METH EFFECTS:
"I used to get violent when I was on Meth, especially when I was coming down. I would hurt my family. I would steal from them. I would lie to them."
Bernadette, Butte - Age 15
THE COMMUNITY
The societal costs associated with Meth are staggering. The Montana Attorney General's Office estimates that Meth costs the state government at least $65 million annually for correctional and foster care services alone.
Another facet of Meth's impact on communities comes from the crime associated with drug smuggling. Although the chemicals needed to make Meth are effectively regulated in the United States, in many other countries they are not. Criminal drug trafficking syndicates have taken advantage of this fact to capitalize on the United States' Meth trade. This has led to an increase in crimes associated with smuggling cartels.
Not only does Meth lead to increases in crime, but it also leads to increased costs to social agencies, corrections, unemployment pools, workers' compensation costs, and losses in employee productivity are extensive. Meth-related health care costs are staggering. Hospitals report an increase of Meth-related admissions in their emergency rooms over the past five years. Additionally, they attribute more emergency room visits to Meth than to any other drug. The majority of patients who suffer health problems from Meth use are either underinsured or have no health insurance at all, contributing to the high cost of health care. In many communities, Meth abuse has also lead to the growth of diseases such as hepatitis, HIV, and AIDS due to intravenous use of the drug and unsafe sex practices.