It takes time to Jail Meth Makers
It takes time to Jail Meth Makers
The challenge for addictions medical treatment is not unlike that of law enforcement. It may take three, four, or five arrests to finally incarcerate the chemist (the cooker) who made the methamphetamine. Similarly, it may take three, four, or five times for a patient to be treated successfully and remain clean. An analogy would be a situation in which a doctor tries several medications to reduce a persistent ailment. He tries a medication, measures its results, and determines whether to use another medication. In a similar fashion, we need to develop medications for methamphetamine addiction because we are never certain what will work.
The problem is not only medical, but it is administrative as well. Clinicians can take someone who is dependent on methamphetamine and lock them on a alcohol detox malibu unit. Yet, at 20 days when their insurance runs out, the health management organization says that we must move them out of the program. Although they leave drug-free, it is not the end of the battle with their addiction. Consequently, relapse prevention is one of the key issues we must address.