Methamphetamine: its short-term and long-term effects

June 21, 2006

By STEVE BOGA
FOR THE ARGUS-COURIER

For years, meth came in powder form, called speed. It was usually snorted or mixed with water and injected. But then someone created methamphetamine hydrochloride, transparent chunks that look like rock candy. Users typically burn the crystals (thus the name crystal meth) in a small pipe and inhale the vapors. Inhaled meth gets into the bloodstream faster.

Crystal meth (aka: crank, ice, meth, d-meth, crystal, shabu, batu, tina and glass, among others) is a powerful, synthetic stimulant. Stimulant drugs speed up the messages going to and from the brain. Crystal meth is more pure than powder methamphetamine and more potent than other forms of amphetamines.

Short-term effects

The effects of any drug vary from person to person, depending on a host of genetic and environmental factors. Another variable is that street users often don't know what they're taking. The purity of meth varies, increasing the risk of negative effects and overdose.

Nevertheless, soon after taking meth, many people experience some or all of the following physical and psychological effects:

feelings of euphoria, excitement, and well-being.

increased alertness and energy.

a boost in confidence.

increased libido.

sense of Herculean strength.

talkativeness, abrupt shifts in thought and speech; restlessness; twitching; and itching, picking and scratching.

tremors of the hands and fingers.

speeding up of bodily functions, including elevated breathing rate, body temperature, blood pressure, sweating rate and heartbeat.

sleep problems, reduced appetite, dilated pupils, dry mouth, stomach cramps, nausea, dizziness, blurred vision and headaches.

nervousness, anxiety, panic attacks and paranoia.

irritability, aggression and hostility.

hallucinations, paranoid delusions and bizarre behavior.

Long-term effects

Long-term use of meth can cause or worsen the following health problems:

high blood pressure and increased risk of heart-related complications, including heart attack and heart failure.

malnutrition and rapid weight loss due to reduced appetite.

chronic sleeping problems.

reduced immunity and increased susceptibility to infections due to poor sleeping or eating habits.

depression, anxiety, tension, and paranoia.

brain damage (evidence exists that meth may damage brain cells).

dental problems.

meth smokers damage their lungs.

meth snorters damage the lining of the nose.

meth injectors are prone to scarring, abscesses and vein damage. Sharing needles also increases the risk of contracting blood-borne viruses, such as hepatitis B and C, and HIV.

Other effects and issues

Meth users are more likely to practice unsafe sex. This increases the chances of contracting sexually transmitted infections and blood-borne viruses, such as hepatitis B and C, and HIV.

Meth users tend to have more family, financial, legal, work, school and other personal problems. These are often made worse by the fact that many meth users become erratic, irritable, hostile, even violent. They are more likely to lose their jobs and to commit traffic violations.

Using meth while pregnant can damage the fetus. Amphetamine use has been linked to bleeding, early labor and an increased risk of fetal abnormalities.

Dependence

Habitual meth users quickly develop a tolerance to the drug. They need more and more of it to get as high as they once did. Physical and/or psychological dependence is not uncommon. For people psychologically dependent on meth, using it becomes more important than any other activities in their life. They crave the drug and find it very difficult to stop using it. The body of someone physically dependent on meth quickly adapts to the drug and gets used to functioning with it. Users who are physically dependent on meth may experience withdrawal symptoms when they suddenly stop taking it.

Coming down

As the meth high wears off, the user may experience symptoms that include tension, depression, radical mood swings, uncontrollable violence, and exhaustion.

Withdrawal

People who stop using meth may experience symptoms that include:

disorientation.

hunger.

exhaustion.

apathy and an inability to experience pleasure.

anxiety, irritability and depression.

meth cravings.