Don’t Take Candy From Strangers…

Strawberry Meth, also known as Strawberry Quick Meth or pink meth, is a drug scare that dates back to 2007 when drug dealers allegedly used food products such as Strawberry Quick and Pop Rocks to disguise methamphetamine. The use of food products was reportedly so that children would find the drug more appealing. However, there have been no public reports of children using flavored methamphetamine to date.

Drug dealers are reportedly targeting a younger crowd of would-be drug addicts with an attractive drug that looks and smells just like candy: pink meth. However, the dangers are very real as they are widely unknown.

What is Strawberry Quick?

The terms pink meth or strawberry meth are in reference to both the color as well as the supposedly sweet flavor of this designer methamphetamine drug. The sweet flavor aims to minimize the acidic taste of the drug as well as make it more appealing to young people.

While largely known on the street as strawberry quick meth, limited reporting from other areas of the United States has indicated that there may be other ranges of flavors, which include: cola, orange, chocolate, and root beer, to name a few. There is also much controversy surrounding the distribution and reporting of this marketable methamphetamine as there has not yet been any solid evidence to support that it is being sold to children, particularly as drug dealers have (traditionally) sought clients who have a regular source of income [source].

Pink Meth in the News

In February of 2007, the Nevada Department of Public Safety issued a report advising that pink meth had been seized a month earlier in Carson City with the drug being described as ‘small, pink chunks’. Other reports describe a striking resemblance of the pink meth to that of rock candy or Pop Rocks.

Later, in March of 2007, the National Drug Intelligence Center (NDIC) FPSs received reports from various providers throughout California indicating that some teenagers were abusing red, cherry-flavored methamphetamine, called go-fast.

Pink Meth Targets Children, Teens, and Young Adults

Drug addiction experts hypothesize that the longer-term meth addicts are likely not the ones who are seeking out this newer, strawberry (and/or cherry) flavored meth because of the way that it tastes. Rather, the normally bitter-tasting methamphetamine is made more appealing with a sweeter flavor to newer, younger meth addicts. It should also be noted that the added ‘flavor’ of pink meth is only effective via oral administration or inhalation.

Take a look at the following video, which documents the alleged use of strawberry meth as a means of enticing young people to become addicted to methamphetamine.

Help for Those Addicted to Pink Meth

If your loved one is addicted to strawberry quick meth, there is hope. BRC Recovery specializes in helping the treatment-resistant, including those who have previously relapsed or become dependent upon substances like methamphetamine. Our recovery services include drug detox, primary addiction treatment, outpatient programming, and continued support and aftercare. For more information about moving beyond drug addiction, contact BRC Recovery.

References:

• Drug dealers are selling…methamphetamine known as ‘Strawberry Quick’ | Snopes | April 2007
• National methamphetamine threat assessment 2008  | NDIC | December 2007
• New drug dangers  | The Doctors | retrieved May 2012
• Police warn parents about strawberry meth  | ABC | March 2012
• Strawberry meth seized in search | Nevada Appeal | January 2007
• Strawberry Quick meth myth | Wikipedia | last updated May 2012