Methamphetamine is a dangerous, fatal drug that is on the rise in many areas — particularly in Los Angeles. Keep reading to find out about the meth addiction in Los Angeles and what actions are being taken by Washington to help fight the growing epidemic.
Meth Addiction Los Angeles Statistics
- Between 2008 and 2018, meth-related deaths in L.A. increased tenfold, from 43 to 435, according to county statistics
- By 2018, meth was involved in 44% of all drug overdose deaths in Los Angeles County
- Last summer, Mark Casanova, of Homeless Health Care Los Angeles, told The Times that meth accounted for 70% of drug use among L.A.’s homeless population
- Between 2005 and 2019, according to county data, more than 185,000 individuals who entered publicly funded treatment programs in Los Angeles were admitted for meth
- According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, between 2008 and 2017, the number of people admitted nationwide for meth-related treatment rose from 260,000 to 373,000, a 43% increase
- The number admitted for meth treatment who were also using heroin increased from nearly 14,000 to more than 88,000, a stunning 530% increase
Why Meth is Surging in Los Angeles
Meth is notorious for having the “longest-lasting high”, which can be particularly enticing for individuals who are part of the homeless population. Essentially, it is inexpensive to get, the high lasts a long time, there are many ways to use it, and it is easy to find.
In addition, the prices of meth have declined over the years due to the growing popularity of opioids. This has caused meth use to slowly increase in the background. In fact, the popularity and use have continued to increase in 2020 even in the face of COVID-19 and with prices rising again.
How Washington is Helping
Fortunately, Washington is stepping in to help stop the growing rise of meth addiction in Los Angeles and help those who are suffering. This past September, Sen. Charles E. Grassley of Iowa introduced the Methamphetamine Response Act. The bill, which would direct the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy to develop and implement a plan to address the growing use of meth, passed the Senate in November.
The in the Methamphetamine Response Act involves the following actions from the drug control policy office:
- Declaring meth an emerging drug threat
- Developing and implementing a plan that is specific to meth
- Setting short- and long-term goals focused on reducing demand
- Expanding prevention and treatment programs
- Reducing supply
With this help from Washington and the Methamphetamine Response Act, resources can be allocated to high-risk and high-use areas, such as Los Angeles.
Understanding Meth
Methamphetamine is a powerful, highly addictive stimulant that affects the central nervous system. Also known as meth, blue, ice, and crystal, among many other terms, it takes the form of a white, odorless, bitter-tasting crystalline powder that easily dissolves in water or alcohol, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
The dangers of meth, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, include:
- Increased blood pressure and body temperature
- Faster breathing
- Rapid or irregular heartbeat
- Loss of appetite, disturbed sleep patterns, or nausea
- Bizarre, erratic, aggressive, irritable, or violent behavior
- Permanent damage to the heart and brain
- High blood pressure leading to heart attacks, strokes, and death
- Liver, kidney, and lung damage
- Anxiety, confusion, or insomnia
- Paranoia, hallucinations, mood disturbances, delusions, or violent behavior (psychotic symptoms can sometimes last for months or years after quitting meth)
- Intense itching, causing skin sores from scratching
- Severe dental problems
About Seasons in Malibu
If you or someone you love is addicted to methamphetamines, we can help. A rehab near Los Angeles and ready to help those in the thick of the meth addiction issues, we are here to help you get on the right, individualized path toward sobriety. We start from the premise that the treatment that is currently available to active addicts, even the supposedly high-end variety, is woefully inadequate, and our mission is to offer something better. Here, we believe strongly in understanding your underlying issues and figuring out what’s motivating you to use drugs, and in order to accomplish that goal, we offer more individual therapy sessions in 30 days than any other drug rehabilitation or alcohol rehab centers in the country.
It is a priority for us that our life-changing drug and alcohol treatment be available to the people who need it. We are fully familiar with how much strength and courage it takes to pick up the phone and ask for help. Our counselors are invested in your well-being and are ready around the clock to guide you or a trusted friend or family member through the initial steps of overcoming drug or alcohol addiction.
With our superior team of clinicians, we are able to succinctly pinpoint those areas of focus which will give the client the most advanced opportunity for success. Our approach towards healing is collaborative, comprehensive, and committed.
