METH EFFECTS:
"There are horrible costs associated with meth, for individuals and families as well as for local and state government. Even if you and your family somehow have escaped being directly effected by this scourge, you are paying a high price - in tax dollars and the safety of your community."
Governor
C.L. "Butch" Otter
THE COMMUNITY
One facet of Meth's impact on communities comes from the crime associated with drug smuggling. Although the chemicals needed to make Meth are effectively regulated in Idaho, in many other countries they are not. Criminal drug trafficking syndicates have taken advantage of this fact to capitalize on the United States' Meth trade. This has led to an increase in crimes associated with smuggling cartels.
Not only does Meth lead to increases in crime, but it also leads to increased costs to social agencies, corrections and juvenile corrections, unemployment pools, workers' compensation costs, and losses in employee productivity. Meth-related health care costs are staggering. The majority of patients who suffer health problems from Meth use are either underinsured or have no health insurance at all, contributing to the high cost of health care.