After tossing my dirty laundry into the washer, I headed outside for the normal routine.
With dustpan and whisk in hand, I vigorously began to scour the inside of my vehicle, so that it would be pristine clean before the cycles in the laundromat were complete.
As I stepped over to throw some trash in a garbage receptacle a hop-and-a-skip away, I noticed two young men casually chatting in the front seat of a late-model Mercedes Benz.
The driver was kind-of cute with a distinctive gleam in his eye.
When I opened up the back hatch of the SUV, the duo pulled up alongside of me.
"This may be an odd question," the mid-thirties chap forewarned me.
"But, are you clean? I mean, have you been drinking or taking any drugs in the past two days?"
Say what?
I hesitated for a sec, then politely responded, "no".
"My friend," he uttered under his breath, "has to take a drug test. He needs some clean urine."
At this juncture, I peered in the front window and noticed an African-American male in dark wrap-around sunglasses sitting in the passenger side, with a two gallon plastic jug in his lap.
Without skipping a beat, the obvious rounder moved in for the kill,
"Can you give us some urine?"
"Sorry, No." I responded without skipping a beat.
Then, off they sped.
Unfortunately, the problem with "Tina" - Methedryne - has reached epic proportions around the country. So much so - that in West Hollywood and other gay communities in San Francisco and New York - a handful of organizations have engaged in an all-out effort to try to curb the insidious reach of the nasty drug.
A current billboard campaign says it all:
"I lost me to Meth"
The problem isn't necessarily the cost of the drug.
No, it's the addictive qualities of the sexual stimulant - both physically and psychologically - that make its effect so devasting in the community at large (both gay and straight).
Many addicts have lost their jobs, and their homes, as loved ones finally gave up in dismay and turned their backs.
The decline can be quick, too.
About eight months ago, I used to see a good-looking well-built young man around the neighborhood, the epitome of good humor and great health.
Gainfully employed, too.
Within months, I have noticed a marked difference.
For example, his hygiene has deteriorated rapidly, at times he appears to be disoriented in the street, and - judging from the tote bag he's been dragging around the streets - it is evident that he has become homeless, as well.
Lost his job, too; so the gossip-mongers say.
The rumor is that he is addicted to meth!
What are some physical signs that someone is using methamphetamine?
For starters, there is a lot of teeth grinding, obsessive picking of the face or body, hallucinations (in what one sees and hears), euphoria, extreme energy, inability to sleep for days, dramatic weight loss, paranoia and violent behavior.
I've witnessed six of the factors in the young man I just spoke of.
Methamphetamine is a stimulant that affects the body’s central nervous system.
Commonly known as - "crystal," "speed," "meth," or "Tina" - methamphetamine is an off-white odorless crystalline powder that tastes bitter and easily dissolves in water.
The popular high may be smoked, snorted, injected or swallowed.
Methamphetamine increases energy and suppresses appetite. It slows digestion and increases alertness and concentration. The effects last from six to twelve hours or more. Depending on how much or how long one uses, one can become easily agitated, which can sometimes lead to violent behavior.Methamphetamine, like cocaine, strongly activates the reward and pleasure systems of the brain, particularly three important brain chemicals called neurotransmitters: dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine.
As a result, methamphetamine elevates mood, induces euphoria, increases alertness, reduces fatigue, increases energy, decreases appetite, increases movement and speech, and/or provides a sense of increased personal power.
If you've ever met someone high on "Tina", they'll usually ask you if you "party".
No, this does not mean would you like to go "dancing" or indulge in a harmless social cocktail or two.
Essentially, when the question is posed, the addict is seeking another "tweeker" to share the experience (and the cost of it) with.
God forbid, you should meet someone high on the junk.
It's a very frustrating sexual experience - no matter what an Adonis they may be - to wait out the ups-and-downs of a rubber dick so the both of you can finally "get off" fourteen hours later!
I say, walk the other way.
After all, the drug eventually "hijacks" the reward and pleasure system.
In addition, Methamphetamine increases blood pressure, heart rate and sweating, and causes anxiety, irritability, insomnia, paranoia, and sometimes even psychosis.
Once the high wears off, mental and physical exhaustion set in, often with a deep depression that sometimes includes thoughts of suicide.
Methamphetamine is usually found in a crystalline powder form that is off-white, odorless, bitter-tasting, and dissolvable in water.
Ingredients used in methamphetamine production are highly toxic, potentially explosive, and/or flammable.
Methamphetamine emerged as a party drug for gay and bisexual men during the 1990s - and it is attributed to lowering inhibitions and contributing to high-risk sexual behaviors that often spread - HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C - and other sexually transmitted diseases.
What can an individual expect when coming down or withdrawing from meth?
Methamphetamine withdrawal - or "crashing" symptoms - can last from days to weeks and involve loss of energy, depression, fearfulness, prolonged sleep or difficulty sleeping, shaking, nausea, sweating, hyperventilation, increased appetite, irritability and drug craving.
Methamphetamine causes long lasting changes in brain chemistry, particularly in the pleasure systems of the brain, as well. These dramatic changes impact abilities such as memory, judgment, and reasoning. Other long-term effects include extreme cravings for the drug and dreams of use.
These brain changes do not disappear quickly after an addict stops using methamphetamine and are important factors leading to relapse.
Once an addict discontinues the drug - and gets treatment - it is wholly possible for a normal lifestyle to return.
The sooner a user gets into treatment, the better; and, the longer a user stays in treatment, the greater the chances that treatment will be effective.
Treatment is possible for methamphetamine dependence through a variety of services, including residential treatment.
Because Methamphetamine causes specific problems for the user, the issues must be addressed in a treatment program that is customized for the individual addict.
A Methamphetamine overdose can cause serious damage to the individual's health - including failure of vital organs such as the kidney and heart.For every pound of methamphetamine manufactured, approximately six pounds of toxic waste is created.
In the final analysis, this waste is often deposited in backyards, storm drains, parks, and along roadsides.
Yuck!
The California Methamphetamine Initiative (CMI) is a statewide effort created by the California Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs (ADP) to reduce the use and abuse of methamphetamine by Californians.
The CMI seeks to prevent methamphetamine abuse, encourage discontinuing use, and motivate individuals to seek help through community outreach and treatment.
The efforts of the CMI include education for practitioners on promising practices in prevention and treatment, as well as active local collaboration with existing anti-methamphetamine efforts by county programs and community-based organizations to address the growing methamphetamine problem in California.
Also, an important part of the CMI’s efforts is a research-based statewide advetising and public relations campaign, "I lost me to Meth".
Help is available for addicts at the following toll-free number:
1-866-STP-METH
1-866-787-6384
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