Today marks the U.S. Justice Department’s new creation, National Methamphetamine Awareness Day, and begins a new era in the war on drugs.

A 2004 study showed between 11.7 and 12.3 million Americans age 12 and older have tried methamphetamine.

According to the Department of Health and Human Services, 20.8 million Americans age 12 and older have used stimulant-type prescriptions for nonmedical purposes.

The Office of National Drug Control Policy, a program operated from the White House, reports 3.1 percent of eighth graders have used methamphetamine.

The 2004 N.C. State CORE Survey indicates the University is not sheltered from meth use.

It states that “3 [percent of students] have used amphetamines,” which according to enrollment figures at the time translates to nearly 900 students.

But the facts and the new awareness day aren’t going to bring any new behavior from the Campus Police Deparment.

“We crack down on drugs every day,” Sgt. Jon Barnwell said. “N.C. State has a no-tolerance policy on drugs.”

Jerry Barker, director of Student Health Services said, “Health Services and Health Promotion programs support Meth Awareness Day.” But Barker said the Student Health Center isn’t doing anything special on Meth Day, either.

“But both Student Health Services and Health Promotion programs support drug awareness every day,” Barker said.

Regardless of definition, both methamphetamine and methylphenidate are prescribed by U.S. doctors to treat illnesses.

However, forms of the legal drug methylphenidate, in addition to other illegal amphetamines, were not included by the Justice Department in its awareness campaign.

Ritalin and Adderall, two of the most profitable stimulant-type medications, are prescribed to children and adults for treatment of Attention Deficit Disorder.

Shire, the company that produces Adderall and Adderall XR, reported a 2005 profit of $774 million on Adderall alone.

Ciba-Geigy, producer of Ritalin, boasts in its annual earnings report profits of $7.41 billion. Ciba is owned by parent company Novartis, who stated in its 2005 earnings report total group revenues reaching $32.2 billion.

Amphetamine production is big business, but one that comes with hazards.

According to the National Institutes of Health, methamphetamines produced in black-market labs are made to be much stronger than prescription medicines.

The wrong mixture of chemicals in stimulant production can lead to adverse side effects or death, not to mention the potential addiction that comes from increased stimulant effects.

When the Food and Drug Administration reported that most literature available on Attention Deficit Disorder didn’t discuss potential addictive properties of Ritalin (methylphenidate) or Adderall, U.S. pharmaceutical companies responded.

Ciba, for example, the largest manufacturer of methylphenidate contributed $748,000 to the support group Children and Adults with Attention Deficit Disorder, according to federal court documents.

That equates to about 0.01 percent of the company’s 2005 profit.

The reason for the creation of meth day, and the greatest concern to the Department of Justice, is to prevent others from suffering methamphetamine addiction.

That’s why the Food and Drug Administration approved Prometa, a prescription drug used to treat methamphetamine addction. And Hythiam, the company that produces Prometa, reported a 410-percent increase in profit since 2005.

Methamphetamine, for treatment or illegal use, has potential dangers. Nov. 30 is now about recognizing those potential dangers and being aware of those people who didn’t.