Wisconsin is merely the latest state to report an increase in meth usage. Nationally, a states meth problem usually always follows a heroin epidemic. The reasons are simple: meth is cheaper and easier to procure. Batches of the drug can be cooked up using cold medicine, alcohol, ammonia, and other dangerous chemicals. The increased Mexican drug cartel power in Chicago and the Minneapolis area is partly to blame for Wisconsin’s drug problem.
Methamphetamine is often made by amateur chemists and may contain a host of other chemicals and impurities. Users experience an intense high caused by a release of feel good chemicals into their blood stream; the high is short, but the long term effects are serious. “Crystal” causes users to age prematurely and often results in infectious lesions because hallucinations cause them to pick at their skin. Even short term usage results in a disgusting change in appearance.
Most users experience negative psychological effects, too; extreme paranoia, anxiety/agitation, and mood swings are the common results of crystal meth addiction.
Authorities in Wisconsin report that meth arrests nearly doubled between 2011 and 2012; a slight dent was made in the numbers because of an increase in meth lab seizures and raids, but numbers are still on the rise.
Department of Justice estimates claim that meth is probably responsible for many new cases of spousal abuse because of the violent outbursts the drug causes. They also estimate that almost all cases of stolen identity are rooted in methamphetamine usage.