Mississippi is the poster child for Southern charm and personality. Made famous by the cotton fields originating from the rich fertile soil produced from Mississippi river silt and blues music, this state has been the topic of many conversations concerning the South and this nation’s history. Unfortunately the state is now making a name for itself with clandestine meth lab activity and addiction problems.

Fortunately Mississippi is lower than the national average when it comes to citizens who abuse illicit drugs. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) in 2008 8.02% of Americans abuse illicit drugs while in Mississippi the abuse rates are quite a bit lower at 6.39%. Treatment experts are concerned with the sharp increase in meth lab activity and admission to Mississippi rehabs for meth addiction. The increase in meth production began back in 2007 after dealers and cooks were forced to get around restricted sales on ingredients used in the drugs manufacture.

The Federal Combating Methamphetamine Epidemic Act (CMEA) went into effect in 2005 which restricted the sale of cold medicines and other products containing pseudoephedrine (PSE). Methamphetamine can be produced in a variety of ways by mixing various chemicals that create reactions designed to change the molecular structure of PSE into methamphetamine. This makes PSE the primary ingredient needed for all meth “cooks” regardless the method employed.

Addicts and dealers soon found ways around these new restrictions by creating new means of getting PSE called “smurfing”. Smurfing is the act of several people going to several locations and purchasing the maximum amount of cold tablets allowed per person until an amply quantity is obtained. Also, a new method of cook was developed known as “shake and bake” where more transportable one-pot cooks are used producing smaller quantities more frequently.

These new methods of clandestine meth lab activity lead to a 76% increase in meth lab incidents across the country through 2009. Remarkably clandestine meth lab incidents grew by 334% in Mississippi during that same time frame. As a result lawmakers passed legislation requiring a prescription for products containing PSE in 2009 that went into effect July 1, 2010. Although the final numbers have yet to be determined by law enforcement, the last half of 2010 shows a sharp decline in meth related activity.

In 2006, after experiencing a major meth epidemic, Oregon spear-headed legislation tactics like this passing laws requiring drugs with PSE to prescription drug status that same year. Clandestine meth lab activity dropped from 464 to 12 three years later. Law enforcement in Oregon reports an obliteration of meth labs and addiction treatment admissions. Since these laws went into effect Mississippi officials are reporting a nearly two-thirds drop in meth activity statewide.

All of us would have used pain killers at some time or the other in our lives. In fact, pain killers are among the most commonly used medication all over the world. Generally the choice will be between an aspirin or Paracetamol or one of the NSAIDs. Occasionally, for those of us with very severe pain or for those suffering from a terminal illness and the associated pain, narcotics may be prescribed.

Narcotics act directly at the pain processing parts of the body and modify our response to pain. So we may feel the sensation but we will not be affected by it. This class of drugs is very potent in this respect. Consequently, a few patients become used to the apparent disconnect produced by these drugs and start using them even when the pain is not there. This becomes the painkiller addiction – an unfortunate outcome of using this particular class of medicines.

As time passes, such an addicted person becomes dependant on that particular drug and without it, becomes irritable and unsociable. This consequently leads to errors in judgment, issues with social skills, work place problems and finally social mal-adjustment. The severity of these changes in behavior will depend on the specific drug. Some drugs in the class, like morphine and meperidine are quite powerful, but others like buprenorphine or tramadol do not cause as much dependence. In fact, drugs having properties similar to the latter two are helpful in the process of de-addiction.

Fortunately, while a pain killer addiction can have serious long term consequences, there are several effective ways to get free of the habit. Common treatment stages include counseling, certain drugs, support groups, and behavioral therapy techniques. Using such therapeutic methods in a balanced way increases the chance of successful rehabilitation.

Like any addiction, the best possible time for getting de-addicted is before forming the habit – in other words, never get addicted at all! Hence the narcotics, as a class is restricted for use only by doctors duly licensed to prescribe them. Furthermore, measures to educate people, including patients and their relatives about the nature of the drugs and the unfavorable effects if taken without proper guidance and indication, will go a long way in decreasing the personal burden and stigma at the individual level and the healthcare costs at the national level.

An alarming trend is increasingly on the rise, that of addiction among adolescents or young adults. This is a cause of serious worry as it becomes extremely difficult to eliminate substance dependence that begins at young age. Youngsters who are still in their formative years can easily fall prey to the habit of drug or alcohol consumption, owing to various reasons like peer pressure, an impulsive urge to try out new things and sometimes, misguidance from seniors or older people.

The brain of an adolescent is different from that of an adult. This is part of the reason why adolescents are more vulnerable to addiction. The frontal part of the human brain is the part responsible for checking impulsive behavior and sending out warning signals. It is in a sense, the ‘brake mechanism’ of the brain which stops us from performing actions that can be potentially dangerous. Now, in adolescents, this part of the brain is still developing and not yet fully efficient. Simply put, the brake mechanism of an adolescent brain is a little weak and thus, youngsters often act on impulse, not foreseeing the long term effects of their actions. This leads to a high incidence of drug abuse among them, ultimately leading to a point of no return.

Alcohol has been seen to be the most common form of addiction among youngsters. The fact that alcohol is legal and widely available, substantially adds to the problem. But it doesn’t stop there. Once an adolescent has tried out alcohol, he or she begins to move on to different, more dangerous drugs like marijuana, which happens to be the second most widely abused substance after alcohol. From there on to heroin or cocaine etc. which are extremely harmful and nearly impossible to give up.

Shockingly enough, alcoholism among youngsters can start as early as the age of 12 or 13. And as disturbing as it may sound, most often the people responsible for such an onset are the parents. At such a timid age, most young teens obtain their first drink from their very home. Parents therefore need to be extra cautious about keeping alcoholic beverages, even as little as beer, out of the knowledge and reach of children. It’s vital that families share mature conversations regarding such behavior and gain the children’s trust early on, so that they turn to their parents in case of a problem, instead of resorting to alcohol or other harmful measures.

With the advent of internet, sourcing drugs or other addictive substances has become relatively simpler. And if the older child takes to drinking or substance abuse, it is highly probable that the younger sibling too will fall into this vicious trap. Therefore, the role of the parents is to be emphasized once again. If your child is showing signs of anxiety, alteration in school performance like falling grades, frequent violent behavior and withdrawal from the family, the child may be using drugs. Watch out for warning symptoms and act soon. Timely intervention, appropriate medical help and proper counseling may save your child from this evil trap.