The main purpose of this research paper is to provide information on how drugs affect the brain and body of a person. Reports of drug related crimes are common in the media mainly on news reports. The main concern tends to be towards Methamphetamine, which gets the most media attention.
One of the most abused drugs in the Philippines is a local type of methamphetamine mixed with caffeine known as Shabu. This is a powerfully addictive drug that can cause people to have intense hallucinations and become extremely paranoid. This stimulant is believed to be the drug of choice for 90% of the Philippines illegal substance users. Methamphetamine causes feelings of euphoria and the user feels full of energy. Some users of this drug have even
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As use of methamphetamine spread, so did their abuse. Methamphetamine became a cure-all for such things as weight control to treating mild depression. In the 1960s, the route and degree of abuse changed dramatically with the increased availability of injectable methamphetamine.
In the 1980s, the smokable form of methamphetamine, "ice," became available. Like crack cocaine, it is smoked in glass pipes, emitting no odor, with effects lasting for 12 hours or more. Shabu, a powerfully addictive meth stimulant, easily accessible and affordable, is the drug of choice of over 90% of Filipino drug users. A single "pingi" or 0.1 gm costs P100. One mongo-sized "gram" costs P1,000 – 2,000. Street meth is never pure, cut with a miscellany of substances, including talc or heroin.
The National Drug Law Enforcement and Prevention Center gives a conservative estimate of at least 250,000 drug abusers, possibly over half a million. Another conservative estimate puts the number of addicts at one million.
A question regarding how Methamphetamine is used will be discussed as well as the effects – short term and long term.
Methamphetamine stimulates release of excessive amounts of the neurotransmitter dopamine. Dopamine is produced in the nerve cells of the ventral tegmental area and is concerned with pleasure regulation in the brain. Upon entering the nerve cell, meth stimulates release of dopamine which then binds
To understand the problem, one must first identify the pathways that lead to meth, which is where Shukla began to explore her participants’ different experiences. While the reasoning and circumstances surrounding initiation into meth use several themes appeared. Most notably, most individuals started their drug using careers before they were teenagers, and none began with meth. Early childhood was exposed to drugs, and for that abuse and neglect, were the norm among those with whom she spoke. Shukla uncovered those secrets, regardless of their life experiences, a ‘‘deep love of meth’’ kept her participants trapped in a cycle of drug abuse. (Tchoula 2017).
“Meth, not even once” is a popular phrase that is associated with this drug. This drug has many known horrible effects associated with it, plus many effects more I am sure are going to be discovered over time. I am intending to cover the history, effects, the different categories of meth abuse, and the withdrawal effects of Methamphetamine in this paper, and what to do if you suspect someone you know is using meth.
Some of the most commonly abused substances, that can cause serious psychological and physical side effects are stimulants. Substance abuse has been a problem in the United States and many other countries for a long time, stimulants are one of the biggest problems that the United States faces today. One specific drug that is abused is crack and crack cocaine. By examining the history of stimulants such as crack and crack cocaine, it 's connection to crime and violence will be revealed.
Generally, a person will go through a cycle of predictable behavior after starting meth. Immediately after taking it the user will feel a rush which involves the most exhilarating feelings. Next, they experience the high which can last for several hours. The actual rush and high is what everyone is trying to achieve. In order to keep this high the user will often binge, meaning they will continue to take meth for hours. This binge can last for days. Eventually the user will experience “tweaking” which may cause the user to become violent or delusional. Finally the user will experience the crash. Since the addict has been using meth for several days they may have had little or no sleep and their bodies have become
Methamphetamine: A Love Story is a book documenting the lives of various people who were immersed in the culture of using, selling, and manufacturing methamphetamine. Through interviews with over 30 individuals, Rashi Shukla brings to light the drastic effects that manifested when this drug took over their lives. Shukla aims to “illuminate this dark world,” (Shukla 2016, p. 11), and to provide insight as to why methamphetamine becomes more than just a drug to those involved with it.
Methamphetamine, (a synthetic drug with more rapid and lasting effects than amphetamine, use illegally as a stimulant and as a prescription drug to treat narcolepsy and maintain blood pressure) was develop from its parent drug, amphetamine, (a synthetic, addictive, mood-altering drug, use illegally as a stimulant and legally as a prescription drug to treat children with ADD and adults with narcolepsy) and was used originally in nasal decongestants and bronchial inhalers (NIH, 2015). Meth is a dangerous and potent chemical and, as with all drugs, a poison that first acts as a stimulant, but then begins to systematically destroy the body, meth is a synthetic (man-made) chemical. Meth is commonly manufactured in illegal, hidden laboratories, mixing
While driving down a road in Montana, exploring, someone would notice the paintings and sculptures that read “Meth, not even once” or something as simple as “Montana Meth Project.” The Montana Meth Project has become Montana’s way to stomp out Montana’s meth problem. Some history on methamphetamine include “Amphetamine was first made in 1887 in Germany and methamphetamine, more potent and easy to make, was developed in Japan in 1919”(Drug-Free).There has been a decrease in meth users in the past years, “The United States government reported in 2008 that approximately 13 million people over the age of 12 have used methamphetamine—and 529,000 of
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.
I chose Methamphetamines because of how fast the drug causes users to go downhill. When meth became the drug of choice in Arizona, within a couple months entire neighborhoods were garbage strewn, and the physical effects of the drug became apparent in anyone using. Friends disappeared off the radar, to be seen a month later, unemployed, paranoid, scabbed and thin. I would like to learn more about the history and long-term effects on the body from methamphetamines.
The Article discusses how the meth rampage in America, has essentially destroyed people, and their communites. This drug started on the west coast but eventually spread to the east. Meth is easily, and cheaply made. Yet has permanent effects, and destroys lives, and town. The toxic ingredients in meth lead to server tooth decay known as meth mouth. The teeth become black, stained, and rotting. The teeth and gums are destroyed form the inside, and the roots rot away. It also causes open sores, weight loss, and will make you look twenty years older than you really are. One puff will keep you up for 24 hours. Methamphetamine is a manmade chemicals, battery acid, drain cleaners, and anti-freeze., as well as amphetamines, which is from cold medicine.
Methamphetamine takes the form of a white, odorless, bitter tasting1, 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 nerve cells located in the brain’s pleasure center, as well as nerve cells in other locations.
This paper will be focusing on the highly famous and addictive drug, meth. The clinical name is amphetamine and was seriously misunderstood until the 1970’s. I will be focusing mainly on the history, affects, addiction, rehabilitation, and spiritual effects of this drug. We will be traveling, in length, through each of these topics and going down to the cold hard truth about amphetamines and why, or why not to use them and the seriousness of meth. This drug has ended and destroyed lives and I hope to shed some light on why.
Still, Meth has a strong hold on individuals. Takes young adults for instance, most young adults are trying to adjust to the whole responsibility of being adults. Many have not figured out how to manage time properly and try to multitask to keep up with this fast-paced world. Some young adults turn to coffee for a boost of energy and some turn to drugs. There are many different drugs that young adults experiment with but none as high in demand as Methamphetamine. Not only is Meth an easy drug to come by, it is available to all age groups and social classes. In 2001 a study was held and submitted to the journal Addiction about Methamphetamine. The study shows that they interviewed 14,000 adults between the ages of 18-26 nationwide. The study showed that 3% of young adults have used Meth in the past year. That is double the 1.5% that was reported by the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) the year before. (Iritani, B. Addiction, July 2007; vol 102: pp 1102-1113) Because Meth affects the human body the same as Amphetamine, today young adults use’s the drug as a source of energy. Meth has become a college students “cup
Methamphetamine was used originally in nasal decongestants and bronchial inhalers. There are a few accepted medical reasons for its use, such as the treatment of narcolepsy and ADD, but these uses are limited. In its regular form, methamphetamines are also known as speed, meth, and chalk. In its smoked form, it is known as ice, crystal, crank, and glass. Methamphetamine comes in many forms and can be smoked, snorted, orally ingested or injected. The smokeable form of methamphetamine, knows as "ice," came into use in the 1980's. Ice is a large, usually clear crystal of high purity that is smoked in a glass pipe like crack/cocaine. The smoke is odorless, leaves a residue that can be re-smoked, and produces effects that my continue for 12 hours or more. Since there are a few accepted medical reasons for its use, methamphetamine is a controlled substance in the United States, and cannot be used legally without a doctor's approval. Methamphetamine abuse can also lead to legal, financial, and social problems. If methamphetamines are used during pregnancy, babies tend to be asocial, incapable of bonding, have tremors, have birth defects, and cry for 24 hours without stopping. There is also an increased risk of child abuse and neglect of children born to parents who use methamphetamines. WISC-TV reports, "There's a new drug moving into your neighborhood, reports WISC-TV. It's methamphetamine and it's one of the
The use of drugs is a controversial topic in society today. In general, addicts show a direct link between taking drugs and suffering from their effects. People abuse drugs for a wide variety of reasons. In most cases, the use of drugs will serve a type of purpose or will give some kind of reward. These reasons for use will differ with different kinds of drugs. Various reasons for using the substance can be pain relief, depression, anxiety and weariness, acceptance into a peer group, religion, and much more. Although reasons for using may vary for each individual, it is known by all that consequences of the abuse do exist. It is only further down the line when the effects of using can be seen.