You likely know methamphetamine as meth. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, meth is a powerful and highly addictive stimulate. Some of its more common street names include chalk, crystal, glass, and ice. It is sold and used as a crystalline powder that is bitter, odorless, and often white. Meth is by nature colorless, but it can be found colored brown, orange, pink, and yellow-gray. It dissolves in liquid, and many use it with alcohol. But it can also be snorted, smoked, or injected.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration classifies meth as a Schedule II stimulant. Unless it is prescribed via a non-refillable prescription, it is illegal to buy and sell. You might be surprised to learn that methamphetamine has viable medical use. People with ADHD sometimes use very small doses of it under strict medical supervision.
The History of Meth
Methamphetamine is a drug derived from amphetamine. It was developed in the 20th Century for use in bronchial inhalers and nasal decongestants. Unlike cocaine, which comes from a plant, meth is a synthetic or man-made chemical. It affects the central nervous system and causes the user to experience increased awareness and sensations and decreased appetite.
Today, it is estimated that 0.4% of the population (1.2 million people) use meth. According to the 2012 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, these numbers represent a decrease from previous years and a rise in the average age of users.
How Meth Destroys the Body
Meth is a dangerous and potent chemical. It is more powerful than its parent drug, amphetamine. And it systematically destroys the body. Here’s a look at what it does:
- Meth can raise body temperature to dangerous, even deadly levels.
- It causes anxiousness and confusion that contribute to insomnia, mood swings, and violent behavior.
- Meth speeds aging, dulls the skin, and causes hard-to-heal sores and pimples.
- It can contribute to episodes of paranoia that lead to delusions, hallucinations, and even attempted suicide.
- Meth users are at a high risk of contracting HIV/AIDS.
- The drug lessens inhibitions and impacts judgment, often leading to risky behaviors like unsafe or unprotected sex.
- Regular use has been associated with memory loss, psychotic behavior, and heart and brain damage.
Treating Meth Addiction
The good news is that methamphetamine addiction is treatable. Multiple forms of treatment can be leveraged, depending on the user’s needs. The first stage of treat is usually detoxification. It is one of the hardest stages and should be carefully monitored by experienced medical staff. Meth withdrawals are strong and uncomfortable and can cascade into elicit depressive episodes.
Counseling and therapy can assist addicts after detox. While there is no widely accepted model for meth abuse treatment, some medical journals support the use of antidepressants for aiding long-term recovery. Cognitive behavioral therapy is one of the most effective therapies currently in use. By examining the role the drug plays in a user’s life, skills to avoid relapse are developed through targeted therapy sessions.