Spencer Pratt said 'super meth' is helping fuel L.A.'s homeless crisis. What is that?

"“The reality is no matter how many beds you give these people, they are on super meth, they are on fentanyl,” he said during Wednesday's forum. While a link between drug use and homelessness has long been noted, the term “super meth” may have raised some eyebrows. Experts, however, say not only is it real, it's become increasingly common in recent years."

"Methamphetamine is a stimulant that increases a person's heart rate, respiration and body temperature when used, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. High doses can cause convulsions, cardiovascular collapse, stroke or death. “Super meth” is P2P meth, short for phenyl-2-propanone methamphetamine."

"Meth has traditionally been made from ephedrine and pseudoephedrine - substances that can be found in over-the-counter cold medications that address nasal congestion and runny noses, said Terry Church, director of the Institute for Addiction Sciences Education Committee at USC. This potential for abuse is why such medications can only be purchased by adults, and only in limited quantities."

"What researchers have found in more recent batches of meth, starting around 2021, is that ephedrine and pseudoephedrine were swapped out for phenyl-2-propanone, Church said. With this new ingredient, “super meth” became cheaper and easier to produce - so it started being made in larger qu"

Drug abuse is presented as a major factor in Los Angeles homelessness, with claims that many people are using fentanyl or “super meth” regardless of the number of shelter beds. Methamphetamine is described as a stimulant that raises heart rate, respiration, and body temperature, and high doses can lead to severe medical outcomes including death. “Super meth” is identified as P2P meth, meaning phenyl-2-propanone methamphetamine. Traditional meth production relied on ephedrine and pseudoephedrine found in some cold medications, which are regulated to limit misuse. Researchers report that around 2021, newer meth batches increasingly replaced those ingredients with phenyl-2-propanone, making production cheaper and easier and contributing to larger-scale manufacturing.

Read at Los Angeles Times