Methamphetamine and the Role of Drug Rehab

Methamphetamine is a highly addictive nervous system stimulant that is affecting every area of society. Children are present in 40% of meth lab seizures and often they have methamphetamine in their bloodstream and must be tested for blood-borne pathogens because they were around needles. In 2006, 5.77% of the U.S. population that was 12 and older used meth at least once in their lifetime for nonmedical reasons. This drug damages families, neighborhoods, children, and all of society. The ease and low cost to make this drug combined with the high profit ratio have insured that this drug is readily available. It is important to understand methamphetamine in order to beat it.

The History of Methamphetamine:

Ephedrine, which methamphetamine is derived from, was first synthesized in Japan. Chemist Nagayoshi Nagai invented this drug in 1893 by isolating the ephedrine from ma huang, a rare herb that was used as a stimulant. The first crystallized version was synthesized by Akira Ogata in 1919. The initial application of methamphetamine was for use as a nasal decongestant. Then it was used by German soldiers in World War II as a stimulant. In this same time period, pharmaceutical companies marketed it and it began to be widely abused. It has been regulated under the Controlled Substance Act since the 1970s. In the more recent years it has been prescribed for obesity and narcolepsy. Now, in the 21st century, it is an American epidemic.

Where Meth Comes From:

Meth comes mostly from clandestine laboratories in the United States and from Mexico where a large amount is smuggled in from. These laboratories, or cook houses, pose a serious problem. The chemicals used to make methamphetamine are very volatile and the by-products are toxic. The “cooks” are at risk because of the toxic fumes they inhale along with the risk of explosions. When meth labs are seized, children are often recovered and many times they have methamphetamine in their systems. Also, for every one pound of meth that is produced, there are five to seven pounds of toxic chemicals left over that are often poured down drains or in yards. It is very costly to clean these up. The authorities are also at risk because of the mental state that meth cooks are in when they are busted.

There is no safe way to produce methamphetamine.

Street Names for Methamphetamine:

Methamphetamine is called many things but the most common names for this highly addictive drug are: meth, crystal, crank, speed, chalk, Tina, go-fast, zip, and quartz. Meth can be taken orally, snorted, or injected but it is most commonly smoked.

Meth’s Effect on the Brain:

Methamphetamine is a nervous system stimulant. Users say that after meth is taken, they feel a short, intense “rush” with an immediate increase in activity and a decrease in appetite. This is followed by several hours of a mildly euphoric high. Meth interferes with the normal neurotransmissions, which are chemicals that are naturally produced within nerve cells to communicate messages. These nerve cells influence and regulate thinking, namely how we feel pleasure.

The main neurotransmitter that is affected is dopamine. Dopamine is released when a person does something pleasurable such as eating or anything meaningful. Almost immediately after using meth, dopamine receptors start to deplete and the dopamine production slows down, causing the user to increase the amount of meth taken just to reach a “normal” state of mind. Meth users often go on binges to avoid the inevitable crash that follows.

The depletion of dopamine can be permanent along with brain damage caused to the cognitive abilities. Many users end up being “slow” in regards to thinking and they often have Parkinson’s-like movement disorders, tremors and rigidity.

When a person does something enjoyable such as eat, dopamine jumps from 100 to 200 units. This is for survival to ensure that humans eat. Cocaine causes a jump to 350 units. But methamphetamine causes a drastic jump to 1,250 units. This unnatural level of dopamine is what leads to the euphoric feeling that users crave. This result, along with the toxic chemicals that are put in the body, actually destroy the wiring of the brain after prolonged use and it changes brain chemistry making it harder and harder to feel pleasure. After a period of months to sometimes years, research has shown that these receptors can grow back, but the damaged cognitive abilities do not improve.

Meth's Effect on the Body:

Methamphetamine harms the body in several ways. Meth causes the destruction of tissue and blood vessels throughout the body because it restricts circulation and it inhibits the body’s ability to repair itself. Acne begins to appear on some users along with sores that take a long time to heal. Skin loses its luster and elasticity causing the person to look years older. The decrease in appetite, poor diet when a user does eat, constant teeth grinding and poor oral hygiene all lead to tooth decay and tooth loss. This is known as “meth mouth.”

Meth mouth occurs in almost all users, even those that have been using for a very short amount of time. Broken, discolored and rotten teeth are caused by meth use. Meth causes salivary glands to dry out allowing the mouth’s acid to eat away at the tooth enamel which leaves weak spots. These weak spots are susceptible to cavities and infection. Because sugary foods and drinks are ingested almost exclusively, combined with the obsessive teeth grinding and the neglect of brushing and flossing, meth users’ teeth are further damaged.

Users often have sores all over their faces and bodies. This is because users obsessively pick at their faces and bodies due to the hallucination that bugs are crawling beneath their skin. This is called “formication.”

Along with appearing very aged, having meth mouth and having sores, users often experience several other effects. Hyperthermia is common among users. It has been reported that some users’ temperatures have reached 108 degrees Fahrenheit. Many users have strokes and seizures. They also suffer from headaches, increased blood pressure, heart failure, heart attack, liver damage, kidney damage, lung damage, nausea and vomiting, bad taste in mouth, diarrhea, constipation, muscle destruction, hives, hyper-sexuality, and painful rash. Because of the increased libido and hyper-sexuality, users are at an increased risk for hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV and other STDs.

How to Beat Methamphetamine Addiction:

While addiction can never be cured, with intense therapy and long term drug addiction treatment, a life without this substance is possible. Meth addicts are physically and mentally addicted. Once in treatment, detoxification is the first stage of beating this physically and mentally addictive drug. This abstinence from the drug allows the user to begin treatment sober. After the detoxification period, rehabilitation follows.

Successful rehabs usually have individual, group and family therapy. These sessions help the addict to understand the addiction, why he or she used in the first place and they help to diagnose any other mental conditions that have been influencing the user’s life. Dual-diagnosis is often a reason why the addict used drugs in the first place because the person was unknowingly self-medicating. Group sessions help the addict learn how to cope and prepare for reentry into mainstream society. By listening to the experiences of other addicts, an addict can prepare for the situations and triggers that others have dealt with. There are also family issues that play an important role in the use of drugs. Family sessions provide a structured, non-threatening environment for families to workout issues. Involving family in the rehab process also prepares for life with a recovering addict after treatment.

While there is no cure for addiction, a drug-free life is possible after long-term drug rehab followed by being involved in aftercare. Recovery is possible.

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