Many of us would not be aware of what methamphetamine is, except those who are and once were into drug addiction. In this article, we give you some of the facts related to this highly addictive drug, and the effects it has on the human body.
Methamphetamine is a man-made drug, a stimulator of the central nervous system, well-known for its strong potential for abuse. It is only available through a doctor’s prescription. It is almost related to amphetamine, but has a strong effect on the central nervous system. Its effects are the same as cocaine, but generally last longer. It is known by many names such as meth, cristy, blade, zip, chalk, shards, shabu, tina, etc. It is in a colorless and odorless crystalline form when produced, which can later be turned into powder to be soluble in water or alcohol.
Crystal methamphetamine is similar to tiny pieces of glass or white rocks, while its powdered form is white and bitter to taste. This drug can be smoked using glass tubes, which are like glass pipes used for smoking cocaine, or can also be taken through an injection, snorted, or taken orally.
Some Fast Facts about Methamphetamine
- High-school senior students and women are more likely to consume methamphetamine than cocaine.
- A person who produces methamphetamine annually teaches around ten people to produce it.
- Around six pounds of toxic waste is left behind after one pound of production.
- The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) recently found out 20 Mexican companies involved in meth trafficking in the Midwest.
- Around 90% of all drug cases in some Midwest countries involve methamphetamine.
- Methamphetamine can cause heart attacks, brain damage, strokes, hallucinations, and also triggers paranoia, which can lead to murders and suicides. It increases the risk of child abuse and domestic violence.
- The rehabilitation of people addicted to meth is the hardest amongst all drug cases.
Methamphetamine Effects on Health
Meth is a very famous drug due to its capability to alter the mood in different ways, depending on the way it is consumed. When a person consumes meth, he experiences a strong ‘rush’ or a vivid ‘flash’ that may last for a few minutes. This is considered an extremely pleasurable feeling.
If one consumes it by smoking or injecting, the after-effects are considerably fast―just 5-10 seconds. If snorted or taken orally, the person may experience euphoria which is a high but not an intense feeling. The after-effects of snorting start within 3-5 minutes, whereas those of oral ingesting are produced within 15-20 minutes.
If one consumes methamphetamine even in little amounts, he may experience euphoria, enhanced sleeplessness, increase in physical activity and respiration, and a decrease in appetite. It also has an adverse effect on the central nervous system, which includes writhing movements, irritability, sleep disorders, muddiness, tremors, anxiety, aggression, hyperthermy, and paroxysms, some of which can even lead to death.
There are also some side effects like pain in the chest, increased heartbeat, high blood pressure, cardiovascular collapse, or permanent injury to the blood vessels of the brain which can lead to strokes. If consumed while pregnant, there can be prenatal complications, such as increased chances of premature delivery and varied neonatal behavior.
The production of methamphetamine has lowered significantly, due to steps taken by the government, increase in public awareness campaigns, and a controlled regulation of the sale and purchase of the constituents used in its production. If a person is addicted to this destructive drug, he will most certainly ruin his life as it is very difficult to withdraw from this addiction. Hence, staying away is the best option.
