Methamphetamine addiction in Washington has increased several times over in the last decade, following the trends on a national level. In the last few years, the methamphetamine addiction in Washington has grown from being totally absent to becoming the most widely abused drug in the state. Now, methamphetamine is used in various forms in the state. The most common form is the powder variation which contains the salt of methamphetamine hydrochloride. However, a stronger form of the substance has also become popular in Washington, which is known as ice. This is crystal meth, a very pure form of the substance that also has the strongest addictiveness among all amphetamine drugs.



The main reason why methamphetamine addiction in Washington has risen to such high levels is the increase in the methods by which the drug is coming into the state. The highest supplier of methamphetamine in Washington still remains the country of Mexico, from where illegal drug trafficking organizations are bringing in the drug in various forms via the roadways. This is the Mexican variety of the drug which has become quite popular in the state. Methamphetamine is also coming into Washington through some neighboring states. There are networks for methamphetamine supply throughout the states and Washington is a very important en route destination for these suppliers. Some of them supply the drug in this state itself, while many of them will move through the network into other states.

However, what is really making methamphetamine so popular in the state is the presence of various small outfits here that are known as meth labs. Several meth labs came up in Washington in the last few years, though their occurrence has become rarer in present times due to the strict regulations for supply of the raw materials needed to synthetically produce methamphetamine, especially the ephedrine and pseudoephedrine containing cough syrups. These meth labs work as small two-people outfits but they can produce as many as ten pounds of the substance in a single day. Hence, the amount of methamphetamine and crystal meth that these labs produce is quite significant in the overall levels of usage in the state.

It is very important to note that methamphetamine addiction in Washington is not a singular problem; this form of addiction has several far reaching effects on the overall addiction scenario in the state. One of the most major associated problems is that the drug is supplied in nightclubs and party zones of the state. These areas have a prevalence of young people. Due to this, youngsters aged between 18 and 25 years are the primary users of methamphetamine in Washington.

Another reason why the youngsters prefer methamphetamine is because the high feeling of euphoria that it produces in a very short time, making it very suitable as a club drug. Today, methamphetamine, especially crystal meth, is one of the most popular club drugs in the state.

But the problems do not stop at that. Methamphetamine has a pronounced aphrodisiac effect. When a person consumes this drug, there is an increase in the person's libido. This is definitely a problem because the drug is used in party areas where a lot of people might use it collectively. There are several instances of people abusing methamphetamine or crystal meth and then indulging in unsafe sexual practices. The risk of infections, even HIV, cannot be neglected due to such forms of usage.

The biggest problem is that the tender age at which people begin using methamphetamine makes it virtually impossible to remove them from the addiction. People who begin using a substance early on in life will find it more difficult to come out of it. This is definitely seen in the case of methamphetamine. There are several meth treatment centers that have come up in the state in the last few years. Though these meth labs target people only for their meth habits, it is quite difficult to remove these conditions completely from their system.

There is one more very important trend that must be mentioned when we are speaking about methamphetamine addiction in Washington. This drug, again especially crystal meth, is quite popular among the homosexual male population of the state. The high euphoria and the aphrodisiac effect are elements that make this drug popular among this community. However, there have been sad instances of overdosing and homosexual people accidently coming out into the open due to hitting bottom while using this substance. This is making the situation quite serious, because there are few gay rehab centers for methamphetamine addiction in Washington, if any.