Many state prisoners have "meth mouth"

[Hoss68]

The Associated Press
January 6, 2005

MINNEAPOLIS - The surge in methamphetamine use is evident in the state's prison system, as the number of inmates who have used the drug continues to grow.

But one unexpected result in the drug's popularity has been the demand for dental care by inmates.

As the number of regular users of methamphetamine has increased, so has a set of dental problems linked to the drug. The phenomenon, named "meth mouth," includes symptoms such as gum disease, broken and cracked teeth, and tooth decay, the Star Tribune reported on Thursday.

While the costs of treating meth mouth in state prisons hasn't been broken down, it is believed to be a significant factor in the corrections system's rising dental health care costs, which have gone from $1.19 million in 2000 to $2.01 million in 2004.

Because meth mouth often requires emergency and urgent care, other inmates may have to wait up to a year to get routine dental care from one of the 10 dentists in the prison system.

Darren Zigas is one inmate experiencing meth mouth. At age 32, he's missing all of his teeth. His condition was so bad that he once bit into a peanut butter sandwich and teeth were left in the bread. In June 2002, malnourished and down to 150 pounds, he had the rest of his remaining teeth pulled.

Zigas had dentures made for him four months ago by a state dentist.

Authorities say they believe several factors contribute to meth mouth. The drug often produces anxiety levels and paranoia that can contribute to teeth grinding and gnashing. Many abusers also have a dry mouth, and the absence of saliva can exacerbate the acidic nature of methamphetamine that's smoked or snorted.

"When I was smoking it I could feel the slime on my teeth," Zigas recalled.

Methamphetamine abuse also causes an appetite for high-caffeine, high-sugar sodas, particularly Mountain Dew.

"When abusers are 'doing the Dew,' they'll go for days without brushing their teeth or washing or sleeping," said Dr. Mark Legan, a dentist who treats patients at Lino Lakes.

While Gov. Tim Pawlenty's budget has yet to be unveiled, corrections officials say they have been in contact with the governor's office about the need to increase funding for dental programs in prison.

Officials say prison systems have constitutional obligations to provide a basic level of health care, including dental care, to inmates or face the possibility of litigation.

However, there is a debate about what level of dental care to provide offenders, said Nanette Schroeder, director of health services for the Corrections Department.

"Should we be providing them with dentures so that when they go to apply for a job they at least have a decent smile? Even as a team, we couldn't come to an agreement as to whether or not that was something the state should be doing," she said. "For every denture we provide for this population, it means we don't buy another piece of equipment or we have fewer supplies."









Information from: Star Tribune, http://www.startribune.com

[Hoss68]

DFLers outline plan to battle meth

Associated Press
January 6, 2005

Democrats led by Attorney General Mike Hatch outlined a multi-pronged attack on methamphetamine, a potent illegal drug responsible for a wave of crime across the state.

Hatch, Sens. Wes Skoglund and Satveer Chaudhary and Rep. John Lesch said Thursday they want measures to stop homegrown production of the addictive stimulant, such as requiring pharmacies to lock up cold medicines that contain meth ingredients and buyers to sign for purchases.

They're also asking the federal government to crack down on large-scale meth manufacturers, who are responsible for 80 percent of Minnesota's meth supply.

``Meth is taking over the state of Minnesota,'' Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher said. ``People cannot beat this. It's everywhere. Two or three times on it, you're addicted.''

Gov. Tim Pawlenty, who rolled out his own $3.5 million meth plan in October, said he looks forward to ``strong bipartisan legislation.''

A crime bill increasing penalties for meth crimes was a casualty of last year's legislative gridlock. The Senate aims to pass meth legislation quickly this session, Skoglund said. In the House, Rep. Jeff Johnson, R-Plymouth, introduced a bill containing a raft of meth measures.

Aspects of Pawlenty's and the DFL proposals match up. Both would restrict purchases of cold medicines such as Sudafed, stiffen penalties for meth offenders who endanger children or vulnerable adults, require offenders to pay for cleanup of meth labs and create a revolving loan fund for communities to clean up sites where meth has been made.

The Democrats would also make disposing of meth waste a felony, restrict the sale of veterinary products containing meth components and require locks on tanks of anhydrous ammonia, used to fertilize fields but also needed to make methamphetamine. Fletcher called on the state to fund the Minnesota Gang Strike Force, which will run out of money at the end of February.

Hatch said he's exploring a civil lawsuit against companies that distribute pseudoephedrine and ephedrine, ingredients used to make methamphetamine. One-sixth of the world supply of those chemicals end up being used for meth, Hatch said.

Sudafed's maker, Pfizer Inc., has announced that next week will start selling Sudafed PE, a new version of the cold and allergy medicine without pseudoephedrine.

Pawlenty's proposal including 10 new narcotics agents to focus on meth crimes.

``I'm very thankful we are getting something done,'' said Sen. Julie Rosen, R-Fairmont, who joined the DFLers' press conference.

Methamphetamine produces an intense high, can damage nerve cells and blood vessels in the brain, leading to strokes and movement disorders similar to Parkinson's disease. Other side effects include aggression, memory loss, heart problems, convulsions and deterioration of the teeth, known as ``meth mouth.''

Minnesota imprisoned 869 people for meth crimes last year, compared with none in 2000. Fueled by rising numbers of drug and sex offenders, the state prison population now occupies all available beds, and corrections officials expect the increase to continue.

[JohnRN]

Satveer Chaudhry?

*raises an eyebrow*

[Caldric]

Someone told me that people make meth from cooking down cough medicine or some such thing. Guess in prison this could happen. Or do you figure it gets smuggled in somehow? How the hell do you get drugs into a prison? I mean I know it has been happening for years but is really strange how it happens.

[odannyboy]

Drugs still get smuggled into prison (often prison guards being the source of entry), but more likely it is 'cooked' inside the prisons. Meth is a big problem in rural areas, and these 'meth heads', once addicted, deteriorate rapidly, with their eye sinking into their face, their teeth a stained yellow, they lose weight, hardly sleep or eat, and just fall apart. A year or two hooked on that stuff can make you age a good twenty or thirty years in your apearance.


We had a local woman who, as part of her probation, allowed to have before and after pictures published of herself to make other aware of what it can do. The pictures were shocking and made national news. She got quite upset and sued over it (from all the attention, I guess) but the lawsuit was thrown out.

[Hoss68]

The meth use was before being incarcerated.

Unfortunately Minnesota, and especially my county, is a hotbed for meth labs. Most of us figure it's because it is such a large and rural county. State vehicles and even the local pubs have No Meth stickers attached to their doors now...

Meth users have what resembles advanced gingivitis. What we all stereo-type as a back hills red neck teeth care.

There is no doubt that drugs can and are smuggled in to prisons, and having worked in that kind of enviroment~ I have to agree with Dan that guards are bringing stuff in, but it pisses me off that they do.

My union fought random drug testing. I voted for it. We are supposed to be the example~ A role model. Yet I would say at least 1/4 of the staff were drug users... Some even came to work high.

I met a man the other day that is now clean after 13 years of constant drug usage, including 3 years of meth~ His last drug of choice. That anyone uses any kind of drug now angers him. He sounded worse than a former smoker! It took the birth of his only child to get him sober. It made him realize how much you can miss out on.