A Brief History of Methamphetamine Production
One crucial element in methamphetamine addiction is its wide availability. Amphetamines had their origin in 1887 in Germany, and serious studies about the potential use of the drug for medicinal purposes began in the 1920s. By the 1930s, it was marketed and prescribed for nasal congestion (including asthma). Meanwhile, methamphetamine was synthesized in 1919 in Japan. By the 1950s, legal forms of both amphetamines and methamphetamines were widely (and often questionably) used by many for numerous maladies and abused by many others. Injectable methamphetamine, sold legally as Desoxyn, became widespread and popular in the 1960s, provoking measures in the 1970 Controlled Substance Act to limit its production. Unfortunately, the abuse of methamphetamines has increased greatly in the last 20 years. For example, estimated users jumped from 1.8 million in 1994 to 5.3 million in 1997. Increases have also been noted in abuse among youth, in synthesis and production, and in seized labs. (n1)
It is thus seen that the methamphetamine addiction is part of a social phenomena of abuse and addiction, propelled by two sources: superlabs (providing "over 70 percent" of illegally distributed methamphetamines) in California and northern Mexico and small clandestine drug labs. The former use established drug trafficking distribution systems, but the latter operate independently. These pose a particular risk to the Midwest both as a substance control issue and as an environmental and child welfare threat. Both forms of production are facilitated by its relatively easy synthesis "from common household or agricultural chemicals and simple cold medicines." (n2) In fact, it is ability to manufacture methamphetamine from legal and relatively unregulated ingredients that make its production and distribution so difficult to stop. (n3)
Methamphetamine remains, unfortunately, a widely popular and easily abused drug family. It is a ideal candidate for abuse and for the development of the addictive personality. This study seeks to introduce the reader to the general directions of professional research regarding methamphetamines, addiction, and treatment, with a special eye toward possible applications for community-based recovery programs.
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1 See "Methamphetamine History," available from Narconon Arrowhead on the internet at: http://www.narconon.org/drug-information/methamphetamine-history.html . Accessed October 4 2011. See also the timeline provided at: http://www.narconon.org/drug-information/methamphetamine-timeline.html. Accessed October 4 2011.
2 From the statement of Scott Burns and Armand
McClintock before the Subcommittee on Criminal Justice, Drug Policy
and Human Resources, Fighting Methaphetamine in the Heartland: How
Can the Federal Government Assist State and Local Efforts. Serial
Number 108-179. Available via the World Wide Web: http://www.access.gpo.gov/congress/house/pdf/109hrg/24891.pdf . Scott Burns is Deputy Director for State and Local Affairs, Office of
National Drug Control Policy; Armand McClintock is Assistant Special
Agent in Charge, Indianapolis, IN, District Office, Drug Enforcement
Administration.
3 See the important information provided by the
National Drug Intelligence Center on common ingredients, equipment,
dangers, and methods of identification of methamphetamine labs.
Available on the World Wide Web:
http://www.usdoj.gov/ndic/pubs7/7341/ . Accessed June 7, 2005.
