ADHD or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is prevalent in today’s youth and at times adults. ADHD can be treated with a common medication that contains Amphetamines called Adderall. A person with ADHD has difficulty with their brain function that controls attention, the ability to sit or stand still, and self-control.
It is also used to help those who have narcolepsy, problems staying awake during daylight hours. For those who do not have these medical conditions, it produces a stimulant high and is easily prescribed and abused every day. Because you can get a prescription for it, it is not looked down upon like other drugs and dependency and addiction can be overlooked.
Methamphetamine is a Very Dangerous Stimulant
There is a street drug that has similar effects which is cheaper and does not require a prescription but can cost you your life. Methamphetamine, which provides that same stimulant effect of amphetamines and it has very similar chemical make-ups but is ten times more potent and more dangerous.
According to the NCBI, an estimated 12.3 million Americans, or 5% of the adult population, have used methamphetamine at least once, claims a US expert on substance misuse. He also says an estimated 600 000 people are weekly users of the drug.
Methamphetamine can be used in many ways such as smoking, oral (pill form), snorting, and injecting. The methamphetamine high comes and goes quickly which often leads to a cycle of abuse, binging, and crashing over and over again. Some users will sometimes use it for long periods without food or sleep for hours to several days.
It doesn’t take long at all for a user of methamphetamines to become addicted and begin chasing their first high. This addictive drug increases levels of dopamine in the brain, causing a very euphoric and awake feeling.
Methamphetamine, usually called crystal meth or just meth, is generally created in illegal labs and made with ingredients that are highly toxic, explosive, and lead to a wide variety of complications and risks. These toxic ingredients include:
- Battery acid
- Brake fluid
- Lighter fluid
- Engine cleaner
- Iodine
- Paint thinner
- Rubbing alcohol
Looking at the ingredients list for making methamphetamine, it’s easy to see that this drug is very dangerous to the body. Some might think smoking meth is less harmful than injecting it but no matter how a user ingests meth, they are slowly but surely poisoning themselves.
What Are the Dangers of Methamphetamine?
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIH), methamphetamine use may worsen the progression of HIV/AIDS and its consequences. Studies indicate that HIV causes more injury to nerve cells and more cognitive problems in people who use methamphetamine than it does in people who have HIV and don’t use the drug. Cognitive problems are those involved with thinking, understanding, learning, and remembering.
The short-term risks of meth abuse include:
- Loss of appetite
- Increased heart rate
- Increased blood pressure
- Heightened body temperature
- Disrupted sleep patterns
- Dilated pupils
- Nausea
- Bizarre, erratic, and even violent behavior
- Irritability
- Hallucinations
- Panic and anxiety
- Drug-induced psychosis
- Convulsions and seizures
- Death from overdose
The long-term health risks of meth abuse include:
- Permanent damage to blood vessels of heart and brain
- High blood pressure leading to heart attacks, strokes and death
- Liver, lung, and kidney damage
- Breathing problems
- Infectious diseases
- Severe weight loss
- Severe tooth decay
- Disorientation/exhaustion
- Long term psychosis
- Depression
- Memory loss
- Anxiety
- Loss of cognitive function
Users who continue to use methamphetamine over long periods are also known to have cognitive problems. It can cause changes in the brain that can damage coordination, verbal learning, emotion, and memory.
Get the Help You Need
We at Garden State Treatment Center understand the effects drugs have on you and your loved ones and we want you to know that it doesn’t have to continue. You can get your life back and we want to help. We deliver safe, compassionate, and highly individualized care on a medical basis. The most important thing you can expect from your Garden State Treatment Center Treatment experience is that you will emerge from it transformed, stable, and ready to begin a lifetime of recovery.