Methamphetamine

Methamphetamine is a stimulant drug usually used as a white, bitter-tasting powder or a pill. Crystal methamphetamine is a form of the drug that looks like glass fragments or shiny, bluish-white rocks. Meth is used both legally and illegally. When used legally, meth, under the brand name Desoxyn, is prescribed for patients with severe attention deficit disorder, obesity, and narcolepsy. Desoxyn is used to produce medications like Adderall or Ritalin. Unfortunately, however, meth is most commonly used illicitly and is usually abused by snorting, smoking, injecting, or taken orally. While many people may try meth out of curiosity or seek the euphoric high it produces, the repercussions of trying this drug are severe and extremely dangerous for the user.

Some of the deadly effects of meth include:

• Permanent damage to blood vessels of the heart and brain
• Heart attacks or strokes due to high blood pressure
• Malnutrition from weight loss
• Severe tooth decay
• Disorientation, confusion
• Liver, kidney, and lung damage
• Destruction of tissues in the nose (if sniffed)
• Infectious diseases and abscesses (if injected)
• Psychosis
• Depression
• Damage to the brain, stroke, and epilepsy

Because meth creates a false sense of well-being and energy, someone who uses meth will typically push their body beyond its limits. This causes the user to have a severe “crash” or a physical or mental breakdown when not taking the drug. Therefore, tolerance to the drug builds over time, and the user, in order to avoid unpleasant withdrawal symptoms, is kept in a vicious cycle of abusing the drug to avoid these side effects. Because meth is extremely addictive, it is best to seek treatment immediately, even if the user has just started to use the drug. The sooner one seeks treatment, the better chance they have of preventing any detrimental damage to their body and health.

https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/methamphetamine