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Crystal Meth was first synthesized in Japan in the 19th century and there is evidence that Hitler was a crystal meth addict using crystal meth IV daily.
Crystal Meth Effects
How to find an effective drug rehab for crystal methamphetamine
Crystal meth effects the body and mind as a stimulant which dramatically affects the central nervous system. The drug is easily manufactured anywhere with basic, over-the-counter ingredients. However, many states are following Oklahoma's lead in developing a computer monitoring system that will identify persons that are purchasing large quanities of ephedrine, the necessary raw product in the manufacture of crystal meth. Crystal meth, a form of methamphetamine, is also known as speed, chalk, ice, crank or glass. It is a white, odorless, crystalline powder. Crystal meth’s structure is similar to amphetamine with more of an impact on the central nervous system. The drug releases high levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine into the part of the brain regulating feelings of pleasure. It usually causes increased activity, decreased appetite, and a heightened sense of well-being. The unique description of how meth effects the body should lead anyone to looking for a drug treatment center that has a track record of treating and succeeding in rehabilitating chronic users of crystal meth.
Meth - Methamphetamine (Crystal Meth) is an addictive stimulant drug that strongly activates certain systems in the brain. Methamphetamine is closely related chemically to amphetamine, but the central nervous system effects of methamphetamine are greater. Both drugs have some medical uses, primarily in the treatment of obesity, but their therapeutic use is limited. Methamphetamine (Crystal Meth) is made in illegal laboratories and has a high potential for abuse and dependence. Street methamphetamine is referred to by many names, such as "speed", "meth" and "chalk." Methamphetamine hydrochloride, clear chunky crystals resembling ice, which can be inhaled by smoking, is referred to as "ice", "crystal", and "glass". Health Hazards
Methamphetamine (Crystal Meth) releases high levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine, which stimulates brain cells, enhancing mood and body movement. It also appears to have a neurotoxic effect, damaging brain cells that contain dopamine and serotonin, another neurotransmitter. Over time, methamphetamine appears to cause reduced levels of dopamine, which can result in symptoms like those of Parkinson's disease, a severe movement disorder.
Methamphetamine (Crystal Meth) is taken orally or intranasally (snorting the powder), by intravenous injection, and by smoking. Immediately after smoking or intravenous injection, the methamphetamine (Crystal Meth) user experiences an intense sensation, called a "rush" or "flash", that lasts only a few minutes and is described as extremely pleasurable. Oral or intranasal use produces euphoria - a high, but not a rush. Users may become addicted quickly, and use it with increasing frequency and in increasing doses.
The central nervous system (CNS) actions that result from taking even small amounts of methamphetamine (Crystal Meth) include increased wakefulness, increased physical activity, decreased appetite, increased respiration, hyperthermia, and euphoria. Other CNS effects include irritability, insomnia, confusion, tremors, convulsions, anxiety, paranoia, and aggressiveness. Hyperthermia and convulsions can result in death.
Methamphetamine (Crystal Meth) causes increased heart rate and blood pressure and can cause irreversible damage to blood vessels in the brain, producing strokes. Other effects of methamphetamine (Crystal Meth) include respiratory problems, irregular heartbeat, and extreme anorexia. Its use can result in cardiovascular collapse and death.
Crystal Meth Effects on the Kindeys: The kidneys filter the blood and clean out the waste. Crystal meth is filter by and excreted by the kidneys as well, but during this process the acid/alkaline balance of the body is changed and the blood vessels of the kidneys constrict, leading to decreased production of urine. The toxins that are not being secreted are now being put back into the blood stream... all of these are things that you don't want happening to a delicate and perfect system.
Is it Possible to Overdose with Methamphetamine (Creystal Meth/meth)? The short answer is YES! People do overdose from methamphetamine, showing an increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, and ascular constriction affecting vital organs, such as the heart and kindneys. The overdose effects are indicative of direct toxic posioning, with death being caused by rapid onset of kidney failure and collapse of the circulatory system. A high percentage of people that die from methamphetamine overdoses have symptoms of shock, coma, inability to pass urine and muscle twitching.
Death also occurs because of the unregulated manufacturing of the drug in "meth labs" where many toxic materials are used in the process as well as non-steril and non-professional lab techniques lead to creating as much poison as crystal meth.
Meth Myth: 1. Sex is enhanced when doing methamphetamine.. not so, there is a heightening of all gland secretions and therefore there is an enhanced libido, but that feeling of wanting sex or the "tingling" of the genitalia is frustrated by a lack of sincere feelings and the ability to sustain sexual function long enough to have a true sexual encounter. Talk to anyone that is no longer using crystal meth and they will tell you that the sex enhancement is a myth... from delayed organisms to a lack of erection with heightened desire, methamphetamines frustrate life and sex is part of that frustration.
For whatever sexual enhancement your get, here is the trade off: Neurotransmitters in the brain and throughout the body, including the genitalia, are depleted, nerve cells are actually damaged, you become paranoid and anxious, which, with continual use leads to psychosis because too much dopamine being secreated which leads to a lack of sleep. There is also a higher chance of stroke.
Meth Myth 2. Crystal Meth will keep me from gaining weight. True, but not in a good way. Ones basal metabolism is increased with methamphetamine use and that causes the body to burn more calories, however, it also poisons the body and causes a lack of vitamins and minerals which leads to the body "eating" its own bones and teeth to keep necessary calcium and magnesium in the blood stream. Meth Mouth is a partially caused by this phenomena. Because meth is a vaso-constrictor, it causes a reductin in saliva, which causes the mouth to be over acid and that is another reason for the decay of ones teeth with crystal meth use.
Meth Myth 3. All systems in the body work faster and better....Wrong! This has been discussed elsewhere on the page, but speeding up the body from chemical stimulation deminishes nutritional resources and doesn't give the body time to recover from some of the damage that occurs when it is pushed above normal rates of metabolism.
The most drastic effects of crystal meth on the body can be seen by everyone that has ever witnessed or seen a before and after picture of someone that has been addict to meth. They age at a rate that is about 10 times faster than normal aging. If their skin can look that bad, you can bet that the other organs are looking equally bad or worse.
Effects of Crystal Meth Use:
• Euphoria
•Incrased Energy and alertness
•Diarrhea and nausea
• Loss of appetite, insomnia, remors, juw-clenching, agitation, irritability, talkativeness, panic, compulsive fascination with repetitive tasks, violence, confusion
• Increased libido
• Increased Blood Pressure, body temperature, heart rate, bronchodialation
Effects Associated Wtih Chronic Use: • Tolerance, the need for larger amounts to get the same effects • Serious Drug Craving • Meth Mouth.. where teeth rapidly decay and fall out • Drug-related psychosis
Crystal meth alters moods in different ways, depending on how it is taken. Immediately after smoking the drug or injecting it intravenously, the user experiences an intense rush that lasts only a few minutes and is described as extremely pleasurable. Snorting or oral ingestion produces euphoria - a high but not an intense rush. Snorting produces effects within 3 to 5 minutes, and oral ingestion produces effects within 15 to 20 minutes. As with similar stimulants, crystal meth most often is used in a "binge and crash" pattern. Because tolerance for crystal meth occurs within minutes users try to maintain the high by binging on the drug. In the 1980's, "ice," a smokable form of crystal meth, came into use. Ice is a large, usually clear crystal of high purity that is smoked in a glass pipe like crack cocaine. Pure meth's smoke is odorless, leaves a residue that can be re-smoked, and produces effects that may continue for 12 hours or more. However, most crystal meth is not pure and contains other poisonous substances that can also cause damage to the lungs and can bring about psychotic reactions.
Extent of Use
Monitoring the Future Study (MTF)*
MTF assesses the extent of drug use among adolescents (8th-, 10th-, and 12th-graders) and young adults across the country. Recent data from the survey:
* In 1997, 4.4 percent of high school seniors had used crystal methamphetamine at least once in their lifetimes - an increase from 2.7 percent in 1990.
* Data show that 2.3 percent of seniors reported past year use of crystal methamphetamine in 1997 - an increase from 1.3 percent in 1990.
Community Epidemiology Work Group (CEWG)**
Methamphetamine (Crystal Meth) is the dominant illicit drug problem in San Diego. San Francisco and Honolulu also have substantial methamphetamine- using populations. Patterns of increasing use have been seen in Denver, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Phoenix, Seattle, and Tucson. New trafficking patterns have increased availability of the drug in Missouri, Nebraska, and Iowa. National Household Survey on Drug Abuse (NHSDA)t
According to the 1996 NHSDA, 4.9 million people (aged 12 and older) had tried methamphetamine at least once in their lifetimes (2.3 percent of population). This is not a statistically significant increase from 4.7 million people (2.2 percent) who reported using methamphetamine at least once in their lifetime in the 1995 NHSDA.
Crystal meth can be smoked, snorted, orally ingested or injected directly into the blood stream. Crystal meth has a very toxic effect on the human body. It is very dangerous and can cause convulsions, permanent severe body damage or death. Because of its stimulating effects, it is a very addictive drug. Chronic use often causes depression, anxiety, fatigue, paranoia and aggressive behavior. When you examine the effects of crystal meth on the body, especially facial changes, you can have an appreciation for the devastation that crystal meth does to the liver and brain, just to name two of the most important organs that are effected by addictive use of crystal meth. Crystal meth, in a prescription form, is a Schedule II stimulant, which means it has a high potential for abuse and is available only through a prescription that cannot be refilled. Common Immediate