Drug Abuse A Growing Epidemic World Wide - 2212 Words

The history of the drug Methamphetamine (MA) abuse is a growing epidemic world wide. The 2009 World Drug report suggests that up to 51 million individuals have used methamphetamine at least once in the past 12 months. Dependence is a serious worldwide public health problem associated with major medical, psychiatric, cognitive, socioeconomic and legal consequences (Petit et al., 2012). This is can be easily made with ingredients that are easily obtained. Methamphetamine was developed in Japan in 1919. The crystalline powder was soluble in water, making it a perfect candidate for injection. Methamphetamine went into wide use during World War II, when both sides used it to keep troops awake. High doses were given to Kamikaze pilots before their suicide missions. After the war, methamphetamine abuse by injection reached epidemic proportions when supplies stored for military use became available to the Japanese public. In the 1950’s, methamphetamine under the name Methedrine was prescribed as a diet aid an to fight depression. Easily available, it was used as a nonmedical stimulant by college students, truck drivers and athletes and abuse of the drug spread. It is still legally produced in the U.S., sold under the name Desoxyn. This pattern changed in the 1960’s with the increased availability of injectable methamphetamine, worsening the abuse. Then, in 1970, the US government made it illegal for most uses. The Controlled Substances Act severely restricted the legalShow MoreRelatedA Brief Note On Blind And Drug Addiction Essay987 Words   |  4 PagesBlind to Drug Addiction The world has an epidemic going on, and it’s only getting worse. We are robbing of our loved ones daily. Being robbed of family members, and friends. This includes mothers, fathers, wife’s, husbands, siblings, aunts, uncles, and even grandparents. Drug abuse does not discriminate from one person to the next. 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