• Increased spread of infectious diseases.
Injection of drugs such as heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine currently accounts for about 12 percent of new AIDS cases.21 Injection drug use is also a major factor in the spread of hepatitis C, a serious, potentially fatal liver disease. Injection drug use is not the only way that drug abuse contributes to the spread of infectious diseases. All drugs of abuse cause some form of intoxication, which interferes with judgment and increases the likelihood of risky sexual behaviors. This, in turn, contributes to the spread of HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B and C, and other sexually transmitted diseases. Tobacco use is responsible for an estimated 5 million deaths worldwide each year. Effects of specific abused substances
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Methamphetamine’s effects are particularly long-lasting and harmful to the brain. Amphetamines can cause high body temperature and can lead to serious heart problems and seizures.
• MDMA (Ecstasy or "Molly") produces both stimulant and mind-altering effects. It can increase body temperature, heart rate, blood pressure, and heart-wall stress. MDMA may also be toxic to nerve cells.
• LSD is one of the most potent hallucinogenic, or perception-altering, drugs. Its effects are unpredictable, and abusers may see vivid colors and images, hear sounds, and feel sensations that seem real but do not exist. Users also may have traumatic experiences and emotions that can last for many hours.
• Heroin is a powerful opioid drug that produces euphoria and feelings of relaxation. It slows respiration, and its use is linked to an increased risk of serious infectious diseases, especially when taken intravenously. People who become addicted to opioid pain relievers sometimes switch to heroin instead, because it produces similar effects and may be cheaper or easier to
The body of a human may appear to be aging like everyone else's, taking it day by day and getting hit with the details of age. Wrinkles will start to form in weird places and soon enough, grey hair will sprout from one's head. These little things prove that a person's life is being lived to its very last day. When the body is put through things that it wasn't made for, like the consumption of drugs, everything can seem fine on the outside, by the body can slowly be dying. The past month may become a blur and one minute your fine and the next you're angry at the world. Methamphetamine is a stimulant that is an addictive drug used by teens and young adults. It is a very dangerous drug that can be used and seen in many different ways. More often, people are not just taking a meth, they are using the binge and crash method due to the fact that the high starts and then fades quicker than most (“National
Short term effects of meth include; loss of appetite, increased heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature. Other short term effects include; dilation of pupils, disturbed sleep patterns, nausea, panic and psychosis, hallucinations, hyperexcitability, irritability, and bizarre, sometimes erratic behavior. Long term effects of meth are; Permanent damage to blood vessels of heart and brain, high blood pressure leading to heart attacks, strokes, and death, liver, kidney, and lung damage. If this drug is sniffed it will lead to the destruction of the tissues in the nose. If this drug in smoked it will result in respiratory problems. If this drug is injected it will lead to infectious diseases, and abscesses. Other long term effects are; malnutrition, weight loss, severe tooth decay, disentoritation, apathy, confused exhaustion, strong psychological dependence, psychosis, depression, and damage to the brain will be done that is similar to alzheimer's diseases, stroke, and epilepsy. (Short Term & Long Term & Deadly Effects)
Crystal meth is a sub-category of amphetamine. Amphetamines are synthetic amines- which are similar to the body's neurotransmitter: norepinehrine and the hormone epinephrine (adrenaline). Amphetamines stimulate the reticular activating system. This activation is transmitted to all parts if the brain. This process causes the user to become
The addiction of methamphetamine amongst juvenile’s and adults has reached epidemic proportions that affect the individual, families and communities. Methamphetamine abuse has crossed all social economic boundaries that have negatively impacted law enforcement, social and clinical services. According to Anglin, Burke, Perrochet, Stamper and Dawud-Noursi (2000), methamphetamine, also known as meth, crystal, or speed, is a substance that affects the central nervous system creating a stimulant effect that can be injected, smoked, snorted, or ingested orally. Individuals who use meth for an extensive period of time tend to become addicted and will likely need to continue to use meth at high levels for its effects to continue to provide the euphoric symptoms and sensations. Anglin, et al, also describe methamphetamine as a derivative of amphetamine, this form of amphetamine was often used for medication purposes in the 1950’s and 1960’s to treat symptoms of depression and obesity. Durell, Kroutil, Crits-Christoph, Barchha, and Van Brunt (2008), also stated that illicit methamphetamine use is a public health concern in the United States with an increase use among teens and young adults in the 1990s. The Mental Health Services Administration conducted a national survey on meth use in the United States and found that currently as least a half a million of Americans used or have used methamphetamine. Meth use is an epidemic that is slowly becoming a destructive
Methamphetamine also affects the user’s mouth. This is often referred to as “meth mouth.” There are several factors which, when combined, create an environments that destroys the teeth, the blood supply and supporting tissues. Methamphetamine users are unable to take care of daily tasks, such as brushing and flossing, due to the crash affect of this drug which can last many days. When they are awake for long periods of time the energy bursts they experience do not allow them to concentrate
Methadone is an opioid and it is given to Heroin addicts to help wean them off of Heroin. Methadone doesn’t cause the exact “high” that Heroin may cause accordingly it can assist addicts thus they don’t have a longing to take it considering they are addicted to the ingredient not the high. Other forms of medication to help treat people addicted to opioids is Buprenorphine. If an individual is addicted to Heroin and is on Methadone for twenty-four hours it prevents them from getting high on Heroin. Methadone also will be much milder and safer than Heroin. Methadone prevents the severe withdrawal that Heroin has but that is not to say that Methadone itself doesn’t have a withdrawal. Methadone has a slow mild withdrawal and it is cheap compared to heroin and it’s also long lasting.
Methamphetamine is a stimulant that is used as a recreational drug that affects the central nervous system (CNS). In 1983, laws were passed in the United States prohibiting possession of precursors and equipment for methamphetamine production. But imagine if this addictive drug was as commonly sold in front yards as lemonade and Girl Scout cookies. Imagine if large neon signs and bold lettering titled “Drugs” and “Meth Lab Inside: Free Samples” were displayed in front of suburban homes with guests arriving to sample and purchase meth.
The powerful and dangerous drug, methamphetamine (meth), has recently attracted more and more users around the world. It is an amphetamine drug that is very addictive. Meth users are gaining easier access to the drug, since it can be made from common household things, like Drano and battery acid. Over 400,000 Americans are currently addicted to the drug. Meth causes a huge increase in dopamine and other neurotransmitters in the brain. In addition, meth also blocks enzymes that work to break down dopamine in the brain, which causes the high to last much longer than a high from a stimulant like cocaine. Several methods are used to take this drug, but smoking it has recently become more popular.
Methamphetamine takes the form of a white, odorless, bitter tasting 1, crystalline powder. Methamphetamine increases the amount of dopamine (involved in reward, pleasure, motor function,compulsion, and perseveration). The drug produces this effect because it has a similar molecular compound as dopamine. Methamphetamine is a powerful central nervous system stimulant. The drug works directly on the brain and spinal cord by interfering with normal neurotransmission. When taken repeatedly over time, methamphetamine can produce lasting damage in the
In the United States of America, we, the people value several things, some of which
Methamphetamine has serious side effects, some short term and some long term, the drug can cause permanent damage to organs such as the brain, liver, kidneys, lungs, and the heart.
Substance abuse complicates almost every aspect of care for the person with a mental disorder. When drugs enter the brain, they can interrupt the work and actually change how the brain performs its jobs; these changes are what lead to compulsive drug use. Drug abuse plays a major role when concerning mental health. It is very difficult for these individuals to engage in treatment. Diagnosis for a treatment is difficult because it takes time to disengage the interacting effects of substance abuse and the mental illness. It may also be difficult for substance abusers to be accommodated at home and it may not be tolerated in the community of residents of rehabilitation programs. The author states, that they end up losing their support systems
Methamphetamine is not really a new drug, although it has become very powerful in the recent years as techniques in manufacturing have evolved to intensify this drug. Amphetamine was 1st made in Germany in 1887, and methamphetamine being more potent and easy to make, was developed in 1919 in Japan. The crystalline powder was made water soluble, making this drug the perfect candidate for injecting. During World War II, methamphetamine went into substantial use when both side used it to keep the troops awake while in combat. Many times, Japanese Kamikaze pilots were given high doses before their suicide missions. Methamphetamine abuse soared after the war, with the abuse mainly being injection in epidemic proportions
The medical use of amphetamines was common in the 1950/60's when they were used to help cure depression and to help the user lose weight. An amphetamine is a drug that is a stimulant to the central nervous system. Amphetamines are colorless and may be inhaled, injected, or swallowed. Amphetamines are also used non-medically to avoid sleep, improve athletic performance, or to counter the effects of depressant drugs. Amphetamines are addictive. Because of this, when the user discontinues use or reduces the amount that they use, withdrawal symptoms may occur. Some withdrawal symptoms are as follows: severe exhaustion, deep sleep lasting from 24 to 48 hours, psychotic reaction, extreme hunger, deep depression, anxiety reactions, and long but
* MDMA is an extremely powerful stimulant comprised of a chemically altered meth-amphetamine that causes the release of excess amounts of serotonin. Serotonin is a chemical in the brain that causes positive emotions and heightened sensory input; it makes people feel happiness, excitement, good will, and intimacy with others. At extremely high levels, this heightened sensory input confuses the brain and causes users to experience visual and tactile hallucinations. These high serotonin levels generally make MDMA users crave raves and electric dance music because of their high-energy environments, large densities of people, loud fast paced music, and euphoric dancing.