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.