It’s National Meth Awareness Day & Texas Really Should Be Aware

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When you work in radio, you get surrounded by "fun fact" information fluff. "National Days" are an old standby, and there are conveniently several per day. Today, November 30th is National Mousse Day. Okay.

I find myself callously rolling my eyes at "awareness" days. Who isn't aware that cancer exists? The one that always gets me is Stress Awareness day. I am abundantly aware that stress exists and that it's not very good for you.

Today is also National Methamphetamine Awareness Day. Boy, am I aware that meth exists. I've made the rather callous joke that "every white family has THAT cousin." Jokes are only funny when they have a ring of truth.

In 2022, over 4,000 people died of drug overdose deaths in Texas alone, which was a whopping 33% increase over last year.  Were all of these OD deaths meth toxicity? Of course not, as fentanyl is the source of the increase. And since most meth is brought in from Mexico, it's nigh impossible to get it from a "reliable" source, if ever there was one. So more and more fentanyl is ending up in drugs like meth, and meth is such an incredibly addictive drug that those who are addicted will either get clean or eventually get a bad score and they will die. It's simply inevitable.

Even if a meth user gets fentanyl-free meth, meth itself causes "seizures, psychosis, and violent behavior" and meth-related deaths are on the increase as well:

Between 2012 and 2016, the rate of methamphetamine-related deaths has nearly tripled, from 0.8 to 2.1 deaths per 100,000 people.

I could go on and on with numbers and statistics. I could even tell you about the friend I lost to meth-fueled insanity, or my family member who did time for meth. But I think there is a video I can show you that will scare anyone straight if anything will. Perhaps ironically, it's a comedy video. It's hilarious. It's not at all safe for work. And it will make you never, ever want to try meth.

SAMHSA’s National Helpline, 1-800-662-HELP (4357) (also known as the Treatment Referral Routing Service), or TTY: 1-800-487-4889 is a confidential, free, 24-hour-a-day, 365-day-a-year, information service, in English and Spanish, for individuals and family members facing mental and/or substance use disorders. This service provides referrals to local treatment facilities, support groups, and community-based organizations.