Methamphetamine Addiction : A Serious Public Health Problem With Many Consequences And Complications

Methamphetamine is an extremely dangerous drug that is included in the same drug class as other drugs like Cocaine. It’s most common street names include; ice, glass, crank, and meth. Meth starts off as a stimulant, but turns into a drug that will destroy your body. Meth addiction is one of the hardest addictions to treat,

Methamphetamines (Meth) cause a wide array of problems with its users, a lot of which are permanent. Meth’s affects range from neurological issues, alertness, paranoia, and aggression. It also leads to psychological and physical disorders. Because Meth is a stimulant, it can cause the user to be up for days and even weeks at a time causing stress to the body and can result in over exerting oneself and inevitably something will give. Personal problems from users will be talked about, as well as scientific studies on the Meth epidemic.

Generally, a person will go through a cycle of predictable behavior after starting meth. Immediately after taking it the user will feel a rush which involves the most exhilarating feelings. Next, they experience the high which can last for several hours. The actual rush and high is what everyone is trying to achieve. In order to keep this high the user will often binge, meaning they will continue to take meth for hours. This binge can last for days. Eventually the user will experience “tweaking” which may cause the user to become violent or delusional. Finally the user will experience the crash. Since the addict has been using meth for several days they may have had little or no sleep and their bodies have become

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.

I chose Methamphetamines because of how fast the drug causes users to go downhill. When meth became the drug of choice in Arizona, within a couple months entire neighborhoods were garbage strewn, and the physical effects of the drug became apparent in anyone using. Friends disappeared off the radar, to be seen a month later, unemployed, paranoid, scabbed and thin. I would like to learn more about the history and long-term effects on the body from methamphetamines.

Methamphetamine takes the form of a white, odorless, bitter tasting 1, crystalline powder. Methamphetamine increases the amount of dopamine (involved in reward, pleasure, motor function,compulsion, and perseveration). The drug produces this effect because it has a similar molecular compound as dopamine. Methamphetamine is a powerful central nervous system stimulant. The drug works directly on the brain and spinal cord by interfering with normal neurotransmission. When taken repeatedly over time, methamphetamine can produce lasting damage in the

Methamphetamine takes the form of a white, odorless, bitter tasting1, crystalline powder. Methamphetamine increases the amount of dopamine (involved in reward, pleasure, motor function,compulsion, and perseveration). The drug produces this effect because it has a similar molecular compound as dopamine. Methamphetamine is a powerful central nervous system stimulant. The drug works directly on the brain and spinal cord by interfering with normal neurotransmission. When taken repeatedly over time, methamphetamine can produce lasting damage in the nerve cells located in the brain’s pleasure center, as well as nerve cells in other locations.

“Meth is a very strong drug that attacks the central nervous system stimulant.” “The drug works directly on the brain and spinal cord by interfering with normal neurotransmission (“HOW METH DESTROYS.” 1) Meth is also potent an easy to make only thing you need is a few boxes of cold and asthma medications containing ephedrine or pseudoephedrine, red phosphorous, hydrochloric acid, drain cleaner, battery acid, lye, lantern fuel, and antifreeze are among the ingredients most commonly used. Longtime meth abuse causes brain damage, various oral cancers and oral infections, as well as psychotic behavior, and various skin conditions; it also decreases nerve sensitivity.

Meth is an amphetamine and a central nervous system stimulant meaning it is an upper (Inaba & Cohen, 2014). It increases respiration, heart rate, motor activity, and alertness (Fisher & Harrison, 2013). This type of drug leads to euphoria feelings by stimulating the reward center

Crystal increases arousal in the central nervous system by pumping up levels of two neurotransmitters, norepinephrine and dopamine. At low doses, it boosts alertness and blocks hunger and fatigue. At higher doses, it causes exhilaration and euphoria. At very high doses, the drug can cause agitation, paranoia, and bizarre behavior. Physical effects include increased heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature. (Consumer Health Complete). Along with these effects crystal meth can cause dental problems, rotting of the teeth, or even sores on the skin.

Methamphetamine is a solid focal sensory system stimulant that is for the most part utilized as a recreational medication. Methamphetamine hydrochloride is endorsed by the United States Food and Drug Administration under the exchange name Desoxyn for consideration shortfall hyperactivity issue and heftiness in grown-ups and youngsters, and is at times recommended off name for narcolepsy and idiopathic hypersomnia. It is once in a while endorsed because of concerns including human neurotoxicity and its high potential for recreational use, among different concerns, and the accessibility of more secure substitute medications with practically identical treatment viability.

“The only way anyone ever quits an addiction is that they come to a place where the desire to be free exceeds the desire to use” (“Anonymous”). Methamphetamine is not a new drug. In 1887, Germany first made amphetamine. Later on in 1919, Japan developed meth. When they discovered that the powder was soluble in water and then could be used for injection, it became popular in World War II to keep soldiers awake. Kamikaze pilots on their suicide mission were given high doses. Later on in the 1950’s meth was used to fight depression and prescribed as a diet aid. In the 1960’s, the availability of meth increased making methamphetamine abuse worse. Crystal meth was made illegal in the United States in 1970 . By 2012, 1.2 million people said they had used the drug in the last year, and 440,000 said they had used it in the last month. Meth is a growing problem in America today (“History of Meth”). Every addiction has its own beginning, rational, and indicators. Each addiction presents itself with its own dangers and effects, and while there are different treatments available, help can only be given when addicts choose to help themselves.

The use of amphetamines dates back to World War II when Adolf Hitler would dose his soldiers with the drug in order to keep them going all day and night with little need for nourishment or hydration. It is the reason the Nazi’s were able to take over Europe at an unbelievable rate of speed. Hitler himself would get injected with amphetamines up to 5 times a day. It is believed that his mad rants were due to his drug addiction. Japanese soldiers also used amphetamines during the Japanese war. Perhaps the reason for its appeal to soldiers in times of war were the stimulant effects to the sympathetic nervous system to increase alertness and decrease fatigue. It stimulates the adrenal gland to increase spontaneity, initiative, confidence,

The medical use of amphetamines was common in the 1950/60's when they were used to help cure depression and to help the user lose weight. An amphetamine is a drug that is a stimulant to the central nervous system. Amphetamines are colorless and may be inhaled, injected, or swallowed. Amphetamines are also used non-medically to avoid sleep, improve athletic performance, or to counter the effects of depressant drugs. Amphetamines are addictive. Because of this, when the user discontinues use or reduces the amount that they use, withdrawal symptoms may occur. Some withdrawal symptoms are as follows: severe exhaustion, deep sleep lasting from 24 to 48 hours, psychotic reaction, extreme hunger, deep depression, anxiety reactions, and long but

Meth addiction has a been a huge problem in many countries since the early 1900s. The Meth Epidemic a video made in 2006 talks about the number of people who deal with this problem every year and the effects it has on their families. There are many ways people have been using to obtain meth and if they cannot get it from somewhere they start making it in their own kitchens. The meth addiction problem has been mostly found in people in their 20s to 50s. Many students start using meth to be able to focus more in school and get good grades but then they get addicted to it and its hard for them to quit.