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John Daley Reporting Experts describe it as a crisis, and it's getting worse. Meth, that very addictive and destructive drug, is putting a heavy burden on hospitals and emergency rooms as the number of cases soars.
For a glimpse of the problem,just ask an emergency room physician in any Utah hospital.
Dr. Todd Allen, LDS Hospital Emergency Room: "We're seeing more and more every year, more and more every day. It's really kind of a scourge on the community."
Methamphetamine is putting a serious strain on hospitals and emergency rooms. According to a study by the National Association of Counties, of 200 hospitals polled, 73 percent report seeing more people visiting ERs for meth-related problems over the last five years, and 56 percent report seeing higher costs as a result.
At LDS Hospital's emergency room, for example, the number of meth-related cases rose 35% from 2003 to 2005.
Dr. Todd Allen, LDS Hospital Emergency Room: "If the trend continues, it will be a huge societal problem. You can image the amount of resources it takes in an emergency department to take care of a psychotic, agitated patient; that's security personnel, that's nurses, that's physicians all trying to take care of that one patient."
Patrick Fleming, Salt Lake Co. Division of Substance Abuse: "Our meth admissions have just skyrocketed, and what we've seen, the thing that's driving that, is use by women."
Debra Wynkoop, Utah Hospitals & Health Systems Association: "There's no treatment programs, and so these individuals are basically crashing, and the first place they go is to an emergency room."
What's more, meth addicts develop chronic health problems like rotting teeth, which can lead to a slew of other troubles.
Patrick Fleming, Salt Lake Co. Division of Substance Abuse: "If you have somebody who is in their late 20's lose there teeth and they have another 50 or 60 years to go with dentures or false teeth or something, it has so many implications, it's staggering."
Most meth patients don't have health insurance, so the costs get moved to everyone. To address this crisis, talks are underway to form Utah's Meth Initiative Task Force -- officials from law enforcement, treatment, health care, prevention and education at the local, state, and federal levels.
