Everything You Need to Know About Methamphetamines

Meth, or Methamphetamine, is a pretty popular drug for hardcore users. You may also hear it referred to as “ice”, “crank”, “speed”, or “uppers” on the street. It is a very addictive drug and is actually stronger than crack, making it a very dangerous drug to try, even just once. Meth comes in several forms, including pills, powder, and capsules.
About 3% of teens have tried meth, with the average age of their first experience being around 12. It’s very easy for students to get their hands on this drug, and that isn’t a good thing because meth is a very addictive drug that can cause some major health problems.

What It Does

When you take meth, whether snorting or smoking the powder, or swallowing a pill, the drug heads directly to your brain. There it triggers a release of serotonin, the “happy hormone”, as well as dopamine and norepinephrine, both of which help give you that feeling of euphoria. This makes you feel very happy and usually quite energetic (hence the name “speed”).

Often, people who use meth feel the need to obsessively wash their hands, clean, or take things apart and put them back together. It’s kind of like a temporary OCD and is caused by the drug working in the brain and changing the chemical balance there.

As the saying goes, what goes up must come down and that is very much the case with meth. When your high wears off, you will understand why they call it crashing. Many users take other drugs to ease the coming down part. Some of the effects of losing the high include drowsiness, irritability, and depression. It’s not surprising that many meth users commit suicide when in this chemically induced depression.

Why Meth is Dangerous

A drug that makes you feel great might not seem like such a big deal, but it is a neurotoxin (literally “brain poison”) and the very hormones and chemicals that it releases to make you feel great are the ones that are also affected by the drug.

While long term effects such as hallucinations, severe weight loss, paranoia, and out of control bursts of rage can be quite serious, even using the drug just once can cause problems. First time users may end up with their body temperature spiraling out of control leading to convulsions, as well as hyperventilation and confusion. Extended use of meth can also put you at risk for strokes. Unfortunately, strokes are not usually fatal and can leave you in a wheelchair, or with only one side of your body working properly.

Meth is most dangerous when combined with alcohol or another drug. In fact, about 92% of meth-related deaths involved another chemical.

If you are still wondering whether it’s a good idea to try meth, consider that people who make small amounts in their home labs use the following household ingredients:

• Drain cleaner
• Paint thinner
• Lithium batteries
• Acetone (nail polish remover)
• Starter fluid

Would you really want to put anything that lethal into your body just for a temporary high?

Signs of Meth Abuse

If you or someone you know is addicted to meth, these are the signs to watch out for:

• Sudden mood changes
• Hallucinations
• Intense rage for no particular reason
• Increased criminal activity (such as stealing to pay for the drug)
• Irritability and confusion
• Skin lesions or sores
• Extreme weight loss and lack of interest in food
• Insomnia

It is possible to get off of meth, and there is a lot of support for those who want to quit. Often, an intervention is the best way to help an addicted teen make the decision to get off the drug and seek rehab. Being informed is still the best way to avoid being tempted to try meth in the first place, though.