Methamphetamine and precursor laws in the United States

Abstract

Methamphetamine is a potent synthetic central nervous system stimulant used by diverse populations around the globe. Both the consumption and production of methamphetamine influence its circulation through licit and illicit markets. At the level of consumption, it is used both for pleasure and for more instrumental ends such as increasing work productivity and weight loss. At the level of production, it is made using chemicals designed for and available through the licit economy, such as the pseudoephedrine in many common cold remedies. Both aspects pose challenges and opportunities for regulators. This chapter examines the precursor laws introduced in the United States to limit access to the chemicals used in domestic production of methamphetamine. The specific focus is on efforts to more tightly control access to products containing pseudoephedrine at points of sale. Research suggests that tightening pseudoephedrine regulations would likely curb local production of methamphetamine-particularly small-scale production-thereby mitigating many of the risks such operations pose. However, research also suggests that such precursor laws alone will not have long-term impacts on either the availability of methamphetamine or use rates.