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Anyone seen methamphetamine in the UK/Europe?
- Thread starter bignbrown
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phatass
Bluelighter
Methamphetamine...
Its easy and cheap to produce, its huge in the USA, australia, asia, and i think its starting to get big in eastern Europe.... but why is it nearly nowhere to be seen in western Europe... apart from in rolls, i've seen chrystal meth once in my life at a huge rave party with people who had come from eastern europe and brought it with them... but why do you think its just not here? or is it just no here YET..???
Its easy and cheap to produce, its huge in the USA, australia, asia, and i think its starting to get big in eastern Europe.... but why is it nearly nowhere to be seen in western Europe... apart from in rolls, i've seen chrystal meth once in my life at a huge rave party with people who had come from eastern europe and brought it with them... but why do you think its just not here? or is it just no here YET..???
captain codshit
Bluelighter
http://www.bluelight.ru/vb/showthread.php?t=456748&page=9
Already a thread started bro. Seems to be appearing in the UK but is still pretty rare...
Suspect this will be merged soon.
Already a thread started bro. Seems to be appearing in the UK but is still pretty rare...
Suspect this will be merged soon.
phatass
Bluelighter
ohk.. thanks
rikerliker707
Bluelighter
the reasons for crystal meth rarity in europe have already been adumbrated in this thread but none are insurmountable, no reason why it shouldn't be as big as crack in EU
lil angel15
Bluelight Crew
Come to Australia and it's all you will find. 
One thing that is strange about the amphetamine scene around the world is that the end users seem to prefer the original product and formulation, or something close to what had been around historically on the scene and the producer goes through the trouble of producing a product the approximates the original. This is in contrast to opiates where heroin users make the switch to oxy or opana if the situation warrants. Some cases in point.
1) Amphetamine sulfate as apposed to meth which should theoretically be easier to produce and high more euphoric- thus marketable to a wider consumer base and preferable to those who like speed already, yet amphetamine sulfate is the speed of choice in much of Europe.
2.) A notable exception is the Czech Republic and Slovakia which both seem to have a regional preference for methamphetamine which goes by the street name pervertin which is the original german brand name for the drug and there was apparently a cottage scene for this drug that persited through the communist era in the former Czechleslovakia.
3.) Yaba: The original formulation of methamphetamine and cafeine was outlawed in the 70s after several traffick accidents. For some inexplicable reason, the drug is still sold in pill form compounded with cafeine- especially since most of it is smoked-which seems pointless, although with heroin cafeine supposedly makes it run better on foil.
4.) Japan still has a sizable meth problem called shabu- crystalline meth- whose legacy stretches back to post WWII when pharm companies dumped IV meth formulations OTC on the demoralized public. American GIs stationed in Japan helped bring back the taste for meth accross the pacific from the Marshall Islands, to Hawaii, eventaully to San Diego were a meth scene was established that stretches back to the late 40s and early 50s. A cottage industry in illicit manufacture grew up in the 60s and 70s when the feds cracked down on meth Rxs. Interesting history behind this that is documented somewhere on bluelight. For many years meth was a west coast phenomena, being somewhat rare East of the Sierra Nevadas or Rockies.
5.) Captagon- Big in the Arab world a drug that complexes dexedrine and theophilline. A majority of the drug is made illicitly in Bulgaria and Turkey. Why do the producers bother with the theophilline pain in the ass synthetic route and just sell meth in counterfit pills or capsules?
6.) Egypt had an amphetamine formulation that is still abused but its name and composition escapes my memory.
7.) In Sweden, despite a fairly low incidence of drug abuse by EU standards, among those that do use drugs recreationally and otherwise, amphetamine is the drug of choice. A scene that stretches back to the 50s and 60s.
8.) Why preludin never came back- difficult synth or other factors? A drug many considered more euphoric and prosexual than methamphetamine.
What all this seems to suggest is that consumers tend to prefer what there used too. Another factor- cooks might lack the sophistication to adapt new recipes, even if they are less complicated and more feasable in practice.
But from what I've read- meth is available in the Gay scene, a popular party favor on the worldwide gay underground.
Meth Countries: New Zeland (P), Auz, USA (Called Ice in American Samoa, Guam, Hawaii), Mexico, Canada, Former Czechleslovokia (Pervertin), Thailand (Yaba), Cambodia (Yama), Western Samoa (P), Japan (shabu), South Korea, the Philipeans. Evidence that a small meth scene is beginning in Argentina, otherwise cocaine is king in South America, and last, but not least, South Africa (Tik).
By the way. Other slang names for meth, in CA at least, are crystal meth, crank (older term- usually applied to the biker P2P dope), shards, glass, and tweak. For those of you that have TLC (the learning channel)- a 19 yo female tweaker will be featured tommorow on the new series about addiction/drug abuse.
1) Amphetamine sulfate as apposed to meth which should theoretically be easier to produce and high more euphoric- thus marketable to a wider consumer base and preferable to those who like speed already, yet amphetamine sulfate is the speed of choice in much of Europe.
2.) A notable exception is the Czech Republic and Slovakia which both seem to have a regional preference for methamphetamine which goes by the street name pervertin which is the original german brand name for the drug and there was apparently a cottage scene for this drug that persited through the communist era in the former Czechleslovakia.
3.) Yaba: The original formulation of methamphetamine and cafeine was outlawed in the 70s after several traffick accidents. For some inexplicable reason, the drug is still sold in pill form compounded with cafeine- especially since most of it is smoked-which seems pointless, although with heroin cafeine supposedly makes it run better on foil.
4.) Japan still has a sizable meth problem called shabu- crystalline meth- whose legacy stretches back to post WWII when pharm companies dumped IV meth formulations OTC on the demoralized public. American GIs stationed in Japan helped bring back the taste for meth accross the pacific from the Marshall Islands, to Hawaii, eventaully to San Diego were a meth scene was established that stretches back to the late 40s and early 50s. A cottage industry in illicit manufacture grew up in the 60s and 70s when the feds cracked down on meth Rxs. Interesting history behind this that is documented somewhere on bluelight. For many years meth was a west coast phenomena, being somewhat rare East of the Sierra Nevadas or Rockies.
5.) Captagon- Big in the Arab world a drug that complexes dexedrine and theophilline. A majority of the drug is made illicitly in Bulgaria and Turkey. Why do the producers bother with the theophilline pain in the ass synthetic route and just sell meth in counterfit pills or capsules?
6.) Egypt had an amphetamine formulation that is still abused but its name and composition escapes my memory.
7.) In Sweden, despite a fairly low incidence of drug abuse by EU standards, among those that do use drugs recreationally and otherwise, amphetamine is the drug of choice. A scene that stretches back to the 50s and 60s.
8.) Why preludin never came back- difficult synth or other factors? A drug many considered more euphoric and prosexual than methamphetamine.
What all this seems to suggest is that consumers tend to prefer what there used too. Another factor- cooks might lack the sophistication to adapt new recipes, even if they are less complicated and more feasable in practice.
But from what I've read- meth is available in the Gay scene, a popular party favor on the worldwide gay underground.
Meth Countries: New Zeland (P), Auz, USA (Called Ice in American Samoa, Guam, Hawaii), Mexico, Canada, Former Czechleslovokia (Pervertin), Thailand (Yaba), Cambodia (Yama), Western Samoa (P), Japan (shabu), South Korea, the Philipeans. Evidence that a small meth scene is beginning in Argentina, otherwise cocaine is king in South America, and last, but not least, South Africa (Tik).
By the way. Other slang names for meth, in CA at least, are crystal meth, crank (older term- usually applied to the biker P2P dope), shards, glass, and tweak. For those of you that have TLC (the learning channel)- a 19 yo female tweaker will be featured tommorow on the new series about addiction/drug abuse.
Last edited:
It's called ice in Australia too (or at least it was 3 years ago)
http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/special_eds/20060320/
Have a look at that madness
http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/special_eds/20060320/
Have a look at that madness
PredatorVision
Bluelighter
I've heard people talk about getting Crystal Meth before but whenever I've seen it happen it's usally just regular speed that people think is the same thing. Probably for the better theres not much of it around here.
Word, I had the misfortune of trying this stuff when I was at college.
Got given a line, WOW, this is amazing and useful... 2 weeks later i need it to get up in the morning and it becomes far far less useful, even a hindrance to doing anything constructive even tho you are operating at 1000mph. Don't bother i reckon, in the long run, it's definitely not worth it - the withdrawal can take from 3 months to 3 years to start to kick in from what i understand. And it ages you a hell of a lot quicker.
captain codshit
Bluelighter
Withdrawl? I didn't know you could get withdrawl from stimulants. You don't from normal amphetamine as far as I know, can't see why meth would be different in that respect.
Bella Figura
Bluelight Crew
It wouldn't be really, and the 3 months to 3 years sounds like BS to me...
OND43X
Bluelighter
All This talk about meth has made me hungry. Going to pick some up this afternoon.
bresker: good video. Addicted tonight on TLC had a pretty good view on the smoking habit. Had a good documentary somewhere on the "tik" epidemic in South Africa (and one on Mandrax smoking in the west cape) but will have to dig it up. After about 60 years of an on going tweak epidemic here in San Diego- I have seen the effects of long term use. A small fraction is able to adapt to the drug and use it long term. Maybe they have adult ADHD and it helps them function, who knows. I large fraction have the life sucked out of them in a short amount of time. The drug seems to age people prematurely (unlike heroin were many might look younger for their age). the burnout rate isn't as fast as crack- people might be able to go longer but I've seen tweakers after having gotten clean with weathered skin, a sort of permanent scowel- and poor dentation is a very common sign of long term use.
For those with nascent meth scenes like those already established in Oceana and if this drug is established in Western Europe , UK in particular, it may be instructive to observe a place were it is already established like San Diego, the former "Meth Capital of the World" for several decades. Here's a little world timeline/ exerpt from a thread I started:
A timeline
1.) Japanese invent methamphetamine.
2.) During the depression, Alles and his buddies I think at UCSF or UCLA began doing research with benzedrine. It enjoys a wide range of applications.
3.) The Axis uses meth as the drug of choice. The Japanese make extensive use of it but the Germans have reservations (some limitations and unpredictability in its action become apparent after its use in the Blitzkrieg despite I forget the term used by the Nazi's but something like (the drug underwent precision doseage studies in the german manner so they were puzzeled. Small thing but mad under the trade name Pervetin or something like this, still the street name for the drug in former Czechleslovokia. Despite this, drug use was pervasive among the German political elite, socialites, and General staff with Goering being the classic example, though this proclivity for the elites proclivity to do drugs like cocaine, heroin, and morphine was advertised. However, Hitler was making extensive use of meth with barbituates and other sedatives to put him to sleep. He began using them parenterally in the end if the evidense is correct with vitamins and other supplements in the same way as JFK did years latter. His (Hitler's) irrational behavior, though an unstable individual to begin with fit the profile. JFK was getting his injections IM in his ass during the cuban missle crisis, thankfully his personality wasn't as unstable as Hitler's but look what a fiasco and near catastrophe of epic proportions that whole standoff turned out to be.
4.) Japan surrenders- war stocks of meth dumped on demoralized population. I think it was the IV formulation that was OTC and starts with a P, the slang name for IV meth in Japan to this day. An edidemic insues and swift action on the part of the government plus meth burnout so a decrease in the 50s. Take into account the Japanese are a different culture were obedience and social dynamics are different than the west but the scene never went away.
5.) Sweden experiences an epedemic of speed use. The DOC was preludin which never regained its prefered status an atypical example of an ATS stimulant choice patern doesn't fit the model of the "prague effect or phenomena"- a term I coined (I know what your thinking- kinda cheesy I'm coining my own terms). Sorry could have thought of something better name wise, but I mention this phenomena elsewere in another thread. Although the epedemic wained, a speed scene exists in Sweden to this day despite their antipathy for drugs as a culture, in other words the drug never totally went away despite the governments best efforts.
6.) Amphetamines: different formulations, stuff like methedrine, desoxyn, dexedrine, benzedrine, combinations with sedatives (dexamyl)- this is a match made in heaven barb + amphetamine FYI and a plethora of other things were available in the 50s and widely used for a number of reasons. My Dad was a med student @ Penn in the 50s and he said that drug companies would come on campus a give med students free physician's samples of methedrine around midterms and finals. They were considered safe and effective.
7.) Sevicemen after the war:
Quote:
At the end of the war, the Japanese methamphetamine epidemic was really quite widespread. It was probably the first major drug epidemic the world had ever seen, was Japan at the end of World War II. Lots of American military personnel, men and women, became involved in methamphetamine. And when they mustered out of the military, we saw a spread of methamphetamine use from Japan to the Marshall Islands to the
Returning soldiers, sailors to SD: Philippines, Guam, Hawaii and then the first sight on the mainland was really San Diego because this was the major transshipment route that folks coming out of the military from the Pacific Theater came through San Diego. So San Diego is really first hit.
In Okinawa, meth was widepread in the red light district in the 50s as well as other parts of Japan. The Korean War saw alot of soldiers come into contact with this drug either deployed (movie MASH maybe not far from truth). Also, came across drug on R & R in Tokyo. What is interesting, I don't know much about the meth scene in the Marshall Islands, but the other places mentioned: Philippines, Guam, Hawaii, all have thriving meth (Ice or Shabu scenes as the case changes with slang). There is an expert in the Ice scene in I think UC Berkley who I would like to email with questions one of these days- place has a large japanese immigrant/ philippino immigrant population, but I have a feeling that a small scene for meth existed in these area that held on. Rach documents the Phillippines well in FDS. I mention Guam I think in a thread I started about scenes in the South Pacific (I know its in the north pacific but wanted to keep everything in one thread.
In the late 40s, outlaw motorcycle gangs begin forming by disinfranchised WWII personel that want to live free the way they want. Amphetamines used extensively until the late 60s when scare stories in news papers appear. Illicit production and distributio begins to appear in the bay area (orchestrated by the Hells Angeles. Meth is credited for killing the scene in the Haight by 69'. "Speed kills" become a common slogan. Outlaw MC produce illicit meth in the counties east of LA. Biker gangs control production in San Diego, a city traditionally more conservative than other towns. A cottage industry in the hills surrounding the city to make meth becomes established. What is unique is that it is used by a wide range of groups including people in the "straight" world.
Quote:
Then, about 60 years after it was first created by a Japanese scientist, the drug of choice for outlaw bikers and the rural poor suddenly was being used in Southern California by white-collar workers, young mothers, high school students, nurses, teachers and other seemingly unlikely groups.
The drug's popularity particularly soared in San Diego, which became known to many as the methamphetamine capital of the nation in the 1980s.
Several factors have been associated with the drug's rapid rise in popularity among such broad demographics, but among the most significant was a change in the way methamphetamine was produced.
Also, in the early 80s, biker gangs in San diego were rolled up and their bussiness curtailed. That cotage industry that existed in peoples homes, back yards, garages, and ranches making moderate amounts quickly ramped up production to pick up the pace. At one point there was an underground publication on meth production written by someone with the psudonym "Darth Chewbaka" or vice versa. Named something like transmittance for production of illict meth or something like that (name he actually came up with was actually kind of cool I thought).
Anyway, so in San Diego, there was demand that needed to be filled. In the late 80s, to pick up the slack for a drug very much in demand these chemical supply houses sprang up. They were places that seemed to do legit business but I think they were focused on the ephedrine based synthetic routes. Along with your reagent purchase some places included detailed instructions for producing meth. Opertation crankcase- put and dent in the local supply here, but the market changed to meet changing exigencies.
Quote:
which was being made in illicit labs.
Within a year of that new classification, federal Drug Enforcement Agency raids in San Diego were discovering labs making meth with ephedrine, the active ingredient in over-the-counter decongestants. The new meth was easier to make, its ingredients were legal and easy to find, and the drug itself was stronger and more addictive. [I remember in 89' getting ahold of some crclear crystal glass like substance. I was used to the penut butter cranck, or yellow powder crank or cranck dyed purple, orange, or red. Sometimes some good pwder off white crank. These were distict, like pieces of broken glass. I did a higher end normal dose (1/4 gram) and my nose burned up so much I was wondering if this was really choped up glass. It hit me hard and I was getting mild paranoia-almost psychedlic change followed by a strong extreem euphoria/wakefullness. Stayed up for 3 days on that dose. Remember I was in highschool and had to volunteer at a hospital for my school requirements. I had a job that sent me around the hospital but I remember not wanting the elevator b/c I was scarred of people, and taking the steps was giving me chest pain (and this was when I was in shape on swim team.]
San Diego also was in a perfect storm, geographically speaking, for meth use to spread. Since the 1960s, the drug had been distributed in California by the Hells Angels motorcycle club, which was founded north of San Diego County in San Bernardino.
Just to the south, methamphetamine was being made in Mexico, where labs operated with little interference from the law.
Adding to the county's meth explosion, unscrupulous entrepreneurs who saw a booming market opened businesses and started selling the drug's active ingredients, known as precursors, and lab equipment directly to drug manufacturers.
Precursors such as ephedrine, hydriodic acid, red phosphorus and Freon were available at several chemical firms, but two stood out as the biggest supplier for meth labs in the 1980s.
So this summarizes some of the stuff I mentioned, but what it doesn't state clearly is that other less brazen organizations began selling precursors throughout the US. This contributed in the eastward spread of the drug that was no longer produced in as large numbers in San Diego by mom and pop labs. What was produced was produced by well finaced mexican corporations rather than mom and pop operators. These were the Amezcua/CONTRERAS BROTHERS who began smuggling precursors up north and then controlled the trade with there own labs in southern CA. What happened was the quality of tweek improved- I remember alot of good glass. shards being on the street in 93-94. But the capital flowed back to mexico rather than staying entireky in the US. Another good one Narcoswine. The Amezcua's were shut down in I think 95' because I remember a noticeable drought and drop in quality around memorial day (may) of 95' but the facts would fit. Then the mexicans began to move production south of the border and get reagent, having come under stricter mex control from China and other countries.
DM I heard from other Australians and kiwi's that meth is expensive and a status dru. Here it was usually considered a working class white drug "white trash" but cut across lines in San Diego and subcultures: metal heads, punks, goths,, gays, clubbers, ravers, hipsters, chicano gangsters, proffesionals. In the 90s, crystal meth ruled everywhere else but La Jolla ( a Beverly Hills by the beach" had a bizarre underground scene for coke, crack, and heroin, when these drugs were hard to find outside the ghetto. People continue to live with this drug and generations have used and produced it-kind of like moonshine.
If it is no longer a capital, it is a spiritual home. San jose, a little known fact, enjoys that status for PCP. In the 80s use cut across cultural lines and although most is produced in the compton area now a days according to the DEA, San Jose if no longer the "capital" remains the spiritual home for this enigmatic and hardcore drug. I come to this conclusion based on several loose criteria filled that I applied to the San Diego meth scene. There is a cottage industry in its production- not all from South Central LA and long term cadre of enthusiasts to this day that don't make it to official figures. PCP Spiritual Home of The World . I think this is a fact the major city in the Silicon Valley, the safest city in the US (acording to the FBI) and the highest per capita income of any major city in the US is more than happy to downplay its angoing association with KJ.
San Diego: A 60 year old Love/ hate relationship with Meth
Well Done Documentary on "Tik" Smoking in South Africa
All in all- the drug is very suductive: but the abuse potential is very high. I know this from personal experience and from living in one of the world's great centers of abuse. As was mentioned in Breskers documentary, from the standpoint of harm reduction dexedrine maintenace has enjoyed successful trials in Aus and the UK and I know one member on this board that has profited from this treatment modality that lives in Eastern Canada. If the UK does experience an epidemic, there are less regulatory hurdles to instituting such a program, in theory.
A timeline
1.) Japanese invent methamphetamine.
2.) During the depression, Alles and his buddies I think at UCSF or UCLA began doing research with benzedrine. It enjoys a wide range of applications.
3.) The Axis uses meth as the drug of choice. The Japanese make extensive use of it but the Germans have reservations (some limitations and unpredictability in its action become apparent after its use in the Blitzkrieg despite I forget the term used by the Nazi's but something like (the drug underwent precision doseage studies in the german manner so they were puzzeled. Small thing but mad under the trade name Pervetin or something like this, still the street name for the drug in former Czechleslovokia. Despite this, drug use was pervasive among the German political elite, socialites, and General staff with Goering being the classic example, though this proclivity for the elites proclivity to do drugs like cocaine, heroin, and morphine was advertised. However, Hitler was making extensive use of meth with barbituates and other sedatives to put him to sleep. He began using them parenterally in the end if the evidense is correct with vitamins and other supplements in the same way as JFK did years latter. His (Hitler's) irrational behavior, though an unstable individual to begin with fit the profile. JFK was getting his injections IM in his ass during the cuban missle crisis, thankfully his personality wasn't as unstable as Hitler's but look what a fiasco and near catastrophe of epic proportions that whole standoff turned out to be.
4.) Japan surrenders- war stocks of meth dumped on demoralized population. I think it was the IV formulation that was OTC and starts with a P, the slang name for IV meth in Japan to this day. An edidemic insues and swift action on the part of the government plus meth burnout so a decrease in the 50s. Take into account the Japanese are a different culture were obedience and social dynamics are different than the west but the scene never went away.
5.) Sweden experiences an epedemic of speed use. The DOC was preludin which never regained its prefered status an atypical example of an ATS stimulant choice patern doesn't fit the model of the "prague effect or phenomena"- a term I coined (I know what your thinking- kinda cheesy I'm coining my own terms). Sorry could have thought of something better name wise, but I mention this phenomena elsewere in another thread. Although the epedemic wained, a speed scene exists in Sweden to this day despite their antipathy for drugs as a culture, in other words the drug never totally went away despite the governments best efforts.
6.) Amphetamines: different formulations, stuff like methedrine, desoxyn, dexedrine, benzedrine, combinations with sedatives (dexamyl)- this is a match made in heaven barb + amphetamine FYI and a plethora of other things were available in the 50s and widely used for a number of reasons. My Dad was a med student @ Penn in the 50s and he said that drug companies would come on campus a give med students free physician's samples of methedrine around midterms and finals. They were considered safe and effective.
7.) Sevicemen after the war:
Quote:
At the end of the war, the Japanese methamphetamine epidemic was really quite widespread. It was probably the first major drug epidemic the world had ever seen, was Japan at the end of World War II. Lots of American military personnel, men and women, became involved in methamphetamine. And when they mustered out of the military, we saw a spread of methamphetamine use from Japan to the Marshall Islands to the
Returning soldiers, sailors to SD: Philippines, Guam, Hawaii and then the first sight on the mainland was really San Diego because this was the major transshipment route that folks coming out of the military from the Pacific Theater came through San Diego. So San Diego is really first hit.
In Okinawa, meth was widepread in the red light district in the 50s as well as other parts of Japan. The Korean War saw alot of soldiers come into contact with this drug either deployed (movie MASH maybe not far from truth). Also, came across drug on R & R in Tokyo. What is interesting, I don't know much about the meth scene in the Marshall Islands, but the other places mentioned: Philippines, Guam, Hawaii, all have thriving meth (Ice or Shabu scenes as the case changes with slang). There is an expert in the Ice scene in I think UC Berkley who I would like to email with questions one of these days- place has a large japanese immigrant/ philippino immigrant population, but I have a feeling that a small scene for meth existed in these area that held on. Rach documents the Phillippines well in FDS. I mention Guam I think in a thread I started about scenes in the South Pacific (I know its in the north pacific but wanted to keep everything in one thread.
In the late 40s, outlaw motorcycle gangs begin forming by disinfranchised WWII personel that want to live free the way they want. Amphetamines used extensively until the late 60s when scare stories in news papers appear. Illicit production and distributio begins to appear in the bay area (orchestrated by the Hells Angeles. Meth is credited for killing the scene in the Haight by 69'. "Speed kills" become a common slogan. Outlaw MC produce illicit meth in the counties east of LA. Biker gangs control production in San Diego, a city traditionally more conservative than other towns. A cottage industry in the hills surrounding the city to make meth becomes established. What is unique is that it is used by a wide range of groups including people in the "straight" world.
Quote:
Then, about 60 years after it was first created by a Japanese scientist, the drug of choice for outlaw bikers and the rural poor suddenly was being used in Southern California by white-collar workers, young mothers, high school students, nurses, teachers and other seemingly unlikely groups.
The drug's popularity particularly soared in San Diego, which became known to many as the methamphetamine capital of the nation in the 1980s.
Several factors have been associated with the drug's rapid rise in popularity among such broad demographics, but among the most significant was a change in the way methamphetamine was produced.
Also, in the early 80s, biker gangs in San diego were rolled up and their bussiness curtailed. That cotage industry that existed in peoples homes, back yards, garages, and ranches making moderate amounts quickly ramped up production to pick up the pace. At one point there was an underground publication on meth production written by someone with the psudonym "Darth Chewbaka" or vice versa. Named something like transmittance for production of illict meth or something like that (name he actually came up with was actually kind of cool I thought).
Anyway, so in San Diego, there was demand that needed to be filled. In the late 80s, to pick up the slack for a drug very much in demand these chemical supply houses sprang up. They were places that seemed to do legit business but I think they were focused on the ephedrine based synthetic routes. Along with your reagent purchase some places included detailed instructions for producing meth. Opertation crankcase- put and dent in the local supply here, but the market changed to meet changing exigencies.
Quote:
which was being made in illicit labs.
Within a year of that new classification, federal Drug Enforcement Agency raids in San Diego were discovering labs making meth with ephedrine, the active ingredient in over-the-counter decongestants. The new meth was easier to make, its ingredients were legal and easy to find, and the drug itself was stronger and more addictive. [I remember in 89' getting ahold of some crclear crystal glass like substance. I was used to the penut butter cranck, or yellow powder crank or cranck dyed purple, orange, or red. Sometimes some good pwder off white crank. These were distict, like pieces of broken glass. I did a higher end normal dose (1/4 gram) and my nose burned up so much I was wondering if this was really choped up glass. It hit me hard and I was getting mild paranoia-almost psychedlic change followed by a strong extreem euphoria/wakefullness. Stayed up for 3 days on that dose. Remember I was in highschool and had to volunteer at a hospital for my school requirements. I had a job that sent me around the hospital but I remember not wanting the elevator b/c I was scarred of people, and taking the steps was giving me chest pain (and this was when I was in shape on swim team.]
San Diego also was in a perfect storm, geographically speaking, for meth use to spread. Since the 1960s, the drug had been distributed in California by the Hells Angels motorcycle club, which was founded north of San Diego County in San Bernardino.
Just to the south, methamphetamine was being made in Mexico, where labs operated with little interference from the law.
Adding to the county's meth explosion, unscrupulous entrepreneurs who saw a booming market opened businesses and started selling the drug's active ingredients, known as precursors, and lab equipment directly to drug manufacturers.
Precursors such as ephedrine, hydriodic acid, red phosphorus and Freon were available at several chemical firms, but two stood out as the biggest supplier for meth labs in the 1980s.
So this summarizes some of the stuff I mentioned, but what it doesn't state clearly is that other less brazen organizations began selling precursors throughout the US. This contributed in the eastward spread of the drug that was no longer produced in as large numbers in San Diego by mom and pop labs. What was produced was produced by well finaced mexican corporations rather than mom and pop operators. These were the Amezcua/CONTRERAS BROTHERS who began smuggling precursors up north and then controlled the trade with there own labs in southern CA. What happened was the quality of tweek improved- I remember alot of good glass. shards being on the street in 93-94. But the capital flowed back to mexico rather than staying entireky in the US. Another good one Narcoswine. The Amezcua's were shut down in I think 95' because I remember a noticeable drought and drop in quality around memorial day (may) of 95' but the facts would fit. Then the mexicans began to move production south of the border and get reagent, having come under stricter mex control from China and other countries.
DM I heard from other Australians and kiwi's that meth is expensive and a status dru. Here it was usually considered a working class white drug "white trash" but cut across lines in San Diego and subcultures: metal heads, punks, goths,, gays, clubbers, ravers, hipsters, chicano gangsters, proffesionals. In the 90s, crystal meth ruled everywhere else but La Jolla ( a Beverly Hills by the beach" had a bizarre underground scene for coke, crack, and heroin, when these drugs were hard to find outside the ghetto. People continue to live with this drug and generations have used and produced it-kind of like moonshine.
If it is no longer a capital, it is a spiritual home. San jose, a little known fact, enjoys that status for PCP. In the 80s use cut across cultural lines and although most is produced in the compton area now a days according to the DEA, San Jose if no longer the "capital" remains the spiritual home for this enigmatic and hardcore drug. I come to this conclusion based on several loose criteria filled that I applied to the San Diego meth scene. There is a cottage industry in its production- not all from South Central LA and long term cadre of enthusiasts to this day that don't make it to official figures. PCP Spiritual Home of The World . I think this is a fact the major city in the Silicon Valley, the safest city in the US (acording to the FBI) and the highest per capita income of any major city in the US is more than happy to downplay its angoing association with KJ.
San Diego: A 60 year old Love/ hate relationship with Meth
Well Done Documentary on "Tik" Smoking in South Africa
All in all- the drug is very suductive: but the abuse potential is very high. I know this from personal experience and from living in one of the world's great centers of abuse. As was mentioned in Breskers documentary, from the standpoint of harm reduction dexedrine maintenace has enjoyed successful trials in Aus and the UK and I know one member on this board that has profited from this treatment modality that lives in Eastern Canada. If the UK does experience an epidemic, there are less regulatory hurdles to instituting such a program, in theory.
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OND43X
Bluelighter
this is what is called meth paste/base here in sydney.
Im going to try to find the medical papers on this, it's to do with your body's production of dopamine apparently. It has been several years since i read this tho, so i maybe slightly wrong.
Have you had any experience on meth mate?
Bella Figura
Bluelight Crew
Nah no experience, just never heard of withdrawals ever taking 3 years to manifest themselves, seems a bit odd. If you could find a paper it would be much appreciated 
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