Meth Stats Rising, Is "Breaking Bad" The Perp?

Recent news from the US says methamphetamine is now more popular than ever among drug users as evidenced by the rise in DEA meth seizures. And what's more troubling is the fact that high (forgive the pun) percentage of these is produced by the shake-and-bake labs, which basically means it's by amateurs and possibly concocted in some geek's basement while his grandma's playing bridge upstairs with her co-septuagenarians. 

"The Associated Press just released a big investigation that says police meth seizures in urban areas increased to a disturbing degree this year, with some cities on track for almost three times as many methamphetamine lab seizures as in 2009. Gangs are more involved in production than distribution than ever, and it's not the Walter Whites of the world to blame — it's the Jesse Pinkmans, as it were: cooking methods are way easier now. " (The Atlantic Wire)

Walter White and Jesse Pinkman are the characters in Breaking Bad of the American cable TV network AMC.  Walter, played by Bryan Cranston (of  Malcolm In The Middle fame), is a brilliant chemist who ends up teaching chemistry to inattentive high schoolers. At the beginning of the series Walt finds out that he is afflicted with inoperable lung cancer, and with a pregnant wife and a son with cerebral palsy he decides to cook meth and sell it with the help of his former student Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul).

In the Philippines, use of shabu (dextromethamphetamine) continually rises with over 90% of Filipino drug users making it their drug of choice. It's same scenario across Asia alerting government institutions and international agencies such as the United Nations.  

 "A report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) warns that production and use of  synthetic drugs such as amphetamine-type stimulants is widespread and growing globally. The report identifies Southeast Asia as a newly active source of illicit-substance manufacturing and trade.

 The report specifically identifies Indonesia, Malaysia and Cambodia as primary nodes of production and trafficking, but states that seizures of methamphetamine pills throughout Southeast Asia increased from 32 million in 2008 to 133 million in 2010." (Voice of America)

In Hollywood, cocaine is still the king but meth is fast gaining the lead among celebs and ravers in Tinseltown. Among its busted tokers are singer Fergie and model Jael Strauss as well as Redmond O'Neal, son of Ryan O'Neal and Farrah Fawcett. In fact, meth users are rising there exponentially that CMA (Crystal Meth Anonymous) was founded in West Hollywood in California to help people recover from meth addiction. 


I myself got hooked - no, not on meth - but on Breaking Bad during its first episode in 2008, and the series has received rave reviews and awards since its premier.  It has also its share of criticisms because of its controversial theme:  In a capsule, Breaking Bad  is about cooking meth and "moving" it.   But continued patronage of this Emmy-winning series (not necessarily patronage of the Narco Saint Jesus Malverde) will reveal that it is not about the tricks of the illegal trade, but of actions and consequences and poetic justice. Too bad it is now on its fifth and final season so I will surely miss its great cast and cinematic draw. The fifth season has 16 episodes split into two - the first eight were aired last year while the other half will be shown July this year.

Yet due to its popularity of Breaking Bad and its label as the greatest television series of all time, can it be blamed for the meth stats? Seriously, bitches? That's how Pinkman would put it. Don't cuss the series because authorities say the reason why there's meth global expansion is due to the fact that this stimulant is very easy to cook, requiring readily accessible ingredients (such as over-the-counter cold medications like ephedrine) and makeshift labs that sometimes can be as small as your suitcase. Oh,the Internet also is swarming with meth recipes so you could always do a DIY should you decide to break bad.

Breaking Bad-inspired rock candy courtesy of Los Pulgas Hermanos available at Etsy. This sweet product resembles Walter White's Blue Sky meth and  can cause sugar high and rotten teeth.