Meth up 60%. A Question...

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

How much of the sharp Meth use increase (as self-reported in a government survey) is due to the phenomenon of people using meth primarily to enable them to work two jobs and/or more hours? (In a low-wage economy where a lot of two income households find themselves suddenly one-income households.)

That's a real phenomenon, but I don't know how wide-spread it is. What we can be sure of, however, is that the phenomenon of use by "normal" people has a disproportionate effect on making meth "legit."

If this sounds funny or far-fetched—the use of stimulants by working people is surprisingly widespread. Truck drivers put speed on the map. And don't get me started on coffee breaks! (joke)

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

1. What are the statistics on people working two jobs?

[Brickbat]

2. How much of it is due to the phenomenon of white-collar people using it to enable them to work two

jobs?

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

3. Valid correction noted. OP edited.

You are quite right.

[Brickbat]

7. Thanks.

I disagree with your premise anyway, but wanted to point that out. Meth is so devastating I would think it's use is up because more unemployed people are looking for something to do.

[Hello_Kitty]

4. It was a problem on a night shift job I worked a few years ago. eom

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

8. I used to know an alcoholic welder who

took LSD every morning for it's stimulant and magical sobering-up qualities, not for the psychedelic effects.

High steel work.

Could arc weld two pieces of tinfoil along the edge.

I can't imagine he's still alive... one way or another. Never saw anyone ride their body so hard... like a rented car.

[Enthusiast]

13. That combination would

destroy the liver in about a month. Don't ask me how I know.

[TwilightGardener]

5. Meth users I knew could barely show up for work at all. It interfered

with meth time. So I doubt this theory.

[Hello_Kitty]

16. That's not true. There are "functioning" meth users. I worked with a few.

One was a fairly good work friend who managed to hide her use for several months. She'd been chubby and convinced us that her rapid weight loss was a crash diet. Eventually she ended up and rehab.

[Warpy]

6. Probably quite a bit of it, along with the inability

to get or afford some more benign drugs that wouldn't rot their bodies quite so quickly.

The problem with meth is that it burns you up from the inside out, even if you're only taking small doses, not junkie doses. It's only a stop gap measure, OK for weeks but not for years.

The health consequences of anyone using meth to be able to cope with two physically demanding jobs are going to be devastating.

[Arkansas Granny]

9. That isn't the case with the people I know/knew who use meth.

Most of them lost their jobs (and nearly everything else) because of meth use.

[Lance_Boyle]

10. Clearly it's because of TV and videogames depicting meth use

and not for any rational reason a sane person might assume.

[jaksavage]

11. Moderate meth use is possible

and lots of normal folks are using it.
It is not just a junky drug anymore.
Just a bit in your coffee will give you wings and shed those unsightly extra pounds that seem to follow you around.
Yes there are long term affects but nobody pays attention to those.

[safeinOhio]

12. I always felt that illegal

drug use was to dull some kind of psychological pain. I'd guess there is a sharp increase in that pain.

[Yavin4]

14. It's Up Because The Drug Industry Is The Only Decent Paying Careers

open to the poor and working class. Much like the Crack Cocaine industry was for urban in America in the 1980s.

People have limited job choices: the military, low paying retail and other service jobs, illegal drugs.

[dkf]

17. I've been wondering what happens to this segment if you legalize drugs.

Do they turn to property crime?

[Yavin4]

19. They'll Engage In Other Crimes

Prostitution, kidnapping, property theft, etc. When you disenfranchise entire segments from the mainstream economy, they will do anything else to survive.

[kirby]

15. 60% increase is easy when dealing with small numbers...

The number of past month methamphetamine users decreased between 2006 and 2008, but
then increased in 2009. The numbers were 731,000 (0.3 percent) in 2006, 529,000
(0.2 percent) in 2007, 314,000 (0.1 percent) in 2008, and 502,000 (0.2 percent) in 2009.

[Romulox]

18. Time to turn the screws to the allergy sufferers again!

Perhaps random home searches of those awful pseudoephedrine users?