METH-A-DEMIC

Starting on the west coast as a drug used primarily by bikers; Meth has quickly spread across the United States, becoming one of the most addictive and dangerous drugs there is. Methamphetamine, better known as "Meth" or by its street name speed, is a chemically engineered drug that is sweeping the nation. Its made in a factory rather than grown, like most drugs. Pseudoephedrine or Sudafed, is one of the key ingredients in meth. Since only a few factories in the world produce it, shutting down the production of meth was easy, or so they thought. The big players in the meth industry were previously getting their sudaphed from these factories under the table. After the DEA restricted these factories, they thought their Meth problem was gone. They were wrong. Meth producers had found away around this road block. By hiring "Smurfs" they were able to get foot soldiers out to buy small amounts of Sudaped, then use it to make Meth. The drug was back on the streets and the problem was about to begin again.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/meth/

With Pseudoephedrine behind the counters of pharmacies across the U.S., the Meth problem appeared to be over. Unfortunately, with very loose laws in Mexico, meth cooks were buying large amounts of Sudaphed and smuggling it back into the United States. Along with the "Shake and Bake" method, meth users were now also meth cooks. By crushing up Sudaphed and a few other ingredients, mixing that with over the counter chemicals, and shaking everything up in a plastic container, home made meth was being made for personal use. This meth was easy to make but at the same time incredibly dangerous. If mixed incorrectly, the chemicals used could explode and create a real hazard. Meth labs were now popping up all across the nation, and the DEA didn't know what to do.

http://www.npr.org/2013/09/26/226476602/big-pharma-and-meth-cooks-agree-keep-cold-meds-over-the-counter

As the Meth train keeps moving, growing bigger and bigger, and as state officials are trying to stop it the question remains, will meth every be controlled or will it just keep growing until it negatively affects our nation? It seems all the attempted rules and regulations attempting to stop the flow of Sudaphed have failed. As pharmacies and drug manufactures attempt to get psudoephedrine out of the hands of meth heads, it seems the only people being inconvenienced are cold sufferers. In order for the meth epidemic to be stopped, the DEA and federal government has to stay one step ahead of the Meth cooks. As for now, they are one step behind and if it stays this way, Meth will not be stopped.

http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2012/02/oregons_cold_medicine_restrict.html