Meth Use Still a Problem Although Production Declines (Missouri)

A Weekend Special Report by Amanda Goodman
WARRENSBURG, Mo. -- Several years ago, Missouri ranked as one of the top meth-producing states in the country. Although tough law enforcement and legislation made production more difficult, extensive use of the highly addictive drug continues to attract local producers and international traffickers.

Meth has hundreds of street names, and used to be associated primarily with teen use at Rave clubs. But in 1999, adult women using meth made up 47 percent of patients in substance abuse programs according to Narc-Anon of Southern California, a drug rehabilitation program that boasts a 76 percent success rate.

Methamphetamines tend to wear out the central nervous system. Many users become paranoid, fatigued and tend to hallucinate.

According to Sheriff Charles Heiss, many users have called Johnson County Dispatch thinking that police or deputies were following them or were on the top of the roof. According to Heiss, methamphetamines are a severe problem state-wide.

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