Meth Abuse and Teen Substance Abuse in Long Island

Teen substance abuse in Long Island is skyrocketing due to meth abuse. Crystal meth is an addictive and potentially lethal stimulant that can be consumed in a variety of ways. It’s a drug that is gaining in popularity and has become a part of teen substance abuse, leading to the need for Long Island drug rehab for teenagers. In particular, teen methamphetamine abuse is out of control.

Crystal meth can be swallowed, smoked, snorted, or injected. On the street, it goes by a variety of names:

First of all, let’s be clear: Everything about crystal meth is dangerous. Methamphetamine abuse leads to problems with teen mental health in Long Island. Across the country, meth abuse has led to problems in a wide variety of communities. Given the history of substance abuse among teens in Long Island, the same destructive pattern has started to emerge.

Long Island parents should take notice if they hear any of the slang terms listed above in their teens’ conversations with friends, as they can be signs of methamphetamine abuse. The manufacture of methamphetamine produces a strong, unmistakable odor. What’s more, the process can be unstable. Most meth labs are discovered after they have blown up.

As a result, teens in busy cities like Long Island can access crystal meth almost anywhere. Indeed, meth abuse is so rampant in Long Island, it has caused a spike in teen substance abuse in Long Island across the board. Indeed, methamphetamine use is pushing the already dangerous stats into overdrive.

Meth Abuse & Teen Mental Health in Long Island

Meth is becoming popular in cities across the Northeast. Long Island, New York, is not immune. The headline of an article in a Long Island newspaper recently asked, “Has the new heroin hit Long Island?”.  The “new heroin” the title refers to is meth, highlighting the problem of substance abuse among teens in Long Island. Meth Abuse is as serious as any drug problem being faced by parents nationwide.

On a recent 4th of July weekend, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents arrested a driver whose vehicle carried 700,000 bags of meth. This is 51 pounds. The drugs, with a street value estimated at $10 million, were in a single suitcase. Imagine if this illegal load had gotten through, then imagine the other three to five loads that probably did. Indeed, for every illegal meth bust, there are evil successes that fuel teen substance abuse in Long Island.

Still, this was one of the largest confiscations of meth ever made by the DEA. These drugs, described by officials as 90 percent pure, had been created in a lab in northern Mexico. It is offered as a lower-priced alternative to cocaine and prescription drugs. One hit can sell for as little as $5. Therefore, these drugs are easily accessed and can easily become a part of teen addiction in Long Island. Such cheap and ultra-powerful drugs also are a threat to teen mental health in Long Island.

Crystal Meth Users and Methamphetamine Abuse

Abuse of Methamphetamine has been associated with residents of economically depressed rural areas. But no longer. Teen substance abuse in Long Island and elsewhere now features the abuse of methamphetamine. Due to the increase in popularity, anyone, from any demographic, is susceptible. Consequently, we must be aware of the facts around meth use.

The Indiana Prevention Resource Center of the University of Indiana says the East Coast had the highest number of meth-related deaths in the past year. Long Island, in particular, had 49 deaths. Beyond deaths, methamphetamine use has a deadly impact on teenage metal health in Long Island. Indeed, meth use fuels both physical and mental breakdowns in young people.

The Effects of Teen Methamphetamine Abuse

Methamphetamine is called speed for a reason. It increases activity of the central nervous system. Therefore, some prescription drugs contain the active ingredient to fight fatigue.

Teen Substance Abuse in Long Island

According to the White House’s Office of National Drug Control Policy, a key ingredient in meth is pseudoephedrine. This is the active ingredient in many cold medicines. Substance abuse among teens in Long Island is the result of an evil catch-22. Indeed, teenagers believe that if meth is made from cold medicine, it must not be bad. The pseudoephedrine becomes part of the drug user’s rationalization, increasing the rates of meth abuse.

Due to this challenge, many state governments are tracking sales of cold medicines. Furthermore, the state of Oregon has gone so far as to require a doctor’s prescription in order to avoid the spread of abuse of meth. To prevent a further rise in teen substance abuse in areas such as Long Island, the same steps may need to be taken by the New York state legislature in Albany.

Is Your Teen in Need of Intervention and Treatment?

It seems undeniable that methamphetamine, long a scourge of the Midwest and South, has come to the Long Island. The drug is catching on among young people. Consequently, we must do our utmost to protect our loved ones from abuse of methamphetamine in order to fight teenage substance abuse in Long Island.

In conclusion, if you or a loved one is suffering due to substance use disorder, please contact us today. At Newport Academy, we offer intensive treatment and can help staging an intervention for teens who are struggling with substance abuse of any kind for any reason. We are here to help.