Jacob Sullum on Meth Mouth and Other Meth Myths

Shocking as it may be to anyone who has accepted
at face value the gruesome images featured in anti-meth
propaganda, the drug does not make you ugly. “Meth mouth”—the
extreme tooth decay supposedly characteristic of heavy users—is
said to be caused by meth-induced dry mouth. Yet widely consumed
prescription stimulants such as Adderall produce the same side
effect, notes Columbia neuropsychopharmacologist Carl Hart, and
“there are no published reports of unattractiveness or dental
problems associated with their use.” Hart punctures this and other
meth myths in a new report. Jacob Sullum discusses Hart’s
findings.

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