When Bill Tyrrell founded his remediation company, Triage Bio Cleaning Services, he did so with the intention of helping people remove mold from their homes. Over the years, Tyrrell became one of the foremost experts of mold remediation in his area. When residents of Iowa, Western Illinois and Northern Missouri have a mold problem on their hands, Tyrrell’s is the first number they call. Besides removing mold from homes, Tyrrell believes that homeowners need to be educated as to the dangers mold present. There are mold problems that are so severe that a homeowner should not even attempt to clean them.
Similar dangers exist with regards to methamphetamine lab cleanup, another service that Tyrrell offers. Tyrrell has sadly seen a rise in these types of cleaning jobs. As such, he’s learned a great deal about meth and seen the devastation the drug can cause. In an effort to educate the greater public, Tyrrell now outlines a few of the dangers of meth below.
In my meth lab cleanup business, there are no real winners. Though it is important for me to remediate the dangers of meth labs and help the owners resume safe control of their properties, I always leave the scene troubled. The reason for my agitation is simple: I know the meth problem has grown again. For every meth lab I dismantle and clean, another two pop up in its place. Having said that, I think it’s important for the average citizen to understand the dangers of meth. Knowledge is power and understanding the dangers of meth will aid us in battling its abuse.
Meth produces a myriad of euphoric affects that can initially promote its use. The most alluring to many is extra energy. The drug seems to lend an extraordinary amount if pep to users who enjoy the boost. Another unusual perk is increased and voracious sexual appetite, which partially explains the popularity of the drug in gay bars, nightclubs, bathhouses and other places that promote sex and socializing.
However, with prolonged use, these initial pleasures fade and are replaced by the horrific pangs that only addiction brings. Today’s meth is stronger than ever, and as a result, today’s meth addicts are strung out worse. Meth addicts will pull out hair and nails in agitation as they wait for another dose. Equally jarring is how prolonged meth use unravels the same joys users once derived from the drug. The first thing to go is the enhanced sex drive. This is replaced by apathy to sex and disinterest. Women users report an inability to climax, menstrual problems and infertility. Men also lose sex drive, become impotent and sometimes even develop reasts.
Other affects include insomnia, depression, aggression, paranoia, compulsive behavior (nail biting, grooming, scratching) and hallucinations. Some common hallucination meth addicts report is the sensation that their skin is covered by tiny insects. The latter affect feeds the compulsion to scratch compulsively.
Aside from these horrific affects, most meth heads simply lose their common sense. In the throes of addiction, terrible mistakes are made. Meth addicts often lose their lives to overdoses or everyday fatalities; like car accidents that result from dulled senses. Hygiene is always affected and meth addicts are often exposed to the same diseases as heroine addicts and other needle-sharing drug abusers, ranging from hepatitis to AIDS and other diseases transmitted by blood.
Meth addicts also take on a ghastly appearance. Sunken cheeks, dulled eyes, yellowing skin teeth and hair all make the addict look truly horrific. A person who has been on a binge with the drug for a while is instantly identified by these unattractive characteristics. Truly, the severe addict looks more like a concentration camp victim than a habitual drug user.
Another scary meth affect is on the babies of nursing mothers. If the nursing mother uses, the adverse affect on the baby can be addiction. Meth is secreted in the placenta and comes out in breast milk, causing some children to experience withdrawal symptoms.
The horrors of meth addiction are truly gruesome. What’s worse, meth use hurts even those that don’t use the drug themselves. Families are constantly hurt and often broken by the drug abuse of someone close to them. Even less direct is the danger to those that step into a former meth lab. Meth labs are dangerous places long after the meth makers have vacated a site. Harmful odors and gasses can linger and still prove dangerous to anyone entering the domicile.
This primer is meant not to scare anyone, but rather to educate ordinary citizens to the dangers of methamphetamine usage. If you suspect someone close to you has a meth addiction, say something. Your intervention could save their life.
The information in the article is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.
