LifeBodySoul

METHAMPHETAMINE

What is it?

Methamphetamine is an extremely addictive stimulant drug and is chemically similar to the prescription drug Amphetamine which is used to treat the effects of attention deficient hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). More well known names for Methamphetamine are crystal meth, crystal, chalk and ice.

Methamphetamine occurs in a white, odorless, bitter tasting crystalline power. It take be abused in many forms such as orally, smoked, snorted, dissolved in water or alcohol and injected. The effects on the body occur the fastest when smoking or injecting the drug where it quickly  produces a false feeling of exhilaration; however the pleasure fades quickly and users often take several doses resulting in a very fatal ‘binge and crash’ pattern.

 

Short and long term effects

Short term effects

• Loss of appetite

• Increased heart rate

• Increased blood pressure

• Increased body temperature

• Dilation of pupils

• Disturbed sleep patterns

• Nausea

• Bizarre, erratic, often violent behavior

• Hallucinations

• Hyper excitability

• Irritability

• Panic and psychosis

• Convulsions

• Seizures

• Death form high doses

Long term effects

• Permanent damage to blood vessels of the heart and brain

• High blood pressure which lead to heart attacks, strokes and ultimately death

• Liver damage

• Kidney damage

• Lung damage

• Destruction of tissue in nose (if snorted)

• Respiratory problems (if smoked)

• Infectious diseases (if injected)

• Malnutrition

• Weight loss

• Severe tooth decay

• Disorientation

• Confusion

• Exhaustion

• Strong psychological dependence on the drug

• Psychosis

• Depression

• Damage to the brain similar to Alzheimer’s disease, strokes and epilepsy