Methamphetamines
Methamphetamines are a very powerful central nervous system stimulant with an extremely high potential for addiction. While some amphetamines can be prescribed (very rarely) by a physician, methamphetamine has never been a prescription drug. Unlike other naturally occurring stimulants like caffeine, nicotine and cocaine, all amphetamines are synthetic substances. Methamphetamine is white, odorless, bitter-tasting crystalline powder. Common street names are meth, speed, crystal, and crank.
Methods of Abuse
Methamphetamine comes in many forms and can be smoked, snorted, injected, or orally ingested. The preferred method of methamphetamine abuse varies by geographical region and has changed over time. Smoking methamphetamine, which leads to very fast uptake of the drug in the brain, has become more common in recent years, amplifying methamphetamine's addiction potential and adverse health consequences.
Methamphetamine’s Effects on the Body
The drug alters the users mood in different ways, depending on how it is taken. Immediately after smoking the drug or injecting it intravenously, the user experiences an intense rush or "flash" that lasts only a few minutes and is described as extremely pleasurable. Snorting or oral ingestion produces euphoria - a high but not an intense rush. Snorting produces effects within 3 to 5 minutes, and oral ingestion produces effects within 15 to 20 minutes.
As with similar stimulants, methamphetamine most often is used in a "binge and crash" pattern. Because the pleasurable effects of methamphetamine disappear even before the drug concentration in the blood falls significantly, users try to maintain the high by taking more of the drug. In some cases, abusers indulge in a form of binging known as a "run," foregoing food and sleep while continuing abuse for up to several days.
Signs and Symptoms of Methamphetamine Use
Meth stimulates the central nervous system, leading to increased wakefulness, alertness, arousal, activity, talkativeness, restlessness, pleasure, and reduces appetite. Larger doses can produce irritability, aggressiveness, suspiciousness, anxiety, excitement, auditory hallucination, and paranoid fears. Physically, they dilate the pupils, increase sweating, quicken breathing, raise blood pressure and produce tremors of the hands. Methamphetamines have extremely high potential for psychological dependency and tolerance develops very quickly.
Dangers of Methamphetamine Use
Because of the drug’s extremely addictive qualities, it is dangerous even to use once. The user can quickly become addicted to the drug and, because of the fast rise of a tolerance, the user will soon be using large quantities of methamphetamines. Overdose can rapidly be achieved, with marked impairment of judgment, greatly increased suspiciousness, aggressive behavior and serious interruption of normal patters of eating and sleeping. Long-term effects can include memory loss, psychotic behavior, respiratory problems, extreme anorexia, brain damage, stroke, heart damage and death. Over time, methamphetamine users can develop symptoms similar to Parkinson’s disease, a severe movement disorder. Because the body requires calcium to detoxify amphetamines, many users develop trouble with teeth, gums, fingernails, and dry lifeless hair.
Methamphetamine Withdrawal
Common symptoms of methamphetamine withdrawal are depression (with possible suicide potential), excessive need for sleep, fatigue, increased appetite, and a strong craving of the drug. Alone, methamphetamine withdrawal is not life threatening but the severe depression and possible suicidal ideation can warrant the need for detoxification in a hospital or detox center.
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Methamphetamine Addiction, Methamphetamine Effects
