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Consider This from NPR

America's Other Drug Crisis: New Efforts To Fight A Surge In Meth

Consider This from NPR

NPR

Society & Culture, Daily News, News, News Commentary

4.2 β€’ 6.2K Ratings

πŸ—“οΈ 6 October 2021

⏱️ 14 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Meth-related overdoses have tripled in recent years. In the west, 70 percent of police departments identify meth as their biggest problem. Now one state β€” California β€” is on the brink of implementing a major new treatment program that would pay drug users to stay clean. KQED's April Dembosky reports.

The meth surge has hit some Black and Native American communities the hardest. NPR's addiction correspondent Brian Mann has this look at what kind of help people in those communities say they need.

In participating regions, you'll also hear a local news segment that will help you make sense of what's going on in your community.

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Transcript

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0:00.0

In the last few years, when it comes to drug addiction in America, the focus has been

0:04.4

largely on prescription pain pills and on synthetic opioids, say, fentanyl.

0:09.9

But that is not America's only drug problem.

0:13.6

In some places, it's not even the biggest.

0:16.2

Federal and local police made their biggest meth bust in Oregon history last month.

0:21.7

This week, officials announced a record-breaking meth seizure in Eugene, Oregon.

0:26.9

It's 400 pounds worth of meth andphetamines worth more than a million dollars.

0:32.5

That story has been playing out in other parts of the country.

0:35.2

It's the largest meth seizure ever in North Texas.

0:38.6

The largest meth andphetamine seizure in Polk County history.

0:43.2

The biggest meth bust in US history, nearly 20 million dollars worth of drugs, seized in

0:48.7

the island empire.

0:50.0

All that has happened in the last year in Texas, Florida, and California.

0:55.7

In San Diego County alone, new data shows last year 722 people died with meth in their

1:03.0

system.

1:04.0

A 32 percent increase over the prior year.

1:08.0

Now weeks ago, the district attorney in San Diego, Summer Stefan, said the county is

1:13.3

ground zero for the meth crisis.

1:15.8

Fentanyl is getting a lot of attention for good reason.

1:20.3

It is taking lives.

1:22.6

But meth andphetamine is still the number one killer.

1:27.0

And it is also the number one driver of violence in our community.

...

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