Alcohol and Drugs History Society

Drug Use and Addiction in War

Tom Langdale wrote this short article, dated July 9, 2009, for High 5 Men's Magazine.

Meth-laced ecstasy common in American schools near Canadian border

Meth-laced ecstasy has become common in American schools in the states near the Canadian border. Although the drugs are smuggled from Canada into the USA, the ultimate source for the drugs appears to be China and India. For more, see here.

Youthful abuse of cough and cold medicines to get high

According to a 2006 study, 3.1 million Americans aged 12 to 25 have used cough and cold medicines to get high, a figure much higher for this age group than those who used methamphetamines. The same study showed that for this age group 82% have used marijuana and nearly half have used inhalants or hallucingens such as LSD or Ecstasy. For more, see here.

Czech meth labs threaten Europe

An eruption of home meth labs in the Czech Republic threatens to spread the drug throughout Europe. Doing their best, Czech police busted 416 home meth labs last year, this in a country with a population a little over ten million. For more, see here.

Shabu

The government of Bahrain has passed a new law to combat shabu,  listing it as a "high category dangerous drug."   

"We have been concerned about the drug for some time. It is very dangerous, probably worse than heroin and cocaine,” said Brigadier Tariq Mubarak Bin Daena, Deputy Chief of Public Security at the Crime Detection and Forensic Science Directorate. “It is destroying people.  It harms the nerve systems, users can go crazy.”

Shabu is the street name for metamphetamine hydrochloride, also called the “poor man’s cocaine.”  The drug is concocted from cocaine and appears in crystallised form like any ordinary powder.  It is also referred to as a “speed drug” because it suppresses the appetite.  Shabu users can become hyperactive and go for days without sleep and food.

Read more here.

"Strawberry Quick" crystal meth

Schools are worried about "Strawberry Quick," a pink-colored and stawberry-flavored version of crystal meth that seems to be designed to appeal to young people. For more, see here.

Aussie shearers using drugs

A shearing contractor in Western Australia, worried about shearers using cannabis, crystal meth and "speed balls," has introduced random drug tests. At first, 40% of the shearers were positive for drugs, but under the pressure of testing, this figure has declined, and the contractor thinks his men have become much more healthy. For more, see here.

Meth mixed with flavored drinks

With focus on Arkansas, the AP reports that meth is often mixed with flavored drinks to make the meth palatable. For more, see here.

Blizzard of drugs from Canada

In the last decade, Canadian organized-crime groups, particularly Vietnamese, have become a major supplier of high-quality marijuana and potent ecstasy tablets in U.S. markets, according to reports by the U.S. and Canadian governments.

Read more here.

Reno leaders try to tackle meth problem with TV documentary

When it comes to methamphetamine use, Nevada holds a dubious distinction.

The state leads the nation in the number of people who have used meth in their lifetime as well as in the past year and last 30 days, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Now, community leaders are trying to fight back with the help of a 30-minute documentary, "Crystal Darkness: Meth's Deadly Assault on Nevada's Youth," to be shown at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday on nearly every Reno television station.

The Las Vegas Sun reports.