CLEVELAND - Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner Dr. Thomas Gilson expressed concern today, indicating that the Regional Science Forensic Laboratory has seen an increase in methamphetamine tested within the past year.

"Methamphetamine, a powerful stimulant, is becoming more prevalent in the seized drugs we are analyzing. We have not seen an increase in deaths from methamphetamine – our overarching problem there remains the opioids like fentanyl and the re-emergence of cocaine," said Dr. Gilson."But the appearance of methamphetamine is disturbing, as it has disastrous effects on people's personal health and social well-being.”

Methamphetamine (also known as “meth”) is a highly addictive stimulant that can lead to long-term consequences such as weight loss, severe dental decay, open sores, and heart and brain damage.

The types of methamphetamine that have been seen include:

Methamphetamine tablets (Fake ecstasy pills)

Crystal methamphetamine

Number of Cases Tested:

 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is commonly referred to as ecstasy (also known as “E” or “Molly”). However, MDMA has not been present within the tablets tested at our office, but methamphetamine has.

As with any illegal drug, there is no regulation or quality control. Therefore, someone taking a drug cannot know for sure they are taking what has been advertised to them. Furthermore, they don’t know the potency of the drug, which can lead to serious consequences.

If you or anyone that you know needs additional information about drug addiction recovery, contact the Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services (ADAMHS) Board of Cuyahoga County on their 24-hour crisis hotline at 216-623-6888.