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- Title
Modelling the amount of inputs needed for methamphetamine manufacture in Afghanistan.
- Authors
Pardo, Bryce; Nobajas Ganau, Alexandre; Zeiler, Irmgard
- Abstract
Background and aims: The use and manufacture of methamphetamine has increased in Afghanistan in recent years. Recent research and reports have pointed to the ephedra plant, which grows wildly, as a key source of ephedrine used in the manufacture of methamphetamine. This paper aimed to estimate the relative efficiencies and scale of inputs required to manufacture methamphetamine in Afghanistan. Methods: Monte Carlo simulations model of the amount of ephedra or cold medications needed to render a pure kilogram of methamphetamine in Afghanistan, accounting for uncertainty in ranges of key parameters informed from the literature and elsewhere. Final estimates were extrapolated to recent seizure totals. Results: For dried ephedra, the median estimate is 196.8 kg (25th–75th percentiles 119.3–346.6 kg) needed to produce 1 kg of methamphetamine compared with 27.9 kg (25th–75th percentiles 21.9–36.8 kg) for cold medications. Nearly 2.7 t of methamphetamine were seized in Afghanistan in 2021. Assuming a purity range of 50%–90%, some 266–478 t of dried ephedra or 38–68 t of cold medication would need to have been processed. Conclusion: Simulated estimates show that considerable amounts of either ephedra or cold medication are needed to produce 1 kg of methamphetamine in Afghanistan. This raises questions about the plausibility of ephedra as the dominant source of Afghanistan's methamphetamine.
- Subjects
AFGHANISTAN; STATISTICAL models; COMPUTER simulation; METHAMPHETAMINE; LABOR productivity; RESEARCH funding; COST analysis; HEALTH policy; DESCRIPTIVE statistics; DATA analysis software; GOVERNMENT regulation
- Publication
Addiction, 2024, Vol 119, Issue 6, p1013
- ISSN
0965-2140
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/add.16474