Designer drugs Ownership of crystal-meth-based materials should be punishable

Prohibition of drug base: So dangerous is crystal meth
Especially in eastern Germany, Crystal Meth has spread steadily in recent years. The designer drug is considered very stimulating. But many consumers suffer through the intoxicant serious health problems. The possession and trade in the basic substance of the illegal drug - chlororephedrine - should now be punishable.

Possession and trade are punishable
Especially since the drug discovery in the Green Bundestag MP Volker Beck is repeatedly pointed out by experts, how health-endangering Crystal Meth in reality. The designer drug is considered very stimulating. But many a consumer even ends up in the hospital after taking it. According to media reports, the Federal Council has now approved a law that aims to penalize the possession and trading of chlorhephedrine - a raw material of Crystal Meth.

The Federal Council has approved a law that aims to penalize the possession and trading of chlorhephedrine - a raw material of Crystal Meth. The consumption of the designer drug can have serious health consequences. (Image: Kaesler Media / fotolia.com)

Drug leads to aggression and delusions
The Federal Center for Health Education (BZgA) writes on its website that the intoxicant promises to handle stress and pressure with ease and, moreover, to be able to accomplish more in less time.

However, the other side of the designer drug is "aggression, restlessness, and delusions," as stated in the Federal Government's Drug Commissioner's Communication, Marlene Mortler (CSU).

After intoxication, listlessness, sleep disorders, anxiety and depression often follow. Therefore, consumers often take additional drugs or increase the dose.

There is a risk of health problems such as palpitations, sweating, muscle spasms and dizziness as well as long-term physical effects such as brain damage, circulatory disorders, tooth loss, chronic skin inflammation ("Crystal Acne") or kidney and liver damage.

Particularly dangerous is the psychological dependence, which can lead to anxiety and panic attacks, hallucinations, eating disorders and an increased risk of suicide.

Help for addicts
According to experts, the Crystal Meth addiction is effectively treatable. A new medical guideline "will allow in the future everywhere in Germany, a treatment at the highest medical level," said the Drugs Commissioner. "The good news is that the dependence on crystal meth is curable."

"The aim of the guideline is to enable better care for sufferers and more action safety for therapeutically active personnel in clinical practice on the basis of substance-specific studies," reports the Medical Center for Quality in Medicine (AOQ), which co-authored the guideline Experts worked out.

Making the drug is complicated
But prevention should now be given more importance. According to "rbb | 24", the news portal of Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg (RBB), the Federal Council on Friday approved a law that seeks to penalize the possession and trading of chlorhephedrine - a raw material of Crystal Meth.

According to the information, fines or imprisonment of up to five years should be imposed. In particularly severe cases, up to fifteen years imprisonment are imminent.

Already in September 2016, an EU regulation came into force, according to which manufacturers, owners and distributors of the substance have a permit and companies have to report suspicious information.

According to the "MDR" Saxony's Minister of Justice Sebastian Gemkow spoke of a big step in the fight against Crystal. In his opinion, the ban will "play a key role in reducing the supply of Crystal kitchens with the ingredients needed to manufacture the drug".

East Germany particularly affected
According to experts, a large part of Crystal Meth circulating in Germany comes from the Czech Republic. In border regions, consumption appears to be more widespread. Unfortunately, this was also reflected in the number of babies damaged by Crystal Meth.

Since the intoxicant is widespread in Saxony, the Free State had made particularly strong for the amendment. In Brandenburg, the number of consumers has also been rising for years, especially in the south of the country. According to "rbb | 24", rough estimates are made from at least 10,000 Crystal addicts. (Ad)