Politics

Or, it's a fact I grew up with. Nevermind critical race theory. But don't take my word for it.

**Key points on meth prevalence among white populations: **

1. Historical context: Meth gained a strong foothold in rural and working-class white communities in the Midwest during the 1990s and 2000s.

Citation: During the 1990s, methamphetamine production and distribution expanded significantly in rural areas of the Midwest, including states like Oklahoma and Missouri[1]. The illegal manufacture of methamphetamine shifted from the "super labs" located in large West Coast cities to makeshift and clandestine small-scale operations situated in cities and hamlets across the rural U.S. during the 1990s[1].

2. Continued prevalence: The Midwest still reports high rates of meth use compared to other regions of the US.

Citation: In 2019, the prevalence of past-year methamphetamine use among people 12 years of age or older was 0.8% in the Midwest, second only to the West at 1.1%[6].

3. Demographics: While meth use is spreading to other groups, it remains particularly prevalent among white populations in rural and suburban areas of the Midwest.

Citation: In a study conducted in Dayton, Ohio, 55.6% of participants with opioid use disorders had used methamphetamine in the past 6 months, with 88.8% of the sample being non-Hispanic whites[7].

4. Cultural impact: The meth epidemic has had a profound effect on many Midwestern communities, influencing local culture, law enforcement priorities, and public health initiatives.

Citation: Meth use contributes to a series of major problems for users, their families, and communities. These include poor health, family/child neglect, poor work performance, and increased demands on social services and law enforcement[1]. Additionally, the DEA has noted that methamphetamine "can bring out the absolute worst in people, and its addictive qualities make it hard to quit," highlighting its impact on communities[8].

Citations: [1] https://www.ruralsociology.org/assets/docs/rural-realities/rural-realities-2-2.pdf [2] http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/sapc/MDU/MDBrief/MethBrief.pdf [3] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10262604/ [4] https://hhs.iowa.gov/media/9321/download [5] https://rockinst.org/blog/the-second-wave-of-the-methamphetamine-epidemic/ [6] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9097961/ [7] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7473491/ [8] https://www.dea.gov/stories/2019/2019-07/2019-07-10/methamphetamine-seizures-continue-climb-midwest [9] https://nij.ojp.gov/library/publications/drugs-heartland-methamphetamine-use-rural-nebraska-research-brief [10] https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/ondcp/ondcp-fact-sheets/methamphetamine-trends-in-the-united-states [11] https://theconversation.com/how-meth-became-an-epidemic-in-america-and-whats-happening-now-that-its-faded-from-the-headlines-225638 [12] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11221576/

**White supremacy and meth prevalence: **

1. In July 2023, David Milam, a self-proclaimed founder and leader of the white supremacist gang "Aryan Kings," was sentenced to 25 years in prison for trafficking heroin and methamphetamine[1].

2. A 2015 investigation in Texas resulted in the arrest of 54 members and associates of various white supremacist organizations, including the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas, Aryan Circle, and White Knights, for their involvement in a methamphetamine distribution conspiracy[2].

3. In Utah, law enforcement has reported that Caucasian criminal groups, some with ties to white supremacist ideologies, have been involved in the production and distribution of methamphetamine[3].

4. In October 2020, members and associates of white supremacist gangs were charged in a methamphetamine and firearms case in Utah[7].

5. In February 2019, 54 members of the New Aryan Empire, a white supremacist prison gang, were indicted on drug and gun charges related to methamphetamine trafficking in Arkansas[8].

These cases demonstrate a recurring pattern of white supremacist groups being involved in methamphetamine production, distribution, and use. The connection between these groups and methamphetamine appears to be driven by both ideological factors and the potential for profit in the drug trade.

Citations: [1] https://www.dea.gov/press-releases/2023/07/26/leader-white-supremacist-gang-receives-25-years-federal-prison-armed-drug [2] https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/52-additional-members-associates-various-white-supremacist-organizations-arrested [3] https://www.justice.gov/archive/ndic/pubs3/3619/meth.htm [4] https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/helplines/national-helpline [5] https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/california-man-linked-white-supremacist-group-arrested-drug-ammunition-rcna97020 [6] https://www.researchgate.net/publication/274698454_Valley_Girl_Interrupted_Meth_Race_and_the_Ku_Klux_Klan [7] https://www.justice.gov/usao-ut/pr/members-associates-white-supremacist-gangs-charged-methamphetamine-and-firearms [8] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/2/13/us-white-supremacist-gang-tangled-in-meth-trafficking-charges