“Is Crystal Meth the New Crack?”

The headline of this post is the title of this week’s episode of the “Justice Talking” show, which features an extended debate on whether the methamphetamine problem is an “epidemic.”  The show also includes interviews with recovering addicts and drug treatment staff, aas well as discussions of the impact of methamphetamine on the Navajo Nation and the gay community.  Here is the overview:

Crystal methamphetamine has been getting a lot of media and political attention in the last few years, with the Combat Meth Act signed by President Bush in March 2006 adding to the focus.  This new federal law requires cold medicines containing pseudoephedrine be put behind the pharmacy counter because those medications can be turned into meth.  States are using creative tools like building meth prisons while others are waging shock-and-awe prevention campaigns.  But is meth a national epidemic or a regional problem? Join us on this edition of Justice Talking as we look at how the justice system is responding crystal meth.

Some related posts:

• Significant meth report from The Sentencing Project
• Noticing different legislative reactions to meth and crack
• Meth offender registries all the rage