Methamphetamine

Methamphetamine commonly known as meth, speed, crank, or crystal, is a white powder with a bitter taste that can be easily dissolved in alcohol or water. This drug may be smoked, snorted, or injected. When meth enters the brain it gets into the nerve cells where it causes the excessive release of dopamine which causes feelings of euphoria and increased energy. Meth users can quickly become addicted to the spike in dopamine. The high can last for several hours and after the initial feelings of euphoria fade the person will feel fatigue and depression and can sleep for extended periods of time.

Meth alters how the brain is able to feel pleasure and makes the user who is recovering to feel depressed even after they have discontinued its use. While high levels of dopamine in the brain more typically cause feelings of pleasure, too much can produce aggressiveness, irritability and schizophrenic-like behavior. A person who is addicted to meth will continue to use the drug and can stay awake for days and even up to a week at a time. A meth user will can exhibit bizarre behavior, paranoia, and short –term memory loss. An episode may only end when they are arrested or hospitalized for psychotic, violent behavior or when their body cannot function any longer.

Abuse of methamphetamine is linked to several serious medical complications such as heart damage, stroke, psychosis and can even lead to death. Death from excessive meth use may occur in a number of ways such as severe anorexia, hyperthermia, convulsions or cardiac arrest. The meth abuser often is abusive to loved ones due to the aggressive feelings they feel as a result of meth use. Meth has long-term physiological effects that may take up to a year to heal.