Who Invented Meth And When?

The Origin and History of Methamphetamine as a Drug

Table of Contents

Methamphetamine use surged over the past few decades, with an incredible four percent of people who say they have tried the illicit drug. But who invented meth and when did it first come onto the market?

Amphetamine use started with Romanian chemist Lazar Edeleanu and was enhanced by Japanese chemist Nagai Nagayoshi. It was used by soldiers in World War II and at home for weight loss and energy, among other things. As the drug was restricted, meth laps sprang up for illicit cooking.

Fast forward to today, and meth abuse has become a widespread societal issue, and affects people from all walks of life. If meth has become a problem in your life, you likely know this reality all too well.

Purpose Healing Center wants you to know that there is help and healing for a meth use issue. You can take the first steps toward recovery by simply understanding how the drug came to be. Keep reading to get the full picture of who invented meth and when.

Get Effective Detox and Rehab Options at Purpose

A Brief History of Crystal Meth as a Drug

Meth addiction is a serious issue that shapes the landscape of substance abuse recovery in ways large and small. But where did meth production begin and who is responsible for its creation?

This brief history will help you trace the roots of your addiction back to the early 1900s, all the way across the ocean to the work of foreign scientists and chemists.

The Work of a Romanian Chemist and Beyond

The presence of methamphetamines doesn’t trace back to the United States until the 1930s. Instead, the first time methamphetamine synthesis began was under the research of the Romanian chemist, Lazar Edeleanu. However, this wasn’t where we derive the methamphetamine hydrochloride most people are familiar with today.

Six years later, a Japanese chemist, Nagai Nagayoshi, was able to synthesize the production of meth using the same process outlined by Edeleanu.

When combined with ephedrine by a later researcher, Akira Ogata, the invention of crystal meth was here. It started to be prescribed as a treatment for conditions like asthma and as a nasal decongestant. Because its addictive properties were unknown, it was sold over the counter for decades.

Nobody guessed that the drug would lead to rampant methamphetamine addiction just a few short years later.

Methamphetamine Abuse During World War II

Because meth was so prominent and readily available in pharmacies across the globe, it was easy for people to turn to it for its beneficial properties. In fact, one of the most prominent uses was for United States soldiers during World War II where they would take meth to stay awake during long missions.

As the war passed and the manufacturing of meth came to the United States in the 1950s, people became more aware of the potential for drug abuse. People were using it to give them more energy, for weight control, and even to enhance athletic performance. Truck drivers used it to stay alert during hauls.

Around this time, the United States started to notice that meth abuse was getting quite serious. They restricted the availability of ephedrine, which forced methamphetamine use into the shadows.

Meth Labs Across the United States

While the chemicals from the ephedra plant were restricted in the US, many people turned to another chemical to manufacture meth, known as pseudoephedrine. This drug is still available today in our over-the-counter cold medications, though its purchase is restricted to prevent meth labs from popping up.

The internet boom gave people the information they needed to start to develop meth and other illicit drugs from home. These new meth labs were part and parcel of many rural communities where it was harder for law enforcement agencies to track where meth production originated. Even the telltale smell of meth production is easier to conceal in rural areas, and the spread of the drug across the country rapidly ensued.

Meth labs were quite creative in manufacturing the drug. They would use cold medicines and even farm supply items to recreate the drug and cook it from the convenience of their homes. It didn’t require a lot of space and was relatively difficult to identify, making it easier than ever to obtain crystal meth.

Legal Repercussions for Meth Use to Combat Methamphetamine Addiction

Eventually, the production of methamphetamine in these secret meth labs was brought to the attention of the federal government. The authorities determined that the best way to keep people from making these amphetamine type stimulants was to restrict the sale of items used in the cooking process.

Most notably, this led to the Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act of 2005. While it didn’t make the cold medicines used in manufacturing meth tablets into illegal drugs, it did make them harder to obtain.

Pseudoephedrine is now only available behind the counter and can be purchased in limited quantities. Some of the drugs that were available at the local pharmacy moved to prescription-only.

Meth Addiction to the New Drug on the Market

As law enforcement agencies were cracking down on meth use and production in the late 1900s, there came a wave of a new drug in the United States in the early 2000s. Chemists found new ways to make a similar drug using items that were less likely to be regulated, such as racing fuel and perfume. This created a rise in so-called ‘super meth,’ which is typically higher potency but also often comes along with side effects for the user not associated with meth made using ephedrine products.

Mexico also became a major player in meth production. It would be imported into the country illegally in liquid or powder form. Once here, these at-home chemists could convert it into crystal meth using a very small meth lab that was virtually impossible to detect by law enforcement.

Now, it can even be manufactured as a pill, which makes it harder to locate, identify, and crack down on. The look of meth can vary greatly, from fake Adderall pills, to a concentrated liquid form that has to be reduced in conversion labs (which made an appearance in the recent Apple TV series ‘Dope Thief’) to colored versions of meth that occasionally become popular (‘blue magic’ dyed meth, made popular by the AMC show ‘Breaking Bad’ being one recent example).

For more of our loved ones’ resources on meth, you can visit the following articles:

How can I recognize the signs of meth use?
What are common slang terms and street names used for meth?
Locating Crystal Meth Anonymous meetings for support

The problem with foreign and clandestine production is that those who struggle with meth use run the risk of dangerous fentanyl lacing their drug of choice. This is often discovered in meth confiscated at the United States-Mexico border, where the majority of US methamphetamine originates.

Up To 100% of Rehab Costs Covered By Insurance

Get Help for Meth Abuse at Purpose Healing Center

Are you struggling to get amphetamine use under control and don’t know where to turn? You aren’t alone. The history of methamphetamine proves that people have struggled with this drug use since meth was first put into use during the Second World War.

It has roots all over the globe, but is still rampant here at home in the United States.

Purpose Healing Center offers help for anyone struggling with meth use and other drugs. We offer a comprehensive approach to care at every level so that you get the help you need where you need it most. Let our enrollment team answer your questions, verify insurance benefits, and reserve a spot for you in our program today!