Meth seizures are on the rise

On Behalf of | Oct 27, 2019 | Firm News

Drug seizures, and drug use of all sorts, like cocaine, fentanyl, and methamphetamine are on the rise, but meth seizures specifically are surging.

Meth and crystal meth use can do significant short-term and long-term damage to the body. Other than the use of dirty needles, meth puts the body into hyper-speed, creating a false sense of energy and security. This false security leads to physical actions that can damage the body, as well as physical and mental breakdowns as the high wears off.

Other short terms side-effects include: insomnia, extreme weight loss and aggression, confusion, hallucinations, psychosis, seizures, and anxiety.

Long term damages, even after discontinuing use, can include: high blood pressure, brain and heart damage, kidney damage, lung and liver damage, STD’s and other infectious diseases from dirty needles and other unsanitary actions, confusion, psychosis, and depression.

Meth statistics

  • Meth seizures increased 142% between 2017 and 2018
  • Meth-related overdose deaths increased 21% in 2018 to nearly 13,000 fatalities
  • Opioid overdoses dipped, but fentanyl and cocaine overdose fatalities also rose in 2018

Meth seizure numbers

The following numbers equate to the number seizures of meth and crystal meth between 2011 and 2018.

  • 2011: 7,874
  • 2012: 15,323
  • 2013: 15,038
  • 2014: 23,927
  • 2015: 23,895
  • 2016: 24,896
  • 2017: 28,046
  • 2018: 67,757

Did that 2018 number stand out? A rise of 37,7111 seizures.

As reported by National Public Radio (NPR), a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration associate special agent toured a crystal meth lab I Mexico that had been generating seven tons of meth every three days.

Those number tell another story; a crackdown has begun on meth, but also that there has been a surge into the amount of meth being brought into the United States, affecting every corner of the country.

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