cannabisnews.com: New Drug On the Rise In Southwest Michigan New Drug On the Rise In Southwest Michigan Posted by FoM on November 05, 1999 at 09:44:47 PT By Herton Escobar, Kalamazoo Gazette Source: Michigan Live The good news: Use of crack cocaine is declining in Kalamazoo.The bad news: Use of methamphetamine, a much more addictive and harmful drug, is on the rise in southwest Michigan. That is what Capt. Jerome Bryant of the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety and other law enforcement agents told an audience of judges, parole officers and social workers at a workshop Thursday during the Michigan Association of Drug Court Professionals conference at the Radisson Plaza Hotel at Kalamazoo Center.Bryant said consumption of crack cocaine has declined considerably over the last few years, based on the decreasing number of arrests, seizures, hospitalizations and deaths related to the drug.On the other hand, drugs such as marijuana, LSD and methamphetamine are on the rise, with marijuana being the most popular in Kalamazoo, Bryant said."The drugs of the '60s now are coming back to the kids of the '90s," he said. "Marijuana is a big thing. I don't know if we will ever get rid of that problem."Traffickers also have boosted the quality and potency of marijuana, making it a more dangerous and more expensive drug, Bryant said. And because of the higher prices, more users and dealers are going home to grow their own, he said."I've seen basement operations that are better than greenhouses," he said.Economic factors also may have contributed to the decline of crack as a drug of choice on the streets, while opening the door to a new, unwanted guest in the neighborhood - methamphetamine.A rock of crack cocaine costs between $10 and $20 and provides a high that can last from 20 minutes to one hour, which can amount to a $200 to $300 daily habit for heavy users, Bryant said. For about $100, however, one can buy a gram of methamphetamine and stay high for up to 16 hours.Methamphetamine, also known as "speed" or "meth," is a new drug in Michigan, and so far only has been detected in the southwestern counties, said state police Detective Lt. Tracey McAndrew of the Southwest Michigan Enforcement Team."It's the worst drug I've ever had to deal with," he said. "It's one of the most addictive substances known to man."Meth addicts are extremely prone to violence and suffer acute paranoia, sometimes going for several days without sleep, McAndrew said. The drug often gives users the sensation that bugs are crawling on their skin, causing them to dig on their own bodies. Studies also show meth to be much more harmful to the body than crack, especially to the liver.The presence of methamphetamine in southwest Michigan has increased as much as 300 percent over the last two years, McAndrew said."We are struggling at this point to keep up with it," he said.McAndrew said 99 percent of meth users are white. The drug also is popular among young girls, because amphetamine is a hunger suppressor.One of the biggest dangers of meth is that it can be made relatively easily, using commercial chemicals at home, which makes labs hard to detect. It is produced in several different forms, and can be smoked, snorted or injected."This isn't something that can be imported," McAndrew said. "People are making it locally."The workshop was one of several training sessions held during the Michigan conference, which concludes today."The White House looks to Michigan as an example," Donald Vereen, deputy director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, said during a general session Thursday morning. "There are number of ways Michigan is a leader."HERTON ESCOBAR can be reached at 388-8524.Friday, November 5, 1999Copyright 1999 Michigan Live Inc. Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #11 posted by f all tweekers on May 18, 2001 at 01:05:21 PT: looser LOOSER LOOSER looser ! bunk ASS tweeker . get a life without speed you trailer trash bumb! [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by dddd on December 06, 2000 at 07:51:29 PT difference The difference between "speed",and "meth",is basicly in the way it's made,and how you take it. "Speed",that comes in a pill form,is something that you usually eat."Meth",is usually snorted or smoked,and is quite often produced under crude conditions,by people who are wanna-be chemists.I think "meth",has a tendency to be a bit more addictive,but both are basicly the same drug. [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by tesha on December 06, 2000 at 07:08:57 PT: METH Meth, what a drug. my uncle uses it when he goes on road trips, but he's not addictedto it. But he is addicted to herion, but that's a different story. And that Meth is in pills, and he calls it Speed. So what's the difference between what my uncle uses, and what the other Meth Addicts are using? [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by flikk on January 18, 2000 at 17:26:16 PT: Meth Please e-mail me directions for making good meth...flikk hotmail.com [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by nope on January 15, 2000 at 02:38:58 PT: meth there is no such thing as meth in australia we just call it speed or go-ee...its not harmful if used in moderation....herion is australias biggest killer........ [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by FoM on November 06, 1999 at 17:05:59 PT Meth I don't know what Meth is like now but very few people that I ever met back in the 70s that were doing speed( Crystal Meth ) are alive and that is the truth. It is a drug that makes you feel too good and oh how dangerous it is. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by RoMan on November 06, 1999 at 05:54:21 PT Meth/white crosses These 2 substances are similar but not at all the same thingwhile both are amphetimenes white crosses are manufactured in a controlled invironment.Crystal Meth is made using other ephedrines and base chemicals.It is incredibly toxic, volitile and dangerous.Residual Central Nervous problems can result from usingC/M. Cardiac Arrest,and Ocular Motility/Mobility Sensory perception problems can be caused by using these chemicals.It is bad VERY,VERY badRoMan [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by rainbow on November 05, 1999 at 17:53:21 PT: must not be the same thing from my recollection nobody got angry or tempers flying. But then no one injected just did a crisscross pill or two.Rainbow [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by FoM on November 05, 1999 at 17:05:22 PT What I know about Meth The meth that was around Pennsylvania in the 70s was crystal, not pills. White crosses, I've sure heard about them but Meth came in a compressed type white rock if I remember correctly. It was a powerful drug when injected and one of the most addicting because it is a drug that is so good on the upside that you want more but the downside is unreal. Tempers get really bad and I would be very concerned if anyone I knew did Meth because of those effects. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by Rainbow on November 05, 1999 at 12:23:34 PT: Meth = Crisscross? Back in the late 60's early 70's we heard of meth as speed or white crisscross. It was never addicting so what is the difference between todays meth and yesterdays methamphetamine.It was used primarily for late night study sessions and I think the truckers used it for over the road trips?What changed?CheersRainbow [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Rainbow on November 05, 1999 at 12:23:30 PT: Meth = Crisscross? Back in the late 60's early 70's we heard of meth as speed or white crisscross. It was never addicting so what is the difference between todays meth and yesterdays methamphetamine.It was used primarily for late night study sessions and I think the truckers used it for over the road trips?What changed?CheersRainbow [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: