Law & Public Safety: Drug Project

Methamphetamine !

Methamphetamine is a powerful, highly addictive stimulant that affects the central nervous system.

Crystal methamphetamine is a form of the drug that looks like glass fragments or shiny, bluish-white rocks.

Uses of Meth

Because the "high" from the drug both starts and fades quickly, people often take repeated doses in a "binge and crash" pattern. In some cases, people take methamphetamine in a form of binging known as a "run," giving up food and sleep while continuing to take the drug every few hours for up to several days.

People can take methamphetamine by:
smoking
swallowing (pill)
snorting
injecting the powder that has been dissolved in water/alcohol

Storytime Meth User

A guy in Atlanta went shopping and witnessed three people get shot. To cope with his trauma, he started using meth. He is not in rehab, but he is spending time in prison for suspected murder.

Short & Long Term Effects

Taking even small amounts of methamphetamine can result in many of the same health effects such as cocaine or amphetamines. These include:

increased wakefulness and physical activity

decreased appetite

faster breathing

rapid and/or irregular heartbeat

increased blood pressure

increased body temperature

Long-term methamphetamine use has many other negative consequences, including:

extreme weight loss
addiction
severe dental problems ("meth mouth")
intense itching, leading to skin sores
from scratching
anxiety
changes in brain structure and function
confusion
memory loss
sleeping problems
violent behavior
paranoia—extreme and unreasonable distrust of others
hallucinations—sensations and images that seem real though they aren't

Conclusion