In light of Sarawak’s law enforcement war on drugs, there has been an recurrence of certain drugs that have been present in every raid, methamphetamine. Just days ago did the Miri police force arrest two men on the account of drug possession, believed to be Methamphetamine, in Kampung Bungai, Bekenu. The amount repossessed by the police were 37g of drugs which are approximately valued at RM3,700. With in mind, what are the effects of methamphetamine?
Recently, Sarawak has seen resurgence in the number of drug cases within the region and as the days past, more individuals are being arrested for their possession of drugs. Just days ago, Miri’s police force arrested two men on the account of drug possession in Kampung Bungai, Bekenu. One drug that seems to pop up in every police raid is methamphetamine or better known in pop culture as METH.
What is methamphetamine?
Obviously, it is a drug but in a more scientific spectrum, the substance is a highly addictive stimulant that is neurotoxic and can damage dopamine and serotonin neurons in the brain. Experts would commonly describe the drug as the ‘killer brother’ of amphetamine.
What is its’ initial use?
Most prescribed methamphetamine in today’s legal circulation is used to treat medical conditions such as obesity, ADHD and in dire consequences, for narcolepsy.
How is it misused?
In the wrong hands, the drug can be consumed in several ways, which include smoking, snorting, injected and orally ingested. Each method of consumption has it’s differences in regards to effects as smoking and injecting of the drug may lead to an “intense” rush, deemed pleasurable in the brain and bloodstream whereas in the last two methods, a euphoric high is produced which last 3-20 minutes.
What are the short-term effects of methamphetamine?
Short-term effects may include decrease in fatigued, increased wakefulness, which includes short attention spans, decreased appetite, euphoria, increased respiration, rapid heartbeats and hyperthermia.
How about long-term effects?
This is where the problem differs for each person under the addiction of methamphetamine as the effects varies on the method of consumption yet most of them prove fatal.
In the mental side of things, most people succumb to psychosis that includes paranoia, series of hallucinations and repetitive movement along with prolonged mood disturbances that often alludes to aggressive behaviour.
Internally, one may undergo permanent damage of blood vessels, which could lead to strokes and heart attacks, liver, kidney and lung damage, brain damage along with malnutrition and severe tooth decay.
Why the sudden surge of Meth in Sarawak?
Technically, Meth has always been a problem in Sarawak but the pandemic showed the true nature of the drug market in our state. With the prolonged quarantine order induced within the vicinity, the demand for drugs that induce euphoric experiences has increased, which in it’s connotation has led to the drug carriers to appear much visible.
This understanding is based on the pretences that a majority of Sarawakians are undergoing psychological, economical and social stresses, which leads to the “need” the drug as a coping mechanism. There is also the fact that the materials needed to create such drug are easily accessible with the right connections.
Pre-covid days, most illegal drug manufacturers located themselves in more secluded places like fruit orchards and racketeering businesses. Fast forward from 2019 to 2021, most drug bust from the police force has seen the anonymity of drugs being processed at the individual’s home.
Why the rise of drug circulation in Sarawak or Malaysia in general?
In recent years, Malaysia has unknowingly been the epicentre of the drug trade for Southeast Asia due to its sheer geographical location, which sees smugglers from close nations like Myanmar, Thailand and Indonesia prioritise their routes through rarely protected waters of the South China Sea. With supply available throughout the region, it comes a dire need in the market of illicit substance that is increasing within Sarawak due to the lengthy pandemic.
At a press conference conducted by the UNODC (United Nations Office on Drugs & Crime) in Bangkok, Inshik Shim, the regional UNODC coordinator, has said “When it comes to the process, clearly COVID has had very limited impact on the supply of meth in the region. In fact, Cambodia, Thailand, and Malaysia have recorded record low prices of meth in 2020.”
As of 2021, scientists have yet to find a cure to Meth addiction and those who are in treatment are under similar rehabilitation methods for a cocaine, weed or fentanyl addict.
