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Commonly Known As: meth, speed, crystal, glass, crank, yaba,
road dope, ice, rosa, uppers. Methamphetamine is one of several types
of amphetamines, distinguishable by the method of manufacturing and
strength.
Access to Drug: Easily accessible at parties, raves, dances,
schools, nightclubs, and street dealers. It is easily processed in home
labs and distributed. Legal methamphetamines such as Desoxyn (for ADD)
and diet pills are also available through prescriptions and tend to
be easily abused due to the addictive nature of the drug.
Scientific Name: a-Dimethylbenzene-ethanamine; d-n-mathylamphetamine.
It is a synthetic stimulant in powder form, usually white or off-white
in color, odorless, and bitter tasting.
Interesting Facts: Illegal methamphetamine use grew out of the
speed craze of the 1960’s when amphetamines became a controlled
substance and difficult to buy legally. People discovered they could
illegally process meth in home labs from cold remedies with other chemicals.
It’s popularity declined with the surge of Cocaine but made a
comeback in the 1990’s because of the cheaper price than Cocaine
and the longer duration of effects. California is known for its meth
labs which have been in the news often, either due to explosions or
drug raids. Meth currently rates high on the list of commonly abused
drugs, due to its low price, increasing availability and current drug
fads. It is very popular with adolescents and older teenagers because
of its availability and cheap price. It is also remains popular with
men and women who suffer from eating/body image disorders. Meth cases
account for 80% of all domestic violence cases.
Methods of Use: Frequently snorted; used orally in pill, gel
capsules, or tab form, injected, or smoked. The DEA estimates that street
chemists have discovered over three hundred ways to manufacture methamphetamine,
making it difficult for users to know what they are actually buying.
Common Effects When Intoxicated: Increased heart rate, raised
body temperature, rapid respiration, extra energy, insomnia, agitation,
poor judgment, delusions of grandeur, and appetite suppression. With
heavy use, there is paranoia, auditory and visual hallucinations, aggressive
and erratic behavior, extreme weight loss, mood swings and picking at
the skin on the face and arms. Users believe they are achieving positive
qualities such as creativity, alertness, motivation, and the ability
to work long hours; however, the use quickly backfires, leading to depression,
paranoia and antisocial behavior.
Duration of Intoxication: Intoxication develops rapidly if injected
or smoked and in about 20 minutes if swallowed. The effects last from
4 to 8 hours with a lingering increase in energy for up to ten hours.
Meth abusers tend to go on binges and stay up for three to four days
at a time, or more, until the body crashes or they abuse other drugs
such alcohol, heroin or sedative-barbiturates to sleep. Cravings for
the drug are common about five days after a run.
Withdrawal: Because meth use heavily impacts the Serotonin neurotransmitters
in the brain, the brain chemistry is altered leading to depression and
cravings. This effect can take a week to years to rebalance. Other symptoms
include an inability to concentrate, sleep or disturbed sleep for up
to 48 hours, irritability, paranoia, extreme hunger and anxiety reactions.
Treatment with anti-depressants has been effective for compulsive meth
users in combination with counseling.
Effects of Long Term Use: Long term use can cause sleep deprivation,
heart and blood vessel toxicity and severe malnutrition. Users can also
experience strokes, develop heart arrhythmias, seizures, damage to nose
muceus/septum deviation, and bad or rotted teeth due to loss of calcium.
An amphetamine psychosis can develop that is similar to paranoid schizophrenia
and is manifested by hallucinations, bizarre and/or violent behavior,
and extreme depression. Because of the effects on the brain, some long
term users experience brain damage with untreatable depression or other
permanent psychological problems.
Abuse, Dependence, and Addiction: Typically, Meth is abused
by students cramming at school, truck drivers (although the industry
is more tightly regulated now), weight conscious individuals party goers,
and people who feel they can be more “creative” under the
influence of speed. A psychological dependence can develop and because
a tolerance level develops, more meth is needed to achieve the effects.
The addiction is psychological and related to cravings induced by altered
brain chemistry.
Associated Risks: Meth overdoses can occur leading to heart
attack, stroke, seizures and even death. Fatal traffic accidents or
accidents caused by users suffering from sleep deprivation can occur.
Prolonged use can lead to violent, suicidal and even homicidal thoughts.
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