Why is Crystal Meth So Readily Available?

Crystal Meth Ingredient Availability

Some street drugs come from plants that only grow in very specific regions. Cocaine, for example, comes from the coca plant, which only grows in South America. Most cocaine production takes place near where the plant grows. As a result, cocaine has limited availability outside South America. Few people will even know how to access this drug.

Crystal meth, on the other hand, comes from stimulant drugs that are readily available in many parts of the world. Meth cooks can make their product out of decongestants or ADHD medication, both of which are far more accessible in the US than the coca plant. Pharmacies and pharmaceutical companies have already taken steps to limit ingredient availability for meth production. For example, some decongestants that used to be available over the counter are now only available behind the counter. Nevertheless, crystal meth and other forms of meth remain widely available, and the US has a long way to go when it comes to limiting meth ingredients.

Easy to Produce

Compared to other street drugs, crystal meth is also fairly simple to produce. Meth cooks use a relatively easy process to combine their main ingredient – stimulant medication – with other “filler” ingredients. These ingredients often include things like acetone and other substances that are not at all meant for human consumption. While these ingredients are extremely dangerous, they’re also easily obtained and usually very cheap. Furthermore, a meth cook can set up a “meth lab” within his or her own home, using equipment that he or she may already have. Of course, meth labs come with a very high risk of fires and explosions. Still, meth cooks can produce large amounts of the drug in a short period of time.

Cost Compared to Other Drugs

Because drugs like cocaine or heroin are harder to produce, they’re more expensive to obtain. Often, only people with access to a lot of money can buy cocaine. Since meth, on the other hand, is easy to produce, it’s cheaper. People with substance use disorders who may not have the money for other drugs might turn to crystal meth instead. The fact that meth is cheaper than other drugs means that it’s more accessible to a younger crowd. Teenagers who wouldn’t be able to afford other drugs can easily obtain crystal meth instead, and because today’s high school students experience increasing academic pressure, meth’s performance-enhancing properties can become very tempting to a stressed-out teen.

Consequences of Using Crystal Meth

In addition to being so widely available, meth is one of the most dangerous street drugs in existence. Meth use can lead to a host of terrible consequences, including but not limited to the following:

• Itchiness
• Paranoia
• Dental problems
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Insomnia
• Malnourishment
• Overdose
• Death

These consequences can start early in a person’s meth addiction, so it’s best to seek help as soon as possible.