Customer Reviews

No Speed Limit: The Highs and Lows of Meth

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I found this book so fascinating I could barely put it down. It is very easy to read and basically tells you everything you could ever want to know about the history and use of meth.

I give it four stars for two reasons. One, I found the outline of the book somewhat chaotic. The book is not laid out chronologically or otherwise but more like a series of individual stand alone essays. I had a feeling of a lack of continuity but it really doesn't take away from the book. I guess I would just be more comfortable with a standard chronological history.

Two, there is an extensive bibliography but I would have preferred end notes or foot notes. I have no reason to doubt the quality of the author's research, but I do like to follow up on claims and statistics myself and it is a little more difficult when all the references are just listed in a bibliography.

The book broke down many presumptions that I had about meth. I was utterly amazed at how old the drug is and that meth abuse is nothing new. The impact of politics and media I guess. Never did I feel the author glamorized the drug.

This should be a must read before you make any intelligent comments regarding meth in conversation.

Jesus Christ. Anyone who actually believes Owen's assertion that meth is "just another drug" has clearly not had much exposure to it, or is a current user himself (as Owen clearly is) and is in denial. A former meth (and heroin and cocaine, as well as alcohol, K, etc.) addict myself, I can tell you that meth is the ULTIMATE EVIL. Meth IS evil, and it literally brings out evil in every single person who uses it. The evil can be blatant (as it usually is), resulting in complete mental and physical destruction of the user and most everyone close to the user; or it can sometimes be more subtle, resulting in the publication of books like this. I can't tell you how many relatively normal children and adults I have seen transformed into, literally, the living dead. How does this differ from a drug like, oh, heroin? Christ, how does it NOT differ?? On heroin, you're sitting around, nodding out. Sure, you become emaciated and neglect everything else in your life. Sure, you lie, steal, and sell yourself to get the dope. Sure, you care about nothing else. But on meth, that's just the beginning. While heroin destroys you by DE-activating the good in you, meth destroys you (and those around you) by ACTIVATING the evil in you. Here's a fun fact, kids: More than half of the meth addicts I have known have either committed, or been an accessory in some way, to murder. Meth drives you insane. Meth addicts lose all contact with reality, and they don't just get useless, like on heroin, or stand behind their doors all paranoid that the DEA is coming (sure, they might very well be, but anyway-) as with crack. No, meth addicts get up, get out, and literally spread the virus of evil in as prolific a manner as Satan himself.
So screw you, Frank Owen; in your quest for fame you are undoubtedly influencing (at least) hundreds of children who were on the borderline to start using meth- and they, in turn, will influence others. And thus, the evil is spread. Meth wins again... but hey; Frank Owen eeks out another marginal book, profiting from the misdeeds of others once again, and is now slightly better known! Way to go, Frank.

There never seems to be a shortage of books about drugs; and you could say that Frank Owen's, No Speed Limit, is merely one among the many. And, yes, this is true. It is one among many books written by authors who attempt to bring a rational voice to the oft irrational and unquestionably historic tendency of the media, politician's--and following suit--the public's susceptibility to react with panic concerning the issue of drug abuse (in this case, the latest drug crisis revolving around methamphetamine, or "meth")

Do you remember the Crack epidemic? The Ecstasy epidemic? The Heroin epidemic? And, for all those old enough, the Alcohol crisis, which culminated in Prohibition? Owen's book is not only about the history of methamphetamine and the modern phenomenon of meth abuse in America, which is fascinating in and of itself, it's also about the nature of that ever-present hysterical phenomenon: the "drug epidemic," or what some sociologists have referred to as the "moral panic."

This book has a fair mix of anecdotes, an interesting personal account of the drug's effects, statistics, and enough dispassionate reporting to please anyone interested in the topic at hand; in other words, it's wholly readable and reasonable. One of the principal strengths of the book is that Owen is not committing the same fallacies others have made and are still making concerning drug abuse; he is not giving into reasoning based on hyperbole, fear, and allegiance to an agenda at all costs.

On the other hand, the author understands the fact of a kernel of truth inherent in every hype, but he makes a valiant effort to put it in its proper context. In fact, Owen himself has experienced firsthand just how bad methamphetamine can be and knows its potential for abuse and also understands the broader scope of problems that abuse of the drug can cause society. However, these points are tempered with the well-founded realization that not everyone who has used the drug is or will necessarily become a victim of it--there is too much proof otherwise.

Drug abuse is a problem and the author is not denying it. That said, what Owen seems to be arguing, instead, is that since drug abuse is a problem, why make it worse with superfluous, fictional complexities. What is needed, he argues, is a levelheaded approach based on a broad understanding of the issue in its entirety, not one based on the end-of-civilization-as-we-know-it reaction we hear so often in the media (especially the media) and from our elected officials.

I thought this was the best book I have read on the subject of meth. It was unbiased and rationally put together. A very interesting book that was hard to put down.

"No Speed Limit" is a fascinating exploration of the latest American drug "epidemic." I'm happy to say I've never taken crystal meth, but I have some idea what it might feel like after reading this book. And it ain't a good thing. Unless you like giant talking cockroaches, rotten teeth, and not sleeping for four days straight. Well, the latter does have some appeal...

I'm giving this book four stars for some of the same reasons other reviewers have done so. "No Speed Limit" is organized thematically, so it's hard to keep the chronology straight. For example, even after reading, I'm left wondering if the Mexican cartels took over the meth trade after the Midwesterners stopped cooking, among other questions. But other than a slightly confusing structure and a few typos, the book has no major flaws and is, in many ways, heart-wrenching, particularly the chapter on how this drug impacts the lives of children.

As an academic I've been intensely studying the issue of methamphetamine for several years now and am impressed by the range of methamphetamine-related issues covered by the author -- everything from a bit of history, to its spread through the West, to cooking the drug, to treatment, and to the effects of policies designed to control it. As a journalist Owen has the skill to draw the reader in, unlike many academic writers. Now and then he states things with certainty that an academic would waffle on, but overall the book is on the mark. And, as a journalistic account there are brief periods of "over the top" comments, but they are mild compared with the comments often made by the authorities. For example, he correctly dismisses the idea that meth is instantly addictive and is an addiction from which recovery is rare. He also takes issue with using the word epidemic to describe the current problem -- though I would argue that a correct description would be that the drug has created a series of localized epidemics rather than a national one. This book is an excellent introduction to the issue. I wish the author had included more sources, but that's just the academic in me talking.

Mr. Owen has written an interesting, at times thought-provoking, historical account of the rise and rise of Crystal Meth, both as a market-traded commodity and the government's precarious hold on it's distribution and control. For those seeking a deeper understanding of this powerful illicit substance from the point-of-view of addiction and treatment, a self-help book this is not. For those looking for a thoughtful personal memoir on the ravages of addiction to crystal meth, one should look elsewhere. Personally, I don't think that book has definitively yet to be written. But as an always thoughtful and well-researched piece of journalism I think Mr. Owen has succeeded admirably. I learned much about the evolution of this drug going back to it's origins in the 19th century. The data is indeed fascinating, at times riveting. And Mr. Owen earned my trust as a man who does not flaunt any particular agendas or hard-core dogmas. That alone makes it a rarity as a valid piece of writing in what is admittedly a fledgling subject matter for current circumspection.

This book was very well written, but it gave way to many facts for anyone's brain to process. When I first read this book I thought that it was promoting the usage of crystal meth because it was explaining how good the feeling was while on the drug. But remember the book explains the highs and the lows of crystal meth. It goes through a series of different stories that explains peoples experiences while on the drug. It also tells you about ways these people tried to quit using the drug which is what caught my attention the most. People tried all types of things such as church and rehab ( the book explains that rehab was not a good source for trying to quit because it reminds you of the drug all the time). This book also explains how meth really came into production and where the drugs are being imported and exported to for example California, Mexico and Missouri were mentioned the most in this book. Groups such as the Hells Angels and drug lords in Mexico and Columbia formed deals with each other to keep the drug circulating around Mexico. This book also explains the hardship that children go through while their parents are cooking meth in their own homes. While reading this you will really feel bad for the children that have to be put in situations like this. Children had gotten taken away from their parents and at some points their parents didnt care as long as they had the drug with them at all time. Children have died and been contaminated due to constantly being around the drug.
I recommend this book for teenagers older than the age of seventeen and adults. This book has a small amount of bad bad language but it does have a lot of sexual references. Do not read this book if you plan on taking crystal meth because I can see people wanting to try it after reading the book. Toward the end of the book you will be relieved that its over because it goes into a lot of debt about meth. Overall its a good book.

No Speed Limit: The Highs and Lows of Meth gave an interesting insight into the world of meth cooks and users. I wasn't completely captivated by the book, but I did find it interesting. Each chapter focused on a different aspect of a meth users life or the society around the drug use. Owen begins the book by giving us a detailed account of his experience with the drug and then follows up with the origins of meth and how it developed over time. As he progresses into the book the stories become more personal to the chapters focus. It was interesting to see how meth spread across the United States and how all types of people from all different classes and societies used meth. At one time meth was considered a gay man's drug, which Owen discusses in one chapter, but he also shows how Susie home makers were also meth addicts. I was most interested in chapter eight, Sex and the City, which discussed how and why the gay community used meth, but I was most turned off by chapter nine, Mother's Little Helper, which discussed how children were affected by meth. This chapter told a few different stories of children living in meth labs and also discussed the work of a social worker who would remove children in meth homes on a regular basis. No Speed Limit is worth reading if you are into learning about the drug world and the stories of those that use.

This book shows alot of factual information on meth written in a great point of view. i am a recoving addict and i felt this depected the way of life well letting you form your own opinions of how you should feel about the information given. i really really enjoyed reading