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METHAMPHETAMINE

Facts

• Methamphetamine (Meth) is a stimulate.
• Meth has a high potential of abuse and addiction due to the increase of dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin in the brain.
• Meth is responsible for approximately 9% of all admissions to treatment facilities (TEDS Data – 2007).
• 83 % of the admissions were between the ages of 20-44 yrs of age.(TEDS Data – 2007) 


​Appearance

Meth comes in various forms

• Regular meth is a pill or powder.

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• Crystal meth resembles glass fragments or shiny blue-white “rocks” of various sizes. 

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• Another name for Meth is Crank. Crank comes in various colors. 
  

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​How Methamphetamine is Used/Abused

• Usually snorted, swallowed, injected, or smoked in a glass pipe.
• As tolerance builds toward the drug, the users must intake more or change the methods of intake and frequency.
• On their high, meth users will consume the drug to stay up for days at a time. During this time they usually will not eat for fear of losing their high; this leads to paranoia, depression, and aggression in the user

The Effects of Methamphetamine

Meth is a highly addictive drug with potent central nervous system stimulant properties. The user will experience a rush or intense sensation when the drug is used.

The Brain

• ​The rush is a result from the release of high levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine into sections of the brain the regulate feelings of pleasure.
• Researchers have reported that as much as 50% of the dopamine-producing cells in the brain can be damaged after prolonged exposure to relatively low levels of meth.
• Serotonin-containing nerve cell may be damaged even more extensively with prolonged use. 

​Meth high side effects

• Paranoia
• Anxiety
• Confusion
• Insomnia
• Aggression
• Delusions
• Loss of appetite 
• ​Mood disturbances
• Suicidal thoughts
• Visual and auditory hallucinations

Normal brain

Frequent meth user

Effect on body

• Increase in blood pressure.
• Rapid breathing and heart rate.
• Irregular heartbeat.
• Hyperthermia (overheating)
• Anorexia
• Memory Loss
• Severe dental problems
• Chest Pain 

This is a case of “meth mouth”.

 High doses can elevate body temperature to dangerous, sometimes lethal, levels as well as cause convulsions and even cardiovascular collapse and death.

Addictive Potential

Long-term methamphetamine abuse can also lead to addiction—a chronic, relapsing disease, characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use, and accompanied by chemical and molecular changes in the brain. Some of these changes persist long after methamphetamine abuse is stopped, and some reverse after sustained periods of abstinence (e.g., 2 years).

​​Signs & Symptoms of Use

• ​Acne
• Sores
• Numbness
• Sweating

• Pupil dilation
• Respiratory disorders
• Impaired speech

• Dizziness
• Tooth grinding
• Loss of appetite
• Dry or itchy skin

Common Slang Terms

• Batu
• Bikers Coffee
• Black Beauties
• Chalk
• Chicken Feed
• Crank
• Crystal
• Glass
• Go-fast

• Hiropon
• Ice
• Meth
• Methilies Quick
• Poor Man’s Cocaine 
• Shabu 
• Shards 
• Speed 

• Stove Top 
• Tina 
• Trash
• Tweak
• Uppers 
• Ventana 
• Vidrio 
• Yaba 
• Yellow Barn 

Paraphernalia

Meth Pipe 

Spoon used to inject Meth

Razor blade used to cut up meth to snort 

​Foil used to smoke meth 

​Various Methamphetamine Paraphernalia

​Light bulb used to smoke meth 

Syringe