Stimulants Could Be the Most Dangerous Drugs on the Planet

One could make arguments for many kinds of drugs that each is “the most dangerous drug on the planet.” And there could be some truth to each argument. Marijuana helps people get started using illicit drugs because it looks so harmless… alcohol kills vastly more people than any other because it is so widely available… and of course, heroin kills many with overdoses.

While it may not come first to mind for most people, it’s very easy to make the case that stimulants are the most dangerous drugs of all. Because the most appallingly heinous acts committed while under the influence of drugs are often associated with stimulants.

What drugs are stimulants? Most all of the new synthetics (Spice, bath salts, methedrone and others) are stimulants, as is methamphetamine. There are stimulants such as amphetamine, Ritalin and Adderall but they are seldom associated with the same kinds of heinous acts.

The New Synthetics

These drugs hit the streets several years ago and have been associated with horrifying stories of self-harm, child abuse, domestic violence and assaults. In the worst cases, suicides and homicides have resulted from their use.

There are several categories of drugs included under this heading, while the formulas of the individual drugs sold on the street keep changing. Hundreds of different chemical formulas have been found in the U.S. and Europe, sold as synthetic cannabinoids (Spice), incense, bath salts, plant food, jewelry or glass cleaner or some other misleading label. It’s very difficult for law enforcement to keep up with the changing formulas because the newer formulas may not be banned by existing laws in some states. Laws finally have to be updated to broadly describe the type of drug being banned in order to get the drugs off the market.

But these new synthetics are not the only drugs causing grievous harm. The use of methamphetamine is too often associated with the most sickening and murderous harm to children. The stories of children mutilated and killed almost can’t be tolerated without breaking down. But these meth-using parents and associates of parents had the ability to carry out crimes of an inhuman nature and methamphetamine use is very often the common denominator to these awful crimes. One grieves for the children and has deep empathy for the first responders who had to deal with the aftermath of these horrifying acts.

Defenseless Children Suffer

Tragically, it’s not hard to find news stories of children losing their lives to methamphetamine-using adults. Sometimes those adults are parents and other times they are boyfriends or roommates. In August 2016, one of the most horrifying stories ever emerged from New Mexico. A bright, friendly ten-year-old girl was raped, strangled and burned. The adults in this case had injected her with methamphetamine in an attempt to get her to cooperate with the rape.

In 2010, two other such cases occurred in Oklahoma. Links to those articles appear below because they are too grim to include in this article.

Neglected girl sits protectively on some shabby stairs.

How can a parent or caretaker commit such atrocities? An investigator’s quote explains why there are so many incidents of children or family being killed or injured in meth-related incidents: "Your children and your spouse become your worst enemy, and you truly believe they are after you.” Methamphetamine and stimulants both create paranoia and hallucinations, so a person using these drugs can harm or kill a person because they believe they are in danger.

The stories mentioned can be found here: New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oklahoma.  


If someone you care about is using methamphetamine or synthetics, it is vital that they get help the first moment possible. The health and survival of those close to them may be at stake. At Narconon Arrowhead, we have helped many people leave methamphetamine and synthetic drug use behind so they can start new, sober and productive lives. We understand the problem and we have the solution. 

Call us for a confidential consultation today:
1-800-468-6933

AUTHOR
KH

Karen Hadley

For more than a decade, Karen has been researching and writing about drug trafficking, drug abuse, addiction and recovery. She has also studied and written about policy issues related to drug treatment.

NARCONON ARROWHEAD

DRUG EDUCATION AND REHABILITATION