Methamphetamine Manufacturing: A Hypothesis on Who’s “Cooking” Now

Abstract

In the U.S., Methamphetamine (Meth) manufacture seems to follow a cycle that is in sync with unemployment rates and recessions (or slides in the economy). Correspondingly, there are alarming increases in meth lab seizure sat the start of recessions in the U.S. The recent lingering recession in the U.S., which started in December 2007, has resulted in record numbers of older workers (45 years of age or older) being unemployed. These older workers, additionally, are remaining unemployed longer when compared to younger workers (less than 45 years of age). Similarly, we have seen the rate (per 100,000) of burns associated with meth manufacturing increased more in older aged individuals when compared to younger individuals since the start of the recession. As such, we hypothesize that the recent recession and the higher employment rate among older workers in the U.S. has resulted in a shift in who’s “cooking” meth in the U.S., older individuals. Since the evidence presented is circumstantial, further research is needed to substantiate the findings and better equip us to fight this plague of society. However, the current study aimed to develop a useful hypothesis that there has been a shift in which age groups are currently cooking meth in the U.S.