Drug Information - Methamphetamine Addiction

Methamphetamine Addiction

Methamphetamine powerfully addictive drug known as methamphetamine which has a super stimulant affect has a significant affect on the central nervous system. Using relatively inexpensive over-the-counter ingredients methamphetamine is made in clandestine and extremely dangerous laboratories. Methamphetamine is a drug with a high potential for widespread abuse and seriously addictive properties. "Speed," "meth," and "chalk" are some common street names for methamphetamine. "Ice," "crystal," "crank," and "glass" refers to the form that is smoked but that can also be crushed and snorted or injected. Methamphetamine is easily dissolvable in water or alcohol and is a white or off-white colored, sometimes odorless, and bitter-tasting crystalline powder. From its parent drug, "amphetamine" methamphetamine developed early in this century and was originally used as nasal decongestants and bronchial inhalers. It's chemical structure is closely related to amphetamine, however: methamphetamine has a more pronounced and dangerous affect on the central nervous system. As with amphetamine use, it causes an increase in energy, a decrease in appetite, and produces an overwhelming feeling of well being. After the "rush" the effects can last 6 to 8 hours. In some individuals after the initial "rush" there may result a state of high agitation that can lead to violent behavior and the inability to complete simple cycles of action. Classified as a Schedule II stimulant, methamphetamine creates a high potential for abuse. Methamphetamine abuse has a long reported history of being a significant drug threat in the San Diego area. Methamphetamine use is spreading across the United States like wild fire and rural and urban areas of the South and Midwest are becoming hot spots for production, transportation and distribution of the drug. Past information reports methamphetamine was traditionally used by white, male, blue-collar workers. Now, at present time a more diverse group that fluctuates with time, different geographic areas and age range is appearing. A 237 percent increase between 1990 and 1994 hospital Emergency Department drug related episodes involving methamphetamine were reported in 21 metropolitan areas. In the first half of 1996 there was a significant increase of 71 percent related to these incidents. According to the June 1997 publication by the NIDA's Community Epidemiology Work Group (CEWG) methamphetamine continues to be a problem in Hawaii. This is also true of major Western cities such as San Francisco, Denver and Los Angeles. Prompting concern about widespread use are reports of increased availability and production in diverse areas of the country and particularly in rural areas.20)

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