How Meth Destroys The Body
What makes methamphetamine such an attractive high? Meth users report that after taking the drug they experience a sudden "rush" of pleasure or a prolonged sense of euphoria, as well as increased energy, focus, confidence, sexual prowess and feelings of desirability. However, after that first try, users require more and more of the drug to get that feeling again, and maintain it. With repeated use, methamphetamine exacts a toll on the mind and body, robbing users of their physical health and cognitive abilities, their libido and good looks, and their ability to experience pleasure. In this interactive feature, learn how the body reacts to meth and the consequences of long-term abuse.
Meth at the State Level
Has federal law gone far enough to stop meth? And what actions are some states taking? View a map of what's happening across the U.S.
Speed. Meth. Glass. On the street, methamphetamine has many names. What started as a fad among West Coast motorcycle gangs in the 1970s—methamphetamine—quickly spread across the United States over the last decade. These days, meth remains as potent and widespread as ever.
Despite calls to regulate its key ingredient, pseudoephedrine, which is found in over-the-counter cold remedies, “super smurfs” still manage to stockpile enough of the drug to fuel thousands of small meth labs nationwide.
FRONTLINE, in association with The Oregonian, investigates the ongoing meth problem in America: the devastating impact on individuals, families and communities, and the state-by-state battles to make pseudoephedrine a prescription drug, a strategy that’s led to significant improvement in Oregon.
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Watch The Meth Epidemic on PBS. See more from FRONTLINE.
