How Meth use can be prevented by law makers and law enforcement

What clues should law enforcement look for to identify potential meth labs in a residential neighborhood?

Clues the law enforcement can leverage to identify meth labs first begins with the behaviors of those within the neighborhood. Here law enforcement can observe suspicious behaviors such as secretive or unfriendly neighborhood residents. Likewise, a large amount of secretive measures being used around the suspected premises may be another indication of a meth lab. These secretive measures will include an excess amount of new trespassing signs, an excessive amount of fencing, beware of dog signs and more. In insolation none of these measures will indicate a meth lab, but in overly excessive combinations, this could indicate that occupants are attempting to hide something illegal. Through observation, frequent visitors during odd hours of the night can also be an indication that a meth lab in located in an individual neighborhood. Once closer observation is warranted, the status of the surrounding home and facility can also provide cluse to law enforcement. Here, they would be looking for large amounts of chemical waste, large amounts of blackened windows that don’t allow outsiders to look inside, unusual odors, and large amounts of waste (Finkelman, 2013).

Is there anything that law enforcement or law makers can do to prevent youths from obtaining and/or using meth? Explain.

First, law makers can continually invest in education and prevention programs designed to help provide critical information as to the dangers of meth. Here, the programs will help inform youth as to the impact of meth and how it can adversely impact their entire life. Here the programs such teach youth about the realities and consequences of drug use, with a particular emphasis on meth. Likewise, law makers can also invest heavily in rehabilitation facilities and encourage family members of meth addicts to help them seek treatment. Finally, punishment for those caught distributing meth should be very severe to help discourage creation of the drug. Likewise, law makers should invest heavily in proper job training and wealth creation to help these individuals to leverage legal alternatives to creating meth. As more people are employed, less will turn to selling drugs as a means of making money (Nadelmann, 1989)

Should the government spend funds on public service announcements that discourage drug use? Why or why not?

Yes, they should. These announcements should also be in conjunction with law enforcement overhauls and increased legal punishments. A comprehensive approach will indicate to would be criminals that their behavior will no longer be tolerated. Here, the holistic approach will be to notify offenders of the coming crackdown, increase law enforcement staff and training to ensure the safety of communities, and adjust legal punishments to make them more severe to discourage the behavior. This approach has been done successfully with the “Click it or Ticket” initiative conducted to discourage drinking and driving.

Does "Hollywood" contribute to this problem? Why or why not?

Yes, film and media heavily contribute to the problem as they make meth addiction appear “cool” to children must likely to adopt their policies. For example, many individuals in society aspire to have great success and wealth. Movies such as Wolf of Wall Street appeal the American ideal of riches, fame, wealth. However, in the process of achieving this, the movie associates these honorable goals with drug use such as cocaine and meth. Here Hollywood often equates sex, drugs and success as equals which provides children wit the wrong message. It also sends the message that drug use is ok, so long as you are wealthy.