Meth fills hospitals with burn patients

AP ^ | January 23, 2012 | Jim Salter

[Mount Athos]

A crude new method of making methamphetamine poses a risk even to Americans who never get anywhere near the drug: It is filling hospitals with thousands of uninsured burn patients requiring millions of dollars in advanced treatment — a burden so costly that it's contributing to the closure of some burn units.

So-called shake-and-bake meth is produced by combining raw, unstable ingredients in a 2-liter soda bottle.

The influx of patients is overwhelming hospitals and becoming a major factor in the closure of some burn wards. At least seven burn units across the nation have shut down over the past six years, partly due to consolidation but also because of the cost of treating uninsured patients, many of whom are connected to methamphetamine.

Burn experts agree the annual cost to taxpayers is well into the tens if not hundreds of millions of dollars.

[Mount Athos]

Your public health dollars at work

[achilles2000]

Yet another reason not to have “free” medical care. Do meth; live with the consequences.

[headstamp 2]

“The improvised system first emerged several years ago, partly in response to attempts by many states to limit or forbid over-the-counter access to pseudoephedrine. Since then, the shake-and-bake recipe has spread to become the method of choice.”

[headstamp 2]

http://www.radaronline.com/exclusives/2011/11/florida-woman-face-disfigured-meth-cooking

[woofie]

[dragonblustar]

in a 2-liter soda bottle.

Watch a new law will pass.... We'll need two forms of ID to purchase 2-liter sodas at the pharmacy now.

[MeganC]

Good thing healthcare will be free soon.

[Paradox]

We need to inform these moro..err, chemists, that the best way to mix is to place the bottle firmly between the legs, as high as possible. The jump around the room, preferably close to a flame.

That should clean out the gene pool...

[Lazlo in PA]

Geez. These tweakers are nuts. This Shake-n-Bake method of producing Meth is insane. I guess anyone playing with this stuff isn't wrapped too tight to begin with.

[Pontiac]

Yet another reason not to have “free” medical care. Do meth; live or DIE with the consequences.

Pardon me. Minor correction

[WOBBLY BOB]

Reminds me of the old Irish saying, “You’ll know them by their limp”.

Or “whisky plates” on chronic DUI convicts- stay far away from those cars.

[Fresh Wind]

The Food Nazis would like nothing better than an excuse to ban soda.

[Joe 6-pack]

Just wait 'til krokodil hits it big in the states; whole hospitals will be shutting down. Of course it will be a boon for the undertaking industry.

[dennisw]

Meth is the most evil drug ever invented. It is producing lots of brain damaged people who are incapable of work...so they’ll get an SS disability check you and me have to pay for. Death penalty for meth dealers is a good idea

[Lazamataz]

If the results get near the eyes.....

[Michael Barnes]

See the post above yours; meth is candyland compared to that stuff..

[livius]

What is krokodil?

I live in North Florida, where the meth biz seems to be booming, and when one of these “work accidents” occurs, the injured guy’s buddies dump him on the ground in front of the door of the hospital and take off.

[NFHale]

Real simple solution for this problem: Don’t do drugs.

No sympathy here.

[Joe 6-pack]

Krokodil: The drug that eats junkies

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/krokodil-the-drug-that-eats-junkies-2300787.html