Methamphetamine Use Among Wome essays

Methamphetamine Use Among Wome essays I came across disturbing article of methamphetamine use among women, some even middle age. One would think a woman in her middle age with children would understand better than to abuse drugs. A tireless single mother of three, a skinny middle-aged mother of two. A growing number of super women who have abused methamphetamines use the drug to be all moms can be only to find themselves addicted and behind bars. A substance abuse program at the Iowa Correctional Institution for Women in Mitchellville, Iowa reports 43 percent of women entering prison in the first quarter of fiscal year 2002 said meth was their drug of choice, compared with 29 percent of men. In fiscal year 2000 it was 25 percent of women and 19 percent of men. More than 40 percent of women arrested in the countries surrounding Honolulu and San Jose, California, in 2000 tested positive for meth use, a National Institute of Justice program found, and the figure were more than 20 percent in several other areas studied. Nationally, women made up 47 percent of patients in substance abuse treatment centers who identified meth as their primary drug of use in 1999, according to data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Utah state statistics show 90 percent of women admitted for meth treatment have dependent children. And most female users are between the ages of 18 and 32, typical childbearing years. According to the article, experts and users say meth appeals to women because its relatively inexpensive and easy to obtain, and it gives them energy to take care of their children or feel more efficient in everything they do. "I don't think a lot of [women] are trying it for recreation," said Angela Smart who surveys incoming inmates at the Salt Lake Metro Jail and state prison each year. "They're taking it to clean their homes after coming home from working two jobs." Another attraction for women the article speaks of is quick weight loss. ...