A REVIEW OF THE DOCUMENTARYAMERICAN METH:

HOW THE USE OF METHAMPHETAMINES IS AFFECTING COMMUNITIES.

Evangela C. FranklinHCR 330

Arizona State UniversitySeptember 23, 2016

THE DOCUMENTARY AMERICAN METH WAS CHOSEN TO:

• Learn about the effects of meth use on the community

• Acknowledge prevention efforts by law enforcement and other agencies across the country

• Get an in-depth knowledge of the effects on the body of a user

• Explore the addictive properties of methamphetamines

• Discover preventative measures and available treatments

AMERICAN METH

Written and directed by Justin Hunt, this documentary compiles the stories of people who use methamphetamines in

Montana, New Mexico, Vermont, and Oregon. It exposes the effects of meth abuse and the views of law enforcement on the

fight to end this epidemic.

WHAT IS METH?What community is affected?

• Methamphetamine is a synthetic stimulant that affects the central nervous system and is one of the most addictive substances among other drugs. (methproject.org)

What does it look like?

en.wikipedia.org

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, in 2012, there were 133,000 new users of methamphetamine age 12 and older . These individuals are getting introduced to this drug at parties, at friend’s homes, and in some cases, family members. A popular ideology among first-time users is that they will be able to avoid getting hooked.

HOW IS METHAMPHETAMINE USED?

Rand (2009) asserted, “Meth is a highly addictive substance that can be taken orally, snorted, or smoked. When smoked or injected, the user immediately experiences an intense sensation followed by a high that may last 12 hours or more.

How does methamphetamine use affect community health?

According to Vermont’s Department of Health and Human Services Agency:

• Environmental Harm – for each pound of methamphetamine produced, five to six pounds of hazardous waste are generated, posing immediate and long-term environment health risks.

• Children are at Risk – Hundreds of children are neglected every year after living with parents who are meth “cooks.”

• Hepatitis, HIV, AIDS – While using meth, users can feel uninhibited often forgetting to use protection as well as clean needles.

AGENCIES FEATURED IN AMERICAN METH THAT ARE FIGHTING THE METH EPIDEMIC

• Kalispell Police Department

• Vernal Police Department

• Roswell Police Department

• Methproject.org

These are just some of the agencies that face the fight in getting methamphetamine abusers help and putting forth prevention efforts to show the effects of this drug on the individual and community.

HOW DOES METH USE AFFECT THE BODY?• Memory loss

• Heart damage

• Brain damage

• Depression

• Aggression

• Hallucinations

• Body sores from constant scratching

ADDICTIVE PROPERTIES OF METHAMPHETAMINES

• According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, methamphetamine increases the amount of the neurotransmitter dopamine, leading to high levels of that chemical in the brain. Dopamine is involved in reward, motivation, the experience of pleasure, and motor function.

TREATMENT FOR USERS OF METHAMPHETAMINE• According to the National

Institute on Drug Abuse, the most effective treatments for methamphetamine addiction at this point are behavioral therapies, such as cognitive-behavioral and contingency-management interventions.

QUESTIONS

For adolescence

• Do preventative meth use campaigns have any affect on your thoughts about meth?

• Do you know anyone who uses meth?

• What plan do you have in place if presented with meth?

• Do you feel that people who use meth should go to prison or get court-ordered rehabilitation?

• How do you think the meth campaigns work?

For law enforcement agencies• Do you feel that arresting meth users is

effective?

• Do you know of any success stories of individuals who have been arrested for meth?

• How has meth use changed the community that you serve?

• Has your agency visited locals schools to talk about meth use?

• Should children of meth users be taken away from their parents until they get clean?

References

Hunt, J. (2008). American Meth. United States: Rivercoast Films

The Meth Project: The Drug Defined (2016). Retrieved from: www.methproject.org/answers/what-is-meth.html#The-Drug-Defined

Rand Corporation (2009). The Economic Cost of Methamphetamine Use in the United States. Retrievedfrom: http://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/2009/RAND_MG829.sun.pdf.

National Institute on Drug Abuse (2013). What is the Scope of Methamphetamine Abuse in the UnitedStates? Retrieved from: www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/

Methamphetamine/what-scope-methamphetamine-abuse-in-united-states.

Image from slide 4 Retrieved from: www.en.Wikipedia.org

Images from slide 5 Retrieved from: 1. www.latimes.com 2. www.thefix.com 3. www.giphy.com

Images from slide 6 Retrieved from: 1. www.meth-kills.org 2. www.mamasite.net 3. www.thejournal.ie

Image from slide 8 Retrieved from: www.sobernation.com

Image from slide 9 Retrieved from: www.123rf.com

Image from slide 10 Retrieved from: www.mentalhelp.net