UH Today is produced by seniors in the Journalism program at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

 
 

HPD tries to crack the 'Ice'

Medical consequences of methamphetamine use
-Cardiovascular problems such as rapid heart rate
-Irregular heartbeat
-Increased blood pressure, and stroke-producing damage to small blood vessels in the brain.
-Hyperthermia and convulsions can occur when a user overdoses and, if not treated immediately, can result in death.
-Research has shown that as much as 50% of the dopamine-producing cells in the brain can be damaged by prolonged exposure to relatively low levels of methamphetamine
Possible symptoms of methamphetamine use:
-Paranoid/Suspicious
-Sleeplessness and severe depression 
-Nausea, vomiting,
diarrhea 
-Extreme irritability
and anxiety 
-Seizures 
-Teeth grinding,
bad teeth,
sweating, body odor
-Skin ulceration and
infections, the result
of picking at the skin
at imaginary bugs. -Auditory and visual 
hallucinations 
-Violent and erratic
 behavior 
-Nervousness 
-Anhedonia - loss 
of pleasure 
-Dryness of mucous 
membranes 
-Burnt or blistered
lips and/or finger
tips from holding
hot "Ice Pipes"

By Stacy Stout

Crystal methamphetamine, also known as “ice” or crystal meth, is a dangerous and powerful drug, and it’s one that the Honolulu Police Department is no longer going to tolerate.

“Honolulu, for a major city, has the highest use of crystal methamphetamine than any city our size in the United States,” says Eddie Croom, who’s been an officer for HPD for 17 years.

“Ice”

Crystal meth is a central nervous system stimulant which is very addictive. It usually comes in the form of small crystal-like chunks that can resemble rock candy. It can be smoked, inhaled or injected.

Users can get a sense of exhilaration or an intense rush, they have superabundant energy and hyperactivity and a loss of appetite. Also, their body temperature rises, heart rate increases, blood pressure goes up and breathing gets irregular. These side effects take anywhere from 5-20 minutes to take effect and can last up to 12 hours.

According to the Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring Program, during 2002 Honolulu had the highest percent of adult male arrestees testing positive out of the 36 sites monitored. It also had the highest percent of female arrestees testing positive out of the 23 sites monitored.

What’s Being Done?

The HPD, however, has caught on to the trend and isn’t going to tolerate it anymore. In 2002, when the study there were only 438 crystal meth arrests, compared to 2004 when they increased that number to 708.

The HPD is trying to further trying to address the problem. “We now have a narcotics vice division,” says Croom” that is two 20-member teams that deal with ice complaints from the community.

The police are now also backed by a top of the line drug analysis lab, part of their Scenic Investigation Lab and field testing kits for officers to test unknown substances out in the field. With the help of this lab they are now able to crack down on drug abusers easier and more efficiently.

“It’s a scary drug,” says Croom, “and hopefully with time we will be able to rid our Island of this killing parasite.”

Helpful Links

Honolulu Star Bulletin, “Police say ‘ice’ fuels rise in crime and violence”

Honolulu Police Department Narcotics/Vice Division

© 2005 UHM Journalism program and students.