Methamphetamine Addiction

Methamphetamine is a stimulant drug chemically related to amphetamine but with stronger effects on the central nervous system. It is a white, odorless, bitter-tasting crystal-like powder that easily dissolves in water or alcohol. Methamphetamines can be produced anywhere. Motel rooms, trailer parks, and suburban homes can all be turned into "meth" labs capable of producing substantial amounts of the drug. The technical know-how needed to produce methamphetamines can easily be found on the Internet. About the only thing that stands in the way of widespread production and distribution of methamphetamine is the limited availability of the chemicals required to make it. Ephedrine and hydriotic acid, two components of making meth, are tightly controlled in the United States. Yet the recent surge in methamphetamine use suggests that drug traffickers are finding ways around this.

Meth can either be snorted or injected, or in its crystal form 'ice' smoked in a pipe, and brings on a feeling of exhilaration and a sharper focus. Smoking meth results in an instantaneous dose of almost pure drug to the brain, giving a huge rush followed by a feeling of great happiness ranging from 2-16 hours and the effects of meth can last 6 to 8 hours. After the initial "rush," there is typically a state of high agitation that in some individuals can lead to violent behavior. At low doses, meth boosts alertness and blocks hunger and fatigue. At higher doses, meth causes exhilaration. At very high doses, the effects of meth can cause agitation, paranoia, and bizarre behavior. Anxiety, emotional swings, and paranoia are the most common psychological effects due to long use of meth. Symptoms increase with long-term use, and can involve paranoid delusions and hallucinations. Violence and self-destructive behavior are common. The side effects of meth include: paranoia, short term memory loss, wild rages and mood swings as well as damage to your immune system.

Methamphetamine addiction has three patterns: low intensity, binge, and high intensity. Low-intensity abuse describes a user who is not psychologically addicted to the drug but uses meth on a casual basis by swallowing or snorting it. Binge and high-intensity abusers are psychologically addicted to meth and prefer to smoke or inject meth to achieve faster and stronger high. Binge abusers use meth more than low-intensity abusers but less than high-intensity abusers. As far as we know, meth does not create a physical addiction in the user, although meth is extremely psychologically addictive. Meth withdrawal, length and severity of depression is related to how much and how often meth was used. Withdrawal symptoms including, cravings, exhaustion, depression, mental confusion, restlessness, insomnia, deep or disturbed sleep, and it may last up to 48 hours.

An overdose can happen at relatively low levels (50 milligrams of pure meth for a non-tolerant user). Metabolic rates vary from person to person, and the strength of the meth varies from batch to batch, so there is no way of stating a "safe" level of use. Methamphetamine addiction kills by causing heart failure, brain damage and stroke.

Thanks to the www.addictionca.com website for letting us use their information as a source.