Methamphetamine, the cheap easy-to-make illegal drug that is luring a new generation of young people is on the rise in the United States and in New Jersey. It’s also known by several street names: Meth, Speed, Ice, Chalk, Crank, Fire, Glass and Crystal. “Meth” can cause shortness of breath, hyperthermia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, permanent brain damage and rampant, rapid tooth decay. The latter, also known as “meth mouth,” is a common, more visible side effect of methamphetamine addiction. Some users describe their teeth as “blackened, stained, rotting, crumbling, or falling apart.”
According to the National Drug Intelligence Center within the U.S. Department of Justice (USDOJ), Methamphetamine is more available than it has ever been in New Jersey and it is a growing challenge for New Jersey law enforcement officials. It also notes that the profile of the user has changed over the years. Today, young, middle-class individuals, some of college age, are using the drug. Parents are learning more and more about “meth mouth” because it is a clear visible sign that their children may be abusing drugs.
The extensive tooth decay visible with “meth mouth” is attributed to the drug’s acidic nature and its tendency to dry mouth tissues. While users are under the influence of the drug, they tend to crave high calorie, carbonated, sugary beverages, and grind or clench their teeth, all of which can harm teeth.
The number of methamphetamine laboratories seized by US law enforcement agencies increased 25 percent between 2001 and 2004, according to the USDOJ. The drug can be manufactured from common household chemicals and over-the-counter cold remedies. The USDOJ also reports that from 2002 to 2005, young adults aged 18 to 25 were more likely to use methamphetamine in the past year (1.6 percent than youths aged 12 to 17 (0.7 percent) and adults aged 26 or older (0.4 percent).