Our speaker was Jerry Bucklin, the President and CEO of Network Environmental Systems in the Bay Area.  Mr. Bucklin gave a sobering talk regarding Methamphetamine.  He started by reviewing the history of the drug.  The substance came from the Pacific Asia corridor in the 1800’s (i.e.. the China, Japan area).  It was used by Japanese kamikaze pilots in World War II.  Meth gave them a “rush” and intense euphoria, thereby allowing them to attack ships without concern about their own death.  The drug came to the US in the 1940’s and its abuse has grown ever since. It was used for awhile by doctors to help as a diet aid, but soon the danger grew and it is now a restricted drug.

Meth is apparently easy to make.  Before the restrictions on Sudafed, Meth was widely produced in many small clandestine labs around the country. It is estimated that there were 21,000 labs in the United States mostly in rural areas. With federal government restrictions on Sudafed the number of labs has been reduced somewhat.

Why is it so addictive?  It is able to stimulate the dopamine in the brain. Dopamine gives the brain and body extreme pleasure. Dopamine is released in the human orgasm (i.e., the pleasurable feeling).  Initial use of Meth has effects 10 times stronger than the orgasmic feeling.  Thus, Meth users become hooked, which leads to addiction. The addict has extreme weight loss, severe dental problems (“meth mouth”), anxiety, confusion, insomnia, mood disturbances and violent behavior.  A chronic abuser can also experience psychotic features, including paranoia, visual illusions (seeing and itching from non-existent skin mites), hallucinations, and delusions.

The club members came away with a new understand of the dangers of Meth.

[by Ed Beranek]