What makes P2P meth different? Let's look at the chemical makeup. Eventually, the Mexican government joined in outlawing ephedrine, thereby forcing drug traffickers to reinvent the process used to create methamphetamine. Meth made from ephedrine was readily available in the majority of the United States until the past decade when pharmacies became required by law to limit the sale of products containing ephedrine. What did the illegal manufacturing of meth look like?Īlso known as speed and glass, methamphetamine was initially cooked in home-grown laboratory set-ups, using cold medicine products that contained ephedrine. The production and use of illegal methamphetamine slowly traveled across the United States, starting on the West Coast and eventually, in the 1990s, finding a home in central and eastern parts of the country. Yes, the meth epidemic informally began in the 1970s when legislation limited the prescription of amphetamines. The Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970 limited people's access to amphetamines, unintentionally creating a larger market for illegally manufactured methamphetamine. When the crackdown on legally prescribed amphetamines began, the production of meth ramped up. In fact, amphetamines are still prescribed for ADD and ADHD, and less frequently for narcolepsy and weight loss. After the war, amphetamines were introduced and popularized across the United States when they were commonly prescribed by doctors to treat a variety of health conditions. What's the history behind meth and amphetamines?Īmphetamines have a long history of abuse that predates World War II, and soldiers on both sides allegedly abused the drug to help with fatigue. It is closely related, in both chemical structure and effect, to amphetamines, but meth has stronger effects and is usually manufactured illegally. Meth can be snorted, smoked, injected or taken orally, and its highs are characterized by an increase in energy and an elevated mood state.

Methamphetamine, usually referred to by its shorthand 'meth,' is a central nervous system stimulant. To find the answers to those questions and more, read on. It's known as P2P (phenyl-2-propanone) meth, and it's the subject of recent debate: What makes P2P meth different from other forms of methamphetamine? What are its effects and dangers? How does it effect a person's mental health? Can it cause serious mental illness? The meth epidemic has taken a backseat in national attention because of the spotlight on opioids, but a new type of methamphetamine has created a spike in meth use.

Recipe for crystal meth