Record Number of Meth Lab Seizures Reported in Tennessee
2010 was a banner year for Tennessee in terms of meth lab seizures and big drug busts -in spite of the negative public opinion about the efficacy of moving certain over-the-counter cold medications to the shelf behind the pharmacist. Most thought that nothing could be done to stop meth dealers from making the stuff in illegal labs, especially given the new portable methods that increase mobility. Nobody thought any progress would be made against the rising tide of crystal meth addiction in Tennessee. And everybody was wrong.
Meth Labs Are No Longer Just in Rural Areas
Tennessee is full of remote and sparsely populated areas, which makes the state a meth maker’s dream. But police are reporting that due to the so-called “one pot’ method and more portable meth-making techniques, meth makers are now setting up shop in more populated areas like residential streets and hotels. This highly volatile enterprise is not without its victims: a large number meth makers are caught because they start fires, cause an explosion or end up in the emergency room with serious burns.
The Need for Meth Rehab and Long-Term Addiction Treatment
So many meth makers and meth dealers are repeat offenders, due in part to the fact that they’re feeding their own addiction and not just making money. Crystal meth addiction requires inpatient drug rehab and extensive aftercare services that offer ongoing support during recovery. The relapse time for crystal meth addicts is about seven to nine months after treatment is over. The cravings cycle back every seven to 10 months and without the right support and treatment, crystal meth addicts / meth makers find it difficult to avoid relapse.
When crystal meth addiction treatment is not available, the problem is even worse.
Jeff Guy, M.D., is the director of Vanderbilt’s Regional Burn Center. Says Guy: “They still have a drug addiction, they still have psychiatric illness. We can’t get them into rehab for their drug addiction. We can’t get them into inpatient psychiatric care. So, what happens is we put them back on the streets, they do the same thing over again, and everybody acts surprised.”
Make Pseudoephedrine Illegal?
Some think that the best way to make progress against the problem of crystal meth addiction is to make the drug pseudoephedrine illegal. By making access to the main ingredient in crystal meth more difficult, the hope is that the crystal meth trade will diminish as a result. While it may be an effective tactic against the criminal activity around meth specifically, it will do little to help those living with addiction. Another drug will quickly take its place and the problem will not have ended but shifted.
It’s not something that the strong pharmacological lobby wants, anyway. They’re dead set against making any drug more difficult for the public to access. They lobby against illegalization at every opportunity -and so far, they’re winning.
Fight Crystal Meth Addiction Now
If you’re ready to stop the cycle of crystal meth addiction, we can help. Contact us at the phone number listed above today to learn more about our crystal meth rehab program.
