Final Project EN3220 Essay

“Meth, not even once” is a popular phrase that is associated with this drug. This drug has many known horrible effects associated with it, plus many effects more I am sure are going to be discovered over time. I am intending to cover the history, effects, the different categories of meth abuse, and the withdrawal effects of Methamphetamine in this paper, and what to do if you suspect someone you know is using meth.

Meth, also known as methamphetamine, is a man made drug with some nasty effects that change your body physically and chemically. Physical change is the change in shape, size, and color, it affects the structure of the substances, not the substance itself. A chemical change is changing the substance, this creates new substances and is irreversible. Chopping wood is a physical change as it’s still wood, just in a different shape, burning it on the other hand is chemical change, you can’t un-burn wood, this also creates new substances like ash and carbon. The article “The Horrors of Meth Use” talks about the effects meth has on your body, it shows and tells you what happens when someone is on meth. Meth affects you physically and chemically, again, these things are not the same, there are differences between the two, these changed may seem like they’re chemical but may be physical and vice versa.

The abuse of methamphetamine is a very serious problem in the United States. According to one national survey, approximately 10 million people in the United States have tried methamphetamine at least once (Meth Abuse and Addiction, 2010). Methamphetamine is a highly addictive stimulant that affects the central nervous system. Although most of the methamphetamine used in this country comes from foreign or domestic super labs, the drug is also easily made in small clandestine laboratories, with inexpensive over the counter ingredients. Methamphetamine is commonly known as “speed,” “meth,” and “chalk.” In its smoked form it is often referred to as “ice,” “crystal,” “crank,” and “glass.” It is a

Methamphetamines affect the human body in a physical and neurological and psychological way. The use of meth can lead to devastating effects to the nervous system for example leaving the user with nervous ticks and body jerks similar to a person suffering from Parkinson’s disease. On a physical level, the user may show skin sores and tooth decay. Last but the not least, the user may develop psychosis including hallucinations and paranoia.

Methamphetamine abusers are teens reported from age 12 to adults; when teens start abusing drugs, they do it out of peer-pressure, trying to “fit in” in high school; they don’t want to be consider the outcast or the loner. I did research a story of a young lady who did struggle with addiction, who had overcome her addiction and bettered her life from the mistake of letting meth control part of her youth. In result of trying to fit in, they follow the path of drugs, partying, misbehaving rather than creating their own path. Carren Clem, a young woman who grew up in rural Montana, never believed she would become a drug addict. In sixth grade, she started having social problems; she was teased and excluded by the other kids, especially girls. Determined to make friends, she jumped at the opportunity to skip school with an older girl and go to a party at her friend’s house. Unfortunately, the friend was an older boy who gave them beer and ended up raping Carren. To deal with the shame and report the crime, she started drinking, skipping school and hanging out with “bad” kids. The next year she took a job, she partied with her coworkers. One day one of them offered her a “pick-me-up” because she was tired. As a result the “pick-me-up” was methamphetamine. She smoked all weekend long; the high was so intense it was unbelievable; she was hooked right away. With the addicting effect of meth, she was constantly trying to get more and more that it resulted with her arguing with her parents and moving out of their home. She was doing anything to get meth, stealing car stereos, having sex, whatever to get the drug. When she final hit rock bottom, she wanted to commit suicide. Her “friends” tried to help her by giving her high doses of drugs and alcohol, but she didn’t die. She knew in that moment that she needed help; so she called her youth pastor who then called her

Maxwell, J. C. 2014. A New Survey of Methamphetamine Users in Treatment: Who They Are, Why They Like ‘Meth’, and Why They Need Additional Services. Substance Use & Misuse, 49(6), 639-644. doi:10.3109/10826084.2013.841244

In 1887, amphetamines were first produced in Germany and largely forgotten for forty years. In 1919, methamphetamine, a synthetic stimulant was developed by Japanese pharmacologist, A. Ogata. The drug helped with alertness and well-being. In the 1930 's, methamphetamines were widely used to treat bronchial diseases and narcolepsy. The American Medical Association approved a tablet form in 1935 for ADHD. During WWII, German and Japanese pilots used methamphetamines to stay awake during long flights, while the U.S and U.K used amphetamines. After the war, Japan saw an epidemic of methamphetamine abuse. The drug was still being used legally into the 1950 's and 1960 's by everyone from homemakers to truck drivers for alertness and weight loss. In 1970 methamphetamines became regulated in the Controlled Substances Act and a public education campaign was mounted to educate people about the dangers of the drug. Starting in the 1980 's and into the 1990 's the drug became extremely popular in the southwest,

Personally I do not know why anyone would want to feel that way constantly. The rush or high feeling from an adrenal rush sometimes is ok but in my opinion to feel that way continually would make it hard for me to function daily. Also looking at all the health conditions and even death from using meth make it hard for me to understand. I understand people become addicted to things but it’s really sad that these people who are addicted to meth didn’t have anyone in their lives that tried to help them early and didn’t give up on them. I also wonder how much peer pressure is involved with the epidemic of meth use. Knowing the psychologically, medically, and social consequences of using the drug baffles me. Numerous government websites as well as the video from Frontline made it very clear the effects of using meth. How it effects more than you, it effects your family and community. It has been shown to increase crime in a community, unemployment, child neglect and abuse. (National Institute on Drug Abuse). Meth abuse can be prevented and addiction to the drug can be treated. People can recover over time if they have effective treatment. ( Methamphetamine Abuse Research Center) Knowing that meth usage effects the human organs at so many levels, including the brain, would certainly lead me to belief that some type of counseling early on would perhaps prevent some addictions including meth. I feel

Eventually, meth ruins the lives of its users and often even leads them to their

The Article discusses how the meth rampage in America, has essentially destroyed people, and their communites. This drug started on the west coast but eventually spread to the east. Meth is easily, and cheaply made. Yet has permanent effects, and destroys lives, and town. The toxic ingredients in meth lead to server tooth decay known as meth mouth. The teeth become black, stained, and rotting. The teeth and gums are destroyed form the inside, and the roots rot away. It also causes open sores, weight loss, and will make you look twenty years older than you really are. One puff will keep you up for 24 hours. Methamphetamine is a manmade chemicals, battery acid, drain cleaners, and anti-freeze., as well as amphetamines, which is from cold medicine.

In Portland there number one cause of crime is meth. As seen on the film an inmate expressed how when high on meth you feel like you're in a different entity. The inmate also stated that meth makes you believe in your own psychoses. Also a police officer followed up with how pictures of meth users alone told a devastating story. Excessively damaged meth users looked like the living dead, without life. Later on in the film they had an interview with a meth rehab patient and he stated that meth made your endurance go of the charts. Makes you feel stronger and focused, and can make users: hyper, paranoid, delusional, and violent. During world war two the Japanese used meth to complete their tasks due to the lack of food and sleep, not only Japanese used them but some Americans did too. Over sixty percent of meth users live in Asia. For example in Thailand, as said in the film, some cultures influence meth; Not only that but they don't even call meth by its name they call it ya ba. There was an interview with a guy in Thai and he stated that without ya ba they feel weak and tired. When he is high off ya ba he can do so much for about two

Both methamphetamine and dextromethamphetamine are illegally trafficked and sold inferable from their potential for recreational use as a Spanish fly and euphoriant. The most noteworthy commonness of unlawful methamphetamine use happens in parts of Asia, Oceania, and in the United States, where racemic methamphetamine, levomethamphetamine, and dextromethamphetamine are delegated plan II

Staff members at hospitals and jails reported drastic physical changes in short periods of time when they encountered people who were addicted to meth. Steve Suo, reporter for the Oregonian said, “It’s huge, it affects not merely the users but it’s the leading cause of property crime. It’s the leading reason why children are removed from their homes and sent into foster care. It’s very hard to go to any part of Oregon and not experience the effects of methamphetamine on ordinary people.” Steve is referring to the fact that this epidemic causes harm to the entire community and not only to the individuals who abuse the

Methamphetamine, or more commonly referred to as meth, is a popular recreational drug within the borders of the United States, but where is the origin of the narcotic? Methamphetamine was first synthesized from Amphetamine in Germany in 1887 by a Romanian chemist named Lazar Edeleanu. Later in 1893, it was also synthesized from ephedrine in Japan making it more accessible. At this time, Meth was not very popular as its primary use was in a chemist’s lab, but this changed decades later in the midst of the second World War. The axis powers, more specifically the Third Reich, used the amphetamine to their advantage in the form of a tablet known as Pervitin. This helped the Nazi troops stay more awake and alert. Pervitin was most commonly used by pilots of the common German Luftwaffe.

With meth in your system your thought process is distraught and makes rational thinking impossible. Because of this you’re unable to think, act, and present yourself as a follower of Christ. The body is a temple for the lord, so by pumping it full of drugs you’re doing nothing but disgracing the lord and yourself.