Seen At 11: Experts Say Cartels Making Meth Threat More Dangerous To Tri-State Area
NEW YORK(CBSNewYork) -- A dangerous new threat has emerged in the suburbs. Experts recently told CBS 2 that Mexican drug cartels have targeted the New York area with one of the most destructive and addicting drugs around.
Methamphetamine is a toxic cocktail of everyday ingredients that most people would never think of mixing, like cold medicine and break fluid. Experts say that it can be found in almost any school district and that some users are as young as 12 years old.
Dr. Stephen Dewey told CBS 2's Maurice DuBois that the drug can have lethal effects.
"I absolutely think kids will die from methamphetamine," Dr. Dewey said.
One former meth addict spoke to CBS 2 on a condition of anonymity. He explained the fast, downward spiral that the drug can cause.
"It is so addictive, I did it one time and whoosh, I was in pain, I was dying. I was allowing myself to kill myself," he said.
Since 2005, an estimated 10 million people have tried meth at least once. Use of the drug has spread throughout the United States and ravaged rural and urban areas.
Now, experts say that meth is being cooked in "super labs" in Mexico, to be imported to the New York area.
A large bust in the summer of 2011 shut down one cartel, and authorities told CBS 2 that the quantity of meth that was found was shocking. But New York City Special Prosecutor Bridget Brennan says that there will be more.
"Hopefully we shut down the piece of it that was transporting up to our area, but unfortunately it's not the only one," she said.
Former users told CBS 2 that the best option for kids is to 'just say no'.
"I never want to repeat it ever again, I never want to go there ever again," said one former user.
Amplifying the concern over meth is the amount of violence committed by users, who are likely to hurt themselves or others, according to officials.
What can be done to fight the meth threat in the New York area? Let us know in our comments section below...
