Internet: 'Meth', an abbreviation for the highly addictive drug, methamphetamine, that was discovered in Japan in 1919. The crystalline powder was soluble in water, thus making it easy for injection. It was also discovered that smoking the drug created the same effects as injecting. The Japanese army used methamphetamine during World War II to prevent sleepiness and was also provided it to their pilots during Kamakazi operations. After the war, the drug became available to the public and subsequently produced a major outbreak of abuse, especially among the young people. Bikers were accused of introducing the drug into the psychedelic "60's causing violence. Since then it has been known by many names, such as Trailer Park Meth and BathTub Meth, because it can be cooked up so cheaply and easily. It is the drug of choice for long distance truckers and college students pulling all-nighters. In the USA, over 700 methamphetamine-related deaths were documented in the United States in 1994. This is only an indicator of a larger abuse problem involving hundreds of thousands of Americans. These users suffer from mental and physical injury, loss of opportunity, and disruption of families. There is also substantial evidence that the abuse of methamphetamine is associated with violent behavior and criminal activity. Despite the efforts by U.S. law enforcement, the production, distribution, and abuse continues to grow at an alarming rate. Data from medical examiners reporting to the Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) show that there have been 2,439 methamphetamine related deaths for the period of 1991 - 1995. Approximately three-fourths or 1,896 of these deaths occurred in the last three years (1993 -1995). The cities of Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Diego, and San Francisco, have accounted for 1,878 (73 percent) of the 2,439 deaths. A similar problem is present in the UK, a fact that must have been known to Houedard. -- Source of annotation: Marvin or Ruth Sackner.