Ernestrome
Bluelighter
Crystal meth, the highly addictive stimulant, is to be officially ranked as a class A drug in Britain following warnings from senior police that it could become mainstream within the next two to three years.
The Guardian has learned that the government's drug experts, the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD), have recommended the listing to the home secretary, John Reid, following police evidence that a small number of "domestic" laboratories have been uncovered in Britain.
Although the regular use of the drug has, until now, been confined to small sections of the gay club scene and some male saunas, a fall in prices has led to it being sold to mainstream clubbers as a drug that costs about the same as crack cocaine, but lasts much longer.
Senior British police have been alarmed by reports from America and Australia about its very rapid growth in popularity. The number of illegal labs producing it exploded in the US from 3,800 in 1998 to 8,500 in 2001, peaking at 10,200 in 2003. It is now more popular than cocaine or heroin in parts of America.
The class A listing means police will target meth abuse and illicit laboratories. At present, its class B status means it is not the subject of any targeted law enforcement activity.
The Association of Chief Police Officers has told the council that the drug is being imported from America and south-east Asia by a Filipino criminal network. But reliable intelligence reports have already identified five meth labs within London and a number of small domestic labs on the Isle of Wight.
The Metropolitan police says it knows of several significant meth dealers within the gay club scene in London who have made massive profits in recent years.
Detective Inspector Jason Ashwood, author of the Acpo paper, who works in the Met's drugs directorate, said: "Meth is arguably as much a hazard as crack cocaine and heroin, and more of a hazard than ecstasy and LSD. Previous concern about reclassification and 'stoking up' media interest has been overtaken by events." He said the "undisputed difference" between meth and other drugs is that it can be relatively easily manufactured at home. "The chemicals are available within the UK and the internet gives endless guidance on making," he added.
Acpo says domestic meth production quickly leads to squalor, with addicts consumed by the process and paying attention to little else. Families and neighbours are put at risk of fire, explosion and toxic fumes, with just one or two "cooking cycles" sufficient to render a building uninhabitable.
The effects of meth include psychosis and paranoia, and the ability to binge for days or weeks. It has a particularly addictive effect that could be compared to crack cocaine and heroin. As it is sold in powder, tablets or crystal and can be snorted, smoked, injected or swallowed it appeals to all classes of drug users.
Data from the 2005 national gay men's sex survey confirms its use but it is still a minority activity with less than 3% of respondents saying they had used the drug in the previous year.
Harry Shapiro of Drugscope, the drugs information charity, said it was sensible to classify meth alongside crack and heroin given international evidence on the social and health impact of its use.
"Although rates of usage in the UK remain low at present, reclassifying crystal meth could have pre-emptive value in enabling police resources to be directed towards the drug as part of the strategy to focus on class A drugs," he said.
At a glance
· Colourless, odourless form of d-methamphetamine. Usually smoked, but may be injected
· Widely used during second world war to keep soldiers alert. In the 1960s it became popular in the US among people working long shifts, and athletes before officials moved to restrict use in 1965. Now illegal both in the US and UK
· Hitler is said to have injected it daily. Produces immediate high which may last 12 hours or more. Cocaine sells for $100 to $150 a gram in the US, meth about $25
· World Health Organisation estimates 35 million people use it or its derivatives.
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http://society.guardian.co.uk/drugsandalcohol/story/0,,1795586,00.html
Crystal meth to get class A listing in bid to limit use
Crystal meth to get class A listing in bid to limit use
· Police fear stimulant could replace crack cocaine
· Illicit labs uncovered as drug is sold to clubbers
Alan Travis, home affairs editor
Monday June 12, 2006
The Guardian
The Guardian has learned that the government's drug experts, the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD), have recommended the listing to the home secretary, John Reid, following police evidence that a small number of "domestic" laboratories have been uncovered in Britain.
Although the regular use of the drug has, until now, been confined to small sections of the gay club scene and some male saunas, a fall in prices has led to it being sold to mainstream clubbers as a drug that costs about the same as crack cocaine, but lasts much longer.
Senior British police have been alarmed by reports from America and Australia about its very rapid growth in popularity. The number of illegal labs producing it exploded in the US from 3,800 in 1998 to 8,500 in 2001, peaking at 10,200 in 2003. It is now more popular than cocaine or heroin in parts of America.
The class A listing means police will target meth abuse and illicit laboratories. At present, its class B status means it is not the subject of any targeted law enforcement activity.
The Association of Chief Police Officers has told the council that the drug is being imported from America and south-east Asia by a Filipino criminal network. But reliable intelligence reports have already identified five meth labs within London and a number of small domestic labs on the Isle of Wight.
The Metropolitan police says it knows of several significant meth dealers within the gay club scene in London who have made massive profits in recent years.
Detective Inspector Jason Ashwood, author of the Acpo paper, who works in the Met's drugs directorate, said: "Meth is arguably as much a hazard as crack cocaine and heroin, and more of a hazard than ecstasy and LSD. Previous concern about reclassification and 'stoking up' media interest has been overtaken by events." He said the "undisputed difference" between meth and other drugs is that it can be relatively easily manufactured at home. "The chemicals are available within the UK and the internet gives endless guidance on making," he added.
Acpo says domestic meth production quickly leads to squalor, with addicts consumed by the process and paying attention to little else. Families and neighbours are put at risk of fire, explosion and toxic fumes, with just one or two "cooking cycles" sufficient to render a building uninhabitable.
The effects of meth include psychosis and paranoia, and the ability to binge for days or weeks. It has a particularly addictive effect that could be compared to crack cocaine and heroin. As it is sold in powder, tablets or crystal and can be snorted, smoked, injected or swallowed it appeals to all classes of drug users.
Data from the 2005 national gay men's sex survey confirms its use but it is still a minority activity with less than 3% of respondents saying they had used the drug in the previous year.
Harry Shapiro of Drugscope, the drugs information charity, said it was sensible to classify meth alongside crack and heroin given international evidence on the social and health impact of its use.
"Although rates of usage in the UK remain low at present, reclassifying crystal meth could have pre-emptive value in enabling police resources to be directed towards the drug as part of the strategy to focus on class A drugs," he said.
At a glance
· Colourless, odourless form of d-methamphetamine. Usually smoked, but may be injected
· Widely used during second world war to keep soldiers alert. In the 1960s it became popular in the US among people working long shifts, and athletes before officials moved to restrict use in 1965. Now illegal both in the US and UK
· Hitler is said to have injected it daily. Produces immediate high which may last 12 hours or more. Cocaine sells for $100 to $150 a gram in the US, meth about $25
· World Health Organisation estimates 35 million people use it or its derivatives.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
http://society.guardian.co.uk/drugsandalcohol/story/0,,1795586,00.html
Crystal meth to get class A listing in bid to limit use
Crystal meth to get class A listing in bid to limit use
· Police fear stimulant could replace crack cocaine
· Illicit labs uncovered as drug is sold to clubbers
Alan Travis, home affairs editor
Monday June 12, 2006
The Guardian
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