The Meth Epidemic (full documentary) | FRONTLINE

Summary by Krater

This Frontline report investigates the methamphetamine epidemic in Oregon, tracing the rise of meth use, its devastating impact on communities and children, and the federal and state legislative efforts to control access to pseudoephedrine.

From the video

Answers: What caused the methamphetamine epidemic and how did lawmakers attempt to stop it?

• methamphetamine epidemic
• pseudoephedrine regulation
• cold medicine restrictions
• meth labs and trafficking
• impact on children and foster care
• drug enforcement strategies

What it concludes

• Methamphetamine use devastated communities, increasing property crime, child abuse, and foster care placements.
• Early legislative restrictions on pseudoephedrine in Oregon successfully reduced meth lab production.
• Drug cartels shifted to massive foreign production facilities in countries like India, importing pseudoephedrine directly.
• Federal legislation in 2006 (Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act) ultimately placed pseudoephedrine behind pharmacy counters nationwide.
• Pharmaceutical industry lobbying and opposition initially hindered effective regulation of pseudoephedrine.