Methamphetamines, also commonly referred to as meth, crystal, crystal meth, and speed, are psycho-stimulants that have been popularly abused both as street and prescription drugs. Methamphetamines in their legal form are used to treat conditions such as attention deficit disorder (ADD), attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy. Meth is an upper and its effects include an immediate increase in dopamine and serotonin. On the street, meth is taken in the crystal, powder or capsule form by smoking, snorting, injecting or ingesting. While methamphetamines are approved as a prescription drug in the form of a pill, prescription drug abuse of methamphetamines has become popular among young people worldwide.
Dangers of meth
Individuals using meth for the first time can become almost immediately hooked because of the intense sensation experienced from the initial high. The brain reacts with meth by releasing a rush of mood enhancing chemicals including dopamine and serotonin which both produce a feeling of happiness. As with all drug addiction, the reason that drugs are so appealing is that individuals believe that they will be able to experience the initial high over again, or what is commonly referred to as "chasing the high". The high of meth can last for several hours giving users the faulty idea that meth has a high that can be replicated over and over again. Symptoms resulting from meth use include compulsive behavior such as obsessive cleaning, paranoia and assembling and disassembling things over and over. Meth can result in a loss of appetite, insomnia and changes in eating and sleeping patterns. Increases in heart rate and body temperature are also common side effects.
Many drug users describe the "comedown" off meth as being extremely difficult and harsh, and the withdrawal also unmanageable to the point where it is just easier to continue using the drug as opposed to detoxing. Included in these withdrawal symptoms is a intense craving or need for more, extreme depression, inability to function in normal society, paranoia that everyone knows, delusional thinking and weight loss and gain. People who suffer from a chronic meth habit may have scarring from compulsive picking and scratching because while they are using they think that there are bugs or what are described as "crawly things" all over their bodies.
Recovery from meth addiction
For people that experiment with meth more than a few things, it is common for them to become addicted and unable to quit using on their own. Meth addiction is considered one of the most difficult addictions to overcome, however in the past few decades there has been much success in programs that specialize in recovery from addiction to methamphetamines. Addiction to methamphetamines most often requires a detoxification process to help a person get over the initial withdrawal of wanting more drugs. A safe detox setting in a detox or rehabilitation center is the recommended for people who have chronic addiction to meth or people who have a tendency to relapse. Choosing a rehabilitation center with a program that specializes in the treatment of meth addiction can be very helpful because it lets individuals relate to one another and find common solutions. Inpatient treatment is also recommended for meth addiction treatment because of the severity of the illness.
