Virden Police Department

Methamphetamine

Methamphetamine  addiction is a serious problem in many communities. It destroys bodies, lives, relationships and families. If one were to ask anyone in law enforcement  what would they change in order to reduce crime across the board, the answer would be to permanently eradicate meth-amphetamines. Here are a few other people’s thoughts: • “I can pretty much guarantee that you will at some point find yourself doing something that at one point you swore you'd never do. You'll do it for the sake of getting high, either directly or indirectly. Trust me. It will happen. You might think you know yourself better than anyone, but you have yet to become acquainted with your addiction. It will introduce itself in ways that you never thought were possible.” (Ashly Lorenzana) • “My main concern was my teeth because they were in constant pain. Meth depletes the body of calcium, the vitamin essential to maintaining healthy teeth. It also includes acidic ingredients that can damage teeth. The ingredients include, but are not limited to battery acid, Drano, over-the-counter cold medications like Sudafed; antifreeze, engine starting fluid and brake fluid. Basically, pop the hood of your car and you can find the ingredients you need to cook meth. I’m no dentist, but I came to the conclusion that meth was the root of my tooth pain.” (S.C. Sterling) • “After a few months in my parents' basement, I took an apartment near the state university, where I discovered both crystal meth-amphetamine and conceptual art. Either one of these things are dangerous, but in combination they have the potential to destroy entire civilizations.” (David Sedaris) • “Meth-amphetamine is so ‘Flowers for Algernon:’ All that super- human cerebral ability fades to limited physical activities like stapling carpet scraps to the wall or other antics worthy of The Guinness Book of World Records.” (Clint Catalyst) • “It was the hardest boyfriend I ever had to break up with [referring to crystal meth-amphetamines]” (Fergie)

Here are some more resources on the subject: • What is Meth? • How Meth Destroys the Body  • Effects of Meth • Treatment  • Find a Treatment Center  • Locust Street Resource Center, Carlinville