Saturday, May 7, 2011

Methamphetamine INFO

Methamphetamine is closely related chemically to amphetamine, but the effects to the central nervous system are greater. Both drugs have some medical uses, primarily in the treatment of obesity, but their therapeutic use is limited.

Methamphetamine hydrochloride is a clear grainy crystals resembling ice, which can be inhaled by smoking. Street methamphetamine is referred to by many names, such as “Ice” “meth,” and “shabu.”
Health Hazards
Methamphetamine releases high levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine, which stimulates brain cells, enhancing mood and body movement. It also appears to have a neuro-toxic effect, damaging brain cells that contain dopamine and serotonin, another neurotransmitter. Used over a period of time, methamphetamine causes reduced levels of dopamine, which can result in symptoms like those of Parkinson’s disease, a severe movement disorder.

Addiction
Immediately after smoking or intravenous injection, the methamphetamine user experiences an intense sensation that lasts only a few minutes and is described as extremely pleasurable. Oral or snorting produces euphoria – a high. Users become addicted quickly and need to use it with increasing frequency and increasing doses.
Short-term effects
The central nervous system actions that result from taking even small amounts of methamphetamine include increased wakefulness, increased physical activity, decreased appetite, increased respiration, hyperthermia, and euphoria. Other effects include irritability, insomnia, confusion, tremors, convulsions, anxiety, paranoia, and aggressiveness. Hyperthermia and convulsions can also result in death.

Long-term effects
Methamphetamine causes increased heart rate and blood pressure and can cause irreversible damage to blood vessels in the brain, producing strokes. Other effects of methamphetamine include respiratory problems, irregular heartbeat, and extreme anorexia. These can result in cardiovascular collapse and death.