Description
Methamphetamine is a highly addictive and illegal psychostimulant drug that is similar to amphetamine. It is used for its powerful euphoric effects, which are similar to those of cocaine.
It increases the levels of naturally occurring dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain.
The effect lasts longer than with cocaine, it is cheaper, and it is easy to make with commonly available ingredients.
Street names for this drug include chalk, crank, ice, crystal, meth, and speed.
Discovered in the late 19th century, amphetamine was first used as a nasal decongestant and a respiratory stimulator.
During World War 2, methamphetamine — similar in structure to amphetamine — was used to keep military personnel alert and to improve endurance and mood.
In time, it became clear that methamphetamine was dangerously addictive. In the 1970s, the drug was added to the Schedule II list of controlled substances. Methamphetamine is illegal except when it is prescribed by a physician for a very limited number of medical conditions.
Methamphetamine is easy to produce and it is a potent drug, so it remains a serious drug of abuse. Long-term use is associated with devastating effects on the user and society.
Fast facts on methamphetamine
Here are some key points about methamphetamine.
- Methamphetamine is neurotoxic and can damage dopamine and serotonin neurons in the brain.
- Most methamphetamine is made illegally, and it may contain caffeine, talc, and other toxic substances.
- Its use is linked to higher frequencies of unprotected sexual intercourse and violent behavior.
- Studies suggest that it may lead to structural and functional changes in the brain associated with emotion and memory and that some of these may be irreversible.
- Toxicity increases when used with alcohol, cocaine or opiates.
Methamphetamine is a white, odorless, bitter-tasting crystalline powder that easily dissolves in water or alcohol.
Amphetamine is prescribed to treat some medical conditions, including:
- obesity
- ADHD
- narcolepsy as (off-label)
Methamphetamine, a drug with a similar substance, is used illegally for its pleasurable effects. Misuse can be hazardous and even deadly.
Illegal forms of the drug can be smoked, snorted, injected, or ingested orally.
Smoking or injecting methamphetamine causes an immediate, intense “rush” or bliss that lasts for a few minutes.
Snorting does not produce the intense rush, but a euphoric high within 3 to 5 minutes of ingestion. The oral effects can be felt within 20 minutes.
Depending on how the drug is ingested, the effects can last for 6 to 24 hours.
Effects
People take methamphetamine for its pleasurable effects.
These include:
- increased attention
- higher levels of activity and talkativeness
- decreased appetite
- reduced fatigue
- a feeling of power and self-control
- a pleasurable sense of well-being or euphoria
There may also be:
- faster breathing
- a fast or irregular heartbeat
- higher blood pressure
- raised body temperature
How it works
The pleasurable effects of methamphetamine happen when the body releases very high levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine. This is the brain chemical involved in motivation, pleasure, and motor function.
As with many stimulants, methamphetamine is most often abused in a “binge and crash” pattern. Users try to maintain the high by taking more of the drug before the first dose wears off.
The drug acts on parts of the brain involved in reward, and this makes taking another dose tempting.
Some people binge for several days, avoiding food and sleep while continually using the drug until it is finished.
However, these high levels of dopamine are also thought to help make the drug more toxic to nerve terminals in the brain.
Methamphetamine is different from and more dangerous than other stimulants because a larger percentage of the drug remains unchanged in the body. This allows the drug to be present in the brain longer, extending the stimulant effects.
When amphetamine is prescribed legally, doses normally range from 2.5 to 10 mg daily, to a maximum of 60 mg a day.
Since illegal drugs are not regulated, there is no way to know how much methamphetamine is in each illicit dose.
A high body temperature, heart attack, and seizures can occur with overdose. If not treated immediately, an overdose can result in organ failure and death.
People use methamphetamine because they enjoy the effects. However, it can have some dangerous side effects.
These include:
- increased distractibility
- nausea
- dry mouth and bad breath
- dilated pupils
- tremors
- muscle twitching
- memory loss
- aggressive or violent behavior
- mood disturbances
- severe dental problems
- weight loss
- skin sores from intense itching
- rapid or irregular heart rate
- increased blood pressure
- Long-term methamphetamine use can lead to:
- feelings of aggressiveness and anxiety
- confusion
- insomnia
The following symptoms of methamphetamine psychosis are also possible:
- paranoia
- aggression
- visual and auditory hallucinations
- mood disturbances
- delusions, such as the sensation of insects creeping on or under the skin
Paranoia can result in thoughts of homicide or suicide.
Researchers have reported that up to 50 percent of the dopamine-producing cells in the brain can be damaged after prolonged exposure to relatively low levels of methamphetamine.
Psychotic symptoms can last for months or years after discontinuing methamphetamine use. They can spontaneously recur.
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