Emerging trends of a new lethal drugs: Amphetamines vis-à-vis
Methamphetamines
-Leban
Serto
Amphetamines vis-à-vis
Methamphetamine is emerging now in sporadic regions all over the world. The
state of Manipur having a stretch of long international border yet again has
become an important focus, concerning the new drug locally called,“ Ayaba”
similar to global slang of the drug called “speed”. Methamphetamines are man
made Amphetamines that are illegal in all forms. They are usually made in
home laboratories from inexpensive ingredients. Methamphetamines are a very
dangerous class of drugs that are man made in “meth-labs”. Making meth is a
relatively simple process with the main ingredients being ephedrine found in
most cold and asthma medicines. Other ingredients commonly used include,
hydrochloric acid, drain cleaner, battery acid, fuel and anti freeze. Having
a mood altering affect, behavioral effects such as increased activity and
decreased appetite and a high lasting 8-24 hours. Although there is an initial
general sense of well-being .The use has been associated with both long and
short-term problems such as brain damage, cognitive impairment and memory
loss, stroke paranoia, anorexia hypothermia, hepatitis, HIV transmission and
violence. They have no medicinal value. It will be interesting to know more
about the legally produced drug called Amphetamines in order to understand
the composition of Methamphetamines. Amphetamines Amphetamines
are powerful toxic. It is a synthetic psycho stimulant affecting the Central
Nervous System that produces intoxicants dependence and psychosis. They are similar in chemical composition
to the body’s natural stimulants adrenaline.
Amphetamines do have certain medical application they are classified
as a Schedule II drugs both UN and US and under the NDPS.Act 1985.They are
available only through highly restricted prescription procedure and are legal
when prescribed by a doctor. Medical use includes treatment for narcolepsy,
attention deficit, and disorder obesity. Findings of U.S Task Force Some important significant resolutions adopted by the
US in the recent years beginning from, May 1998 Washington D.C, held the
first meeting to discuss about Methamphetamine. Oct 1998 Omaha Nebraska
-second meet, May 1999, San Deigo California-third meet, Nov 1999, Washington
D.C, the final meet. The recommendation of the meet concluded with a report
that, The Task force had examined available data and information;
unfortunately much of what exist is anecdotal and preliminary in scope. Some
of the key concepts the Task Force, used to guide its proceeding include the
following; “Methamphetamine is a dangerous, addictive drugs and the
population of users is not well defined and is ever expanding. There is a
lack of data about the prevalence of methamphetamine use and abuse. There is
no single source country or single specific trafficking route for
methamphetamine. The clandestine laboratories where methamphetamine is
produced domestically pose significant hazards to law enforcement official
nearby residents can be destructive to the human body affecting neurological
behavioral and psychological functioning long after use has stopped. The
precursor chemicals used to produce methamphetamines are relatively
inexpensive, widely available easy to transfer and difficult to regulate.
Episodes of violent behavior have been associated with methamphetamines use.” Emerging threats
Amphetamines vis-à-vis Metamphetamines use is emerging
in cities and rural settings previously thought to be largely unaffected by
illicit drug use and is increasing among populations not previously know to
use this drug. Metamphetamines use will cause in particular a serious problem
in some rural areas, many of which lack the infrastructure necessary to deal
with a major drug problem. For example, many rural (Methamphetamines abusers)
jurisdictions do not have local treatment providers or the expertise to
respond to the abusers. Similarly law enforcement official in rural areas
lack the training and financial resources to deal with laboratory cleaning
costs associated with the Amphetamine-vis-à-vis Methamphetamines
manufacturing in their communities. Metamphetamines pose a particular problem
because it can be produced in clandestine laboratories using over the counter
–drugs, household products, and other readily available chemicals. These
laboratories subject to a high risk of explosion, causing fires and releasing
toxic gases. For this reason Methamphetamines present major fire and public
safety threats in addition to health threat to users. There is a general lack
of public understanding about methamphetamine including its risk and
consequence requiring public education efforts. Information’s for treatment
providers on effective strategies had not been disseminated as widely as
necessary and has not been disseminated effectively to all of the various
providers involved with methamphetamine a challenge for treatment providers
in terms of resource and such key concept as these as a starting point. The
U.S Task force developed a set of principles need and recommendation and
research priorities to inform future efforts to implement a national strategy
for methamphetamines, prevention, education, and treatment and law
enforcement. In case of Methamphetamines , demographic data collection is
incomplete, but current information shows that methamphetamines users include
more white and female on an average and older than other drug users. Manipur situation The arrest of the numerous drugs and ingredient such
as, “ Ephedrine” reported since the month of August 2000, is alarming. Along
the 350 km long international border line in Manipur with Myanmar, Personnel
from Customs, Assam Rifles and Border Security Forces( BSF) having seized
about 8100 tablets of “new narcotic drugs”, between 1998 till now. As
reported that narcotic substance including heroin, now less in number and
“Amphetamines type of tablets” continues to be smuggled through this town and
some unguarded border points. The tablet manufactured out of amphetamine and
some synthetic substance was in great demand in some areas, sources said, one
tablet cost Rs. 100/- in Moreh town and Rs.400/- in metropolitan centers and
even fetched a big sum in foreign countries, Rs. 1000/- in Indian currency
for one tablet. The recent comments made by the UNDCP staff, “ Amphetamines
might emerge as a major source of substance in the Northeast, where addicts
were next to none, in lapping up new drugs”. As reported in the Hindustan times 24th March,
2000, “that amphetamines addiction might rise to dangerous levels unless
proper and prompt precautionary steps were not taken” Anand Bordia a UNDCP Official. Absence of a National Strategy
There is a need
to impart awareness of the new menace, which have found entry in our
communities. In order to combat the
menace of the new drugs, what is required is the immediate attention of the
concerned citizen, community leaders and the Government at the Center and
State level. By addressing the problems rather than avoiding the existence of
such malaise, we can reduce the tolls the new menace can take. It is
necessary that the Central Govt, formulate a concrete National Policy about
the serious consequences of Amphetamine vis-à-vis. Methamphetamines. The
absence of a national strategy on prevention of drug problems, not to speak
of the northeast, which has been time and again undergoing the method of
trial and error, reflects the lack of a comprehensive approach. This lack of
consensus among the leaders to confront the issue of drug problem is the
greatest obstacle towards finding a solution. People’s movement
We have seen astonishing
grass- roots efforts nationwide and worldwide, efforts whose purpose is to
salvage communities and the people who comprise them. In the US there have
been movement such as MOMS (Mothers on the Move Spiritually) in Washington
D.C and SOSAD (Save our Sons and Daughter) in Detroit. In some cases, these
efforts have been forged in blood- the blood of their children. Parents whose
children have fallen victims to the scourge of drugs have started these
Movements. Their emphasis is on moral reconstruction, on arming the citizens
of drug-infested neighborhood with the strength to fight drug use and isolate
their children from its temptation and ravages. Similarly in the northeast, Meira Paibis of
Manipur, who have been very active in their anti-drug campaign now and then,
the NMA ( Naga Mothers Association) have the genesis of its existence in the
fight against drug abuse in Nagaland. These efforts at the grassroots along
side networking with the Government and existing civil societies would help
tremendously in their efforts to combat the drug menace. Today we stand at
the threshold of the onslaught of lethal synthetic drugs,
Amphetamines-vis-à-vis Methamphetamines. The issue of drugs uses confronting
us is that, newer drugs in various forms will continue to appear, as long as
there is the scientific inquisitive of the human mind. It remains how society
and communities organize their values and ethics to shape the behavioral
attitudes of its members. The need for creating a mechanism to combat such
threat lies not only with the Government but also in unison with the peoples,
and leaders of the communities. Numerous
lives have perished as victims of drugs in the northeast, this
untimely demise of the youths beckons to us perhaps to make introspection and
to ponder towards the future our communities are heading for. Perhaps we may
begin this introspective look with the proverbial saying,“ Where there is no
vision people perish”. ***** 12th April ,2001 , Imphal Free Press, Manipur, India. |
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