METHAMPHETAMINE ADDICTION
Description of Methamphetamine Addiction
Methamphetamine is a stimulant, which increase alertness and work primarily on the
neurotransmitter dopamine, as well as norepinephrine (adrenaline). Dopamine affects the brain,
heart, lungs, muscles, blood vessels, stomach, intestines, and the blood vessels that line all the
muscles and skin in the body. Methamphetamine is related to amphetamines, differing only with
the addition of a methyl group, a cluster of atoms made up of a carbon atom and three hydrogen
atoms. The effect this small addition can have is enormous, leading methamphetamine to be the
most powerful stimulant available. (Lee, 2006)
Long-term methamphetamine use can lead to addiction which is characterized by drug
seeking behaviour and accompanied by changed to the brain. When methamphetamine is taken
repeatedly over a long period of time, most users feel a decrease in the level of effect they feel
after taking the drug, leading to higher doses, a higher frequency of use, or changing the method
of taking the drug. Chronic users may have difficulties feeling normal pleasure feelings outside
of their drug use, leading to further abuse of the drug. (NIDA, 2013)
Chronic users of methamphetamine may show symptoms that may include anxiety,
confusion, insomnia, mood disturbances, or violent behaviour. Also possible is the development
of psychotic features, such as paranoia, visual and auditory hallucinations, and delusions. The
psychotic symptoms can sometimes last for last for months or years after the last instance of
taking the drug, and this, paired with stress, can lead to relapse. (NIDA, 2013)
Depending on how the meth is taken into the body, the effects can take effect
immediately or have a delayed reaction. Swallowing meth can take 20-40 minutes to take effect.
Snorting meth can take effect in 2-10 minutes. Smoking or injecting meth take effect
immediately. Initially the user will feel a rush of euphoria, followed by a feeling of well-being
and heightened self-confidence. This is accomplished by a brightening of moods. Senses become
heightened, causing sights and sounds to seem sharper. There is a possibility of a jittery or
anxious feeling or possibly even a state of panic. Users often experience a burst of energy,
leading them to feel like they can accomplish anything. Using meth leads to an increased feeling
of concentration, this can be an issue for people in the work force as they come to depend on
meth to accomplish work related goals. (Lee, 2006)
While using a large amount of meth, users may become highly goal-oriented, causing the
user to compulsively repeat an action, such as rocking, grinding teeth, chewing, wringing their
hands, or fidgeting. This could possibly cause the user to spend large amounts of time on
mundane tasks, such as cleaning their home obsessively. The use of meth leads users to believe
that some of the things they have done while high were productive, feeling as though they have
accomplished something fantastic when in reality they had spent hours “arranging” something
that was already in an ordered state. (Lee, 2006)
Meth is often used as an appetite suppressant. Users on meth often become so focused on
an activity that they forget to eat, leading to malnutrition and unhealthy weight loss. Many users
lose muscle tone and do not ingest enough food to maintain healthy nutrient levels. Meth use can
also lead to many dental issues. This is caused by decreased production of saliva and instances of
tooth grinding. This combination of factors causes something nicknamed “meth mouth”, a literal
destruction of the teeth. (Lee, 2006)
Effects on the Body:
The Heart: The heart is pumping faster and harder than usual, leading to more oxygen needing
to be delivered. This causes high blood pressure which can prevent blood from returning to the
heart as blood vessels are constricted. This constriction can lead to the heart not receiving
enough blood to function properly, causing a heart attack. Meth users can suffer from many
small heart attacks over time that may or may not be noticed, or possibly one large heart attack
with obvious pain and difficulties breathing.
Digestive System: Due to blood being redirected through the body, the digestive system slows
down, causing appetites to decrease and bowel movements to become less frequent. Taking high
doses of meth can cause a rare issue called “bowel ischemia” which is where, because of the
decreased amount of blood supplied to the intestines, the muscles and lining of the intestines die.
Kidneys: Kidneys contain filtering units, “nephrons”, that require a delicate balance of blood
flow. They can be damaged by higher than usual blood pressure. They also require a minimum
amount of blood supplied to it in order to stay alive. Meth users may have high blood pressure,
and binge users may neglect to drink fluids, causing them to become dehydrated, leading to their
blood pressure to drop, resulting in lover blood flow to the kidneys. Without the needed blood
supply, the kidney cells may die, possibly causing kidney failure.
Muscles: Using meth can lead to an increased body temperature This, paired with the heightened
level of activity in the user, can lead to a breakdown of muscle tissue. When a muscle begins to
break down in the body, it releases several by-products, one of which is “creatine
phosphokinase”, or CPK. CPK is toxic to the kidneys when found in high levels in the blood
stream. CPK can be diluted by consuming water at regular intervals while taking meth. (Lee,
2006)
Methamphetamine is becoming the drug of choice for club and party goers. Users feel increased
self-confidence, causing them to feel sexier or more attractive than they would have felt
otherwise, leading them to feel more courageous and more likely to proposition someone for sex.
Also, users may not take caution into consideration when taking a sexual partner, letting a
powerful need for sex overcome their better judgement and leading to a possibility of contracting
HIV/AIDS, pregnancy, or sexually transmitted diseases or infections that might have otherwise
been prevented. (Lee, 2006)
Lee, Steven J. (2006). Overcoming crystal meth addiction, an essential guide to getting clean.
New York, NY. Marlowe & Company
National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2013). What are the long term effects of methamphetamine
abuse? Retrieved from http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/researchreports/methamphetamine/what-are-long-term-effects-methamphetamine-abuse