The Meth Crisis in Sacramento County

Phil Serna, Sacramento County Board of Supervisors, District 1, sheds light on the meth crisis impacting individuals, families, and communities in Sacramento County. Methamphetamine abuse has been on the rise in Sacramento County, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. From increased crime rates to strained healthcare resources, this crisis touches every aspect of the community. However, understanding the problem is the first step towards finding solutions.

When you’re ready, we’re here for you.

Call 916-874-9754 for a substance use assessment.

What is Meth?

Methamphetamine is a powerful, highly addictive stimulant that affects the central nervous system.

Meth primarily comes in three forms: crystal meth, base, and speed. Crystal methamphetamine is a form of the drug that looks like glass fragments or shiny, bluish-white rocks. 

According to the DEA, methamphetamine is classified as a Schedule II drug, which means it has a high potential for abuse and can lead to severe psychological or physical dependence.

How is Meth Taken?

People can take methamphetamine by

  • smoking

  • swallowing (pill)

  • snorting

  • injecting the powder that has been dissolved in water/alcohol

Those who smoke or inject meth report a brief, intense sensation, or “rush.” Oral ingestion or snorting produces a long-lasting high instead of a rush, which reportedly can continue for as long as half a day. (1)

Where Does Meth Come From?

Mexican drug trafficking organizations are the major manufacturers and distributors of methamphetamine throughout the United States, as meth is highly potent and relatively cheap to make. While there are manufacturers in the U.S., the labs make and sell meth on a much smaller scale.

Street Names: Speed, Ice, Shards, Bikers Coffee, Stove Top, Tweak, Yaba, Trash, Chalk, Crystal, Crank, Shabu

Rise in Meth Overdoses

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that the rate of fatal overdoses involving meth and other stimulants has increased significantly. According to SAMHSA, about 2 million people aged 12 years or older use meth in any given year, while about 500 people each day try meth for the first time. (2) Many of the overdose deaths also involve opioids, like fentanyl, which may be knowingly consumed with methamphetamine or added to meth without the person’s knowledge.

Effects of Meth

When someone uses meth, a high level of the feel-good chemical dopamine is released in the reward areas of the brain. This can cause feelings of increased energy, euphoria, and alertness. Over time, individuals can crave this rapid rush of dopamine in the pleasure areas of the brain, leading to continued use, more frequent and higher doses, and potential dependence.

Short-term Effects

Taking even small amounts of methamphetamine can result in many of the same health effects as those of other stimulants, such as cocaine or amphetamines. These include the following:

  • increased wakefulness and physical activity

  • decreased appetite

  • memory loss

  • faster breathing

  • rapid and/or irregular heartbeat

  • increased blood pressure

  • hyperthermia (overheating)

  • convulsions

  • cardiac arrest

Your teeth on meth

Long-term Effects

Long-term methamphetamine use can have serious and dangerous consequences, including the following:

  • extreme weight loss

  • addiction

  • severe dental problems

  • intense itching, leading to skin sores from scratching

  • anxiety

  • changes in brain structure and function

  • confusion

  • memory loss

  • sleeping problems

  • violent behavior

  • paranoia—extreme and unreasonable distrust of others

  • hallucinations and delusions (3)

Over time, as much as 50 percent of the dopamine-producing cells in the brain can be damaged, which results in reduced coordination and affects verbal learning. Changes in the brain also impact emotion and memory. Unfortunately, while some of the impacts of long-term use of meth may improve after being off the drug, other effects are not reversible and may increase the individual’s chance of developing Parkinson’s disease, which impacts the nervous system. (3) 


People who inject methamphetamine are at increased risk of contracting infectious diseases such as HIV and hepatitis B and C because the diseases are transmitted through contact with blood or other bodily fluids that can be found on shared drug equipment, such as needles.

The paranoia can result in homicidal or suicidal thoughts, which threatens the safety of the individual and those around them.

Methamphetamine overdose can occur when a person takes too much of the drug at once (acute overdose) or over time (chronic overdose) and experiences a toxic reaction to the drug. Both acute and chronic overdoses can be life-threatening. 

  • Signs of a meth overdose: (4)

  • Agitation

  • Chest pain

  • Coma or unresponsiveness

  • Heart attack

  • Irregular or stopped heartbeat

  • Difficulty breathing

  • Elevated body temperature

  • Kidney damage and/or failure

  • Paranoia / Delusions

  • Seizures

  • Severe stomach pain

  • Stroke

Overdose

In case of an overdose

1. Call 911

2. Check your safety — People who have taken meth can be agitated, delusional, and paranoid, which can lead to violence.

3. Prevent injury – If the person is having a seizure, gently hold the back of their head, but do not restrain their arms and legs.

4. Prevent choking – If they are unconscious, turn them on their side in case of vomiting.

Methamphetamine is highly addictive.

Treatment

Methamphetamine is highly addictive. When people stop taking it, they may experience withdrawal symptoms such as the following:

  • anxiety

  • fatigue

  • severe depression

  • psychosis 

  • intense drug cravings

There are currently no government-approved medications to treat methamphetamine addiction. However, behavioral therapy, family education, individual counseling, 12-step support, drug testing, and motivational incentive programs have shown promising results in helping people avoid misuse and remain abstinent. (3)

(1) Department of Justice & Drug Enforcement Administration. (2022, October). Methamphetamine. https://www.dea.gov/sites/default/files/2022-12/Methamphetamine%202022%20Drug%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf

(2)  U.S. Department of Health and Human Services & SAMHSA: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2022, August 19). Learn About Methamphetamine. https://www.samhsa.gov/meth

(3) National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2019, May). Methamphetamine Drug Facts. https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/methamphetamine

(4) Mount Sinai Icahn School of Medicine. (2023). Methamphetamine Overdose. https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/poison/methamphetamine-overdose