Methamphetamine

Methamphetamine  is commonly known as Crystal Meth, Meth, and Speed. It is a neurotoxin and potent psychostimulant that is used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and obesity. It exists as both dextromethamphetamine and levomethamphetamine. Dextromethamphetamine is a stronger central nervous stimulant than levomethamphetamine; however, both are highly addictive and produce the same toxicity symptoms at high doses. Although rarely prescribed due to the risks, methamphetamine hydrochloride is approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration, under the trade name Desoxyn. The picture below represents the mathamphetamine molecule.

Recreationally, meth is used to:
 * Increase sexual desire
 * Lift the mood
 * Increase energy

Which allow users to engage in sexual activity continuously for several days straight.

In low doses, methamphetamine can cause:
 * Elevated mood
 * Increased alertness
 * Concentration
 * Energy in fatigued individuals

In higher doses it can induce:
 * Psychosis
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Rhabdomyolysis
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Cerebral hemorrhage

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Methamphetamine is known for its high potential for addiction and abuse. It is also more likely to take user who quit for a ride with its often occurring post-withdrawal <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">syndrome.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Post-withdrawal Syndrome is a syndrome that can persist for months beyond the typical withdrawal period. Unlike cocaine, methamphetamine is neurotoxic to humans, which roughly translates to chemically induced permanent brain alterations, as well as damages to your central nervous system by inducing damage to both dopamine and serotonin neurons.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Get comfy because the list of side effects will take at least 3 minutes to read fully:

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">Physical

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">The physical side effects of methamphetamine can include:
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Anorexia
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Hyperactivity
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Dilated pupils
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Flushed skin
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Excessive sweating
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Increased movement
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Dry mouth and bruxism (leading to meth mouth)
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Headache
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Irregular heartbeat
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Rapid breathing
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">High or low blood pressure
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">High body temperature
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Diarrhea
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Constipation
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Blurred vision
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Dizziness
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Twitching
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Numbness
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Tremors
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Dry skin
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Acne
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Pallor

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">Meth Mouth

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Methamphetamine users and addicts may lose their teeth abnormally quickly, regardless of the route of administration, from a condition known as meth mouth. The condition is generally more severe in users who inject the drug, rather than those who smoke, ingest or inhale it.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">Psychological

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">The psychological effects of methamphetamine can induce:
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Euphoria
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Dysphoria
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Changes in libido
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Alertness
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Apprehension
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Concentration
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Decreased sense of fatigue
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Insomnia
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Self-confidence
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Sociability
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Irritability
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Restlessness
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Grandiosity
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Repetitive and obsessive behaviors
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Anxiety
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Depression
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Psychosis
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Suicide
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Violent behaviors
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">High rate of addiction

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">Neurotoxicity

<span style="font-family: Arial Black,Gadget,sans-serif;">Methamphetamine is directly neurotoxic to dopamine neurons. Moreover, methamphetamine abuse is associated with an increased risk of Parkinson's disease. Similar to the neurotoxic effect on the dopamine system, methamphetamine can also result in neurotoxicity to serotonin neurons. It has been demonstrated that a high core temperature is correlated with an increase in the neurotoxic effects of methamphetamine. As a result of the effect to dopamine neurons, chronic use may lead to post acute withdrawal which persist beyond the withdrawal period for months, even up to a year.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">Dependence, Addiction and Withdrawal

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Tolerance is expected to develop with regular methamphetamine use, and when abused, this tolerance develops rapidly. <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">In highly dependant amphetamine and methamphetamine abusers, "when chronic heavy users abruptly discontinue [methamphetamine] use, many report a time-limited withdrawal syndrome that occurs within 24 hours of their last dose."

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">There is an 87.6% rate of users who suffer from withdrawal. Withdrawal persists for three to four weeks with a marked "crash" phase during the first week.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">Withdrawal symptoms can include:
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Anxiety
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Drug craving
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Dysphoric mood
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Fatigue
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Increased appetite
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Increased movement
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; line-height: 1.5;">Decreased movement
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Lack of motivation
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Sleeplessness
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Sleepiness
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Vivid dreams
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Lucid dreams

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">The severity of the withdrawal symptoms are correlated to the tolerance and dependence of the user.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">Overdose

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">An overdose on methamphetamine intoxication may result in many symptoms. A moderate overdose of methamphetamine may induce symptoms such as:
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Abnormal heart rhythm
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Confusion
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Dysuria
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">High or low blood pressure
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Hyperthermia
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Hyperreflexia
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Myalgia
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Severe agitation
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Tremor
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Urinary hesitancy
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Urinary retention

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">A methamphetamine overdose will likely also result in mild brain damage, due to the dopaminergic and serotonergic neurotoxicity

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">Death from fatal methamphetamine poisoning is typically preceded by convulsions and coma.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">References

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/49/Methamphetamine3Dan.gif http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methamphetamine http://www.jcsd.org/Meth%20Symptoms.htm

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