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Crystal Meth -
Methamphetamine
Methamphetamine, or crystal meth, is a central nervous system stimulant with a
high potential addiction, abuse and dependence.
What is the scope of
methamphetamine abuse in the US? Methamphetamine abuse, long reported as the
dominant drug problem in the San Diego, CA, area, has become a substantial drug
problem in other sections of the West and Southwest.
STREET NAMES:
Speed, Crank, Crystal, Meth, Uppers, Bennies, Whiz, Billy, Tweak, Bitch are a
few of the common names for this class of drugs.
Other Forms:
Pharmaceutical drugs that are also amphetamines are Dexedrine, Desoxyn, Ritalin
and Cylert.
Methamphetamine, a potent stimulant of the amphetamine
class of drugs, is usually illicitly manufactured and sold in powder, liquid,
or tablet form. Normally mixed with various cutting agents (the purity varies),
methamphetamine is the commonly abused member of the amphetamine class, which
includes Benzedrine, biphetamine and Dexedrine. These drugs have limited but
legitimate medical uses for hyperactive children, severe obesity, narcolepsy,
and depression; they are consumed by oral ingestion, sniffing or injection. (2)
Many regular users inject methamphetamine every four to five hours. A
first-time user can remain high for up to twenty-four hours. On a "run," users
may inject every hour or so until they finally stop, or "crash," due to
exhaustion. After sleeping for eighteen to forty-eight hours, the user will
awaken depressed, hungry, and then craving methamphetamine will begin another
"speed-run."
Habitual users will inject about 0.25 grams (¼
teaspoon) to 0.5 grams at a time; users on a binge have been known to inject as
much as 1,000 milligrams every two to three hours. When the drug is injected, a
"rush" or "flash" of intense euphoria occurs within seconds and lasts from four
to eight hours. When the drug is consumed orally, the effects will occur in
twenty to thirty minutes but there may be no rush or euphoria as with
injection. Snorting produces similar effects, but they are not as intense. Low
doses of methamphetamine stimulate the central nervous system, resulting in
increased blood pressure, respiration and pulse rate. Short-term use affects
one's ability to drive a car, do complex mental tasks, or perform precise
muscle functions; high doses depress the central nervous system and may cause
sedation.
Although only a blood or urine test can give a definite
diagnosis of methamphetamine use, however use can be suspected if a person has
such symptoms as enlarged pupils or a pupils that react slowly to light
challenges; acne or chapped lips; needle marks on the arms; an underweight or
undernourished appearance; hyperactivity (the person walks or talks too fast);
violent, argumentative, unpredictable tendencies; an inability to concentrate,
reason, or remember; insomnia; paranoid or delusional behavior; or sores on the
face, arms, or legs (caused by excessive scratching). Because of the
aforementioned effects, the person on methamphetamine is often violent and is
probably one of the most dangerous drug users in society.
Chronic use
produces many physical, mental, and social complications, including sinusitis,
bronchitis, and respiratory ailments; nasal ulcers and/or perforation of the
nasal septum; paranoia; mental confusion and forgetfulness; severe depression
and lack of energy between doses; addiction or dependence; loss of interest and
motivation in work or school; chemical changes in the brain; a distorted sense
of time (the person is frequently late or forgets appointments); violence or
fights; family and interpersonal difficulties; switches to heroin or alcohol;
and frequent accidents. Alcohol and other drugs multiply the influence of
methamphetamine and its relatives, and such combinations of drugs commonly
cause accidents.
It's not unusual to become addicted to
methamphetamine. Withdrawal from it stimulates several symptoms, including
severe depression, lack of energy, sleep disorders, tremor, muscle aches,
nausea, and an intense craving for methamphetamine; these symptoms are mainly
resolved after about three weeks. The methamphetamine user who consumes the
drug less often than once a day is probably not addicted. To cease entirely,
this infrequent user usually needs to solve personal problems related to
stress, peers, family, interpersonal relations, motivation, self-esteem, or
life-style. Persons who use methamphetamine several times a day, however, may
require rehabilitation to terminate use of the drug.
Research shows
that the vast majority of persons who cannot stop consuming methamphetamine
have altered the chemistry in their nervous systems to the point where their
bodies crave the substance. The major problem is that methamphetamine drives
out the neurotransmitters dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin; when this
happens and methamphetamine isn't taken, withdrawal symptoms set in.
Below is the description used in classification of Amphetamine Addiction used
in the DSM-IV (3) Amphetamine Dependence
The patterns of use and
course of Amphetamine Dependence are similar to those of Cocaine Dependence
because both substances are potent central nervous system stimulants with
similar psychoactive and sympathomimetic effects. However, amphetamines are
longer acting than cocaine and thus are usually self-administered less
frequently. As with Cocaine Dependence, usage may be chronic or episodic, with
binges ("speed runs") punctuated by brief drug-free periods. Aggressive or
violent behavior is associated with Amphetamine Dependence, especially when
high doses are smoked (e.g., ice') or administered intravenously. As with
cocaine, intense but temporary anxiety, as well as paranoid ideation and
psychotic episodes that resemble Schizophrenia, Paranoid Type, are often seen,
especially in association with high-dose use. Tolerance to amphetamines
develops and often leads to substantial escalation of the dose. Conversely,
some individuals with Amphetamine Dependence develop reverse tolerance
(sensitization). In these cases, small doses may produce marked stimulant and
other adverse mental and neurological effects. |
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