseline psychiatric condition, but also their condition is often compounded by methamphetamine use. Almost every day, I'm easily treating at least eight different patients with meth induce psychosis. According to Kaiser Health News meth use across the country reports on overdose deaths involving meth more than quadrupled from 2011 to 2017. Admissions to treatment facilities for meth are up 17%. Hospitalizations related to meth jumped by about 245% from 2008 to 2015. And throughout the West and Midwest, 70% of local law enforcement agencies say meth is their biggest drug threat (see source here).

Although a cross country problem, policymakers in D.C. are intimately focusing their efforts on combating the opioid problem. But my concern as a healthcare worker is that there aren't enough resources to combat this problem, and I firmly believe that the shift in focus is more intently class and racial. According to a research article by Santoro and Santoro, historical and cognitive biases, along with physician bias and media portrayals, of opioid abuse and governmental regulation are all polyfactorial root causes for racial inequities in the opioid epidemic (See source).

When it comes to this epidemic I firmly believe that there are racial discrepancies in Washington D.C. focus on combating the opiate and meth drug epidemic. When looking at what matters people like New Jersey Governor Chris Christie who shared his personal experience with alcoholism that killed his brother or Businesswoman Carly Fiorina who shared her experience of the death of her daughter due to drugs show how lived experience and personal relationships can influence policy decisions. However, many of these stories also expose the impact on another issue that may not be seen initially and that is race.

According to an article by Vox:

"Even after decades of progress on racial issues, America remains a very segregated country. On a day to day basis, most Americans closely interact only with people of the same race. And that impacts our politics and policies. Consider the opioid epidemic, which contributed to the record 52,000 drug overdose deaths reported in 2015. Because the crisis has disproportionately affected white Americans, white lawmakers — who make up a disproportionate amount of all levels of government — are more likely to come into contact with people afflicted by the opioid epidemic than, say, the disproportionately black drug users who suffered during the crack cocaine epidemic of the 1980s and ’90s. And that means a lawmaker is perhaps more likely to have the kind of interaction that Christie, Trump, Bush, and Fiorina described — one that might lead them to support more compassionate drug policies — in the current crisis than the ones of old."

The article continues.....

"Is it any wonder, then, that the crack epidemic led to an incredibly punitive “tough on crime” crackdown focused on harsher prison sentences and police tactics, while the current opioid crisis has led more to more compassionate rhetoric and calls for legislation, including a measure Congress passed last year, to focus on treatment instead of incarceration? (Although some states have passed “tough on crime” laws in response to the opioid epidemic-source."

So while many minorities suffer from a drug epidemic of meth and crack cocaine, the response from policymakers is usually to lock them up while the response for the opioid epidemic, is to fund treatment programs. As a healthcare worker it just seems that there is not enough focus on treating people who turn to meth, and I feel as a professional that it is largely because it does not impact the personal relationships of policymaker. New York Mayor Svante Myrick shares my sentiment when referring to his black constituents:

"Oh, when it was happening in my neighborhood it was ‘lock ’em up.’ Now that it’s happening in the [largely white, wealthy] Heights, the answer is to use my tax dollars to fund treatment centers. Well, my son could have used a treatment center in 1989, and he didn’t get one.”

Vox has never heard of something called time and progress. It is stuck chasing ghosts while using no evidence for it's conclusion.