Serenity Lane Rehab Center Highlights Severity of Meth Crisis in Oregon

Portland, Ore. — Serenity Lane Portland East, an addiction treatment center, has published a blog post detailing the extent of the methamphetamine problem In Oregon. The post notes that the Mental Health and Addiction Association of Oregon (MHAAO) reported that 232 people died from meth use in 2016, which was a threefold increase from 2006.

According to the post, MHAAO also reported the amount of meth seized from the streets grew by 800 percent from 2015 to 2017. Arrests related to meth use were also drastically higher in that time frame. In fact, in 2018, 77 percent of violent crime in the state was attributed to meth use.

The post points out that as the entire country continues fighting the opioid epidemic, Oregon has found itself in two battles. Oregon’s medical examiner reported there were 311 deaths from heroin-related overdoses in the state from 2015-17 and 412 deaths from meth in the same time frame.

The post cites a study from the Oregon-Idaho High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) Program that showed the rates of crime in Oregon from meth use and the death rates have left no option for police but to consider meth as the greatest threat to the state and individual communities.

Research from HIDTA indicates that most of the meth available in the Pacific Northwest region is imported from Mexico and Southwest states in the U.S. In the past five years, the amount of meth seized in the United States has tripled, according to United States Customs and Border Control. Of the seized drugs, the purity and potency was well above 90%. As the post states, with this potency and the cost of a hit hovering just around $5, it is easy to see why the problem exists.

Meth is a powerful stimulant known on the street as crank, chalk, crystal, dunk, gak, ice, pookie, quartz, rocket fuel, scooby snax, speed, or trash. It can be swallowed, injected, snorted, or smoked. It can come in the form of a white powder, pills, glass, or rocks.

Meth's short-term effects include increased wakefulness, increased physical activity, decreased appetite, increased heart rate, increased breathing, higher blood pressure, high temperature, and irregular heartbeat. The long-term effects include anxiety, insomnia, mood swings, confusion, violence, hallucinations, paranoia, weight loss, severe dental problems, itchiness, and delusions. Other health issues from meth use can include premature birth during pregnancy, lethargy, higher risk of HIV and AIDS, hepatitis, and more.

For those battling an addiction to meth, Serenity Lane Portland East offers a variety of services, including a free initial consultation, Level I outpatient and Level II intensive outpatient programming, DUII state-licensed programs, daytime and evening programs, education sessions, group and individual counseling, a family program, employer/EAP services, and 12-step participation. Serenity Lane has also developed a telehealth program (RecoveryNOW) to provide the same comprehensive outpatient programming for patients at home. This program allows patients access to group meetings via computer, smartphone or cellphone, or a landline.

To learn more about the services offered at Serenity Lane Portland East, visit their website or call (800) 543-9905.