gipsyrose
04-21-2005, 08:33 PM
"Meth Mouth" Hurts Taxpayers (New!)
April 21, 2005
ALLEGAN COUNTY, Michigan -- There's a new enemy in the battle against methamphetamine. The drug is literally rotting away user's teeth.
With more addicts being locked up for making or using the drug, counties are paying the high medical and dental costs of inmates.
"Meth Mouth" as it is being called by county jail officials is caused by the chemicals used in meth. Meth breaks down the teeth and also causes dry mouth. Since there's virtually no saliva, meth users reach for soda which has more sugar in it, which makes the tooth decay even worse.
"The only choice we have is to give them dentures," says Karen Jaco of the Van Buren-Cass Co. Health Dept.
The expensive procedure is ripping a bigger hole in Allegan County's budget. Officials there do not know how much more they can afford to spend to treat Meth Mouth. "As any sort of health problem that emerges in the jail, it inundates our budget," said Rashmi Ganesan, Allegan County health officer.
Allegan County Sheriff Blaine Koops says they have just begun the fight, but it will be an uphill battle. "Since the county is responsible for any medical or dental care of an inmate while they're under our facility, it becomes a taxpayer expense, we're working at it and we've only just started the fight," said Koops.
The problem is not just among inmates. Meth users often wait until the pain is so intense that they go to the emergency room. If they are not insured, the hospital pays for the service, but ultimately health care costs rise for other patients. That is the only way hospitals will be able to treat non-insured patients.
Copyright © 2005, WXMI-TV, Grand Rapids, MI
April 21, 2005
ALLEGAN COUNTY, Michigan -- There's a new enemy in the battle against methamphetamine. The drug is literally rotting away user's teeth.
With more addicts being locked up for making or using the drug, counties are paying the high medical and dental costs of inmates.
"Meth Mouth" as it is being called by county jail officials is caused by the chemicals used in meth. Meth breaks down the teeth and also causes dry mouth. Since there's virtually no saliva, meth users reach for soda which has more sugar in it, which makes the tooth decay even worse.
"The only choice we have is to give them dentures," says Karen Jaco of the Van Buren-Cass Co. Health Dept.
The expensive procedure is ripping a bigger hole in Allegan County's budget. Officials there do not know how much more they can afford to spend to treat Meth Mouth. "As any sort of health problem that emerges in the jail, it inundates our budget," said Rashmi Ganesan, Allegan County health officer.
Allegan County Sheriff Blaine Koops says they have just begun the fight, but it will be an uphill battle. "Since the county is responsible for any medical or dental care of an inmate while they're under our facility, it becomes a taxpayer expense, we're working at it and we've only just started the fight," said Koops.
The problem is not just among inmates. Meth users often wait until the pain is so intense that they go to the emergency room. If they are not insured, the hospital pays for the service, but ultimately health care costs rise for other patients. That is the only way hospitals will be able to treat non-insured patients.
Copyright © 2005, WXMI-TV, Grand Rapids, MI