Member Information
Get Connected
Reading/Career
Search by Category
 Rehab Programs
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 



Find Drug Rehab Centers

Post articles View all articles Print article

Methamphetamine


Methamphetamine (pharmaceutical referred to as methylamphetamine or desoxyephedrine) is a synthetic psychostimulant drug used primarily for recreational purposes.


Methamphetamine (pharmaceutical referred to as methylamphetamine or desoxyephedrine) is a synthetic psychostimulant drug used primarily for recreational purposes, but is sometimes prescribed for ADHD and narcolepsy under the brand name Desoxyn. (see Legal issues). Methamphetamine is highly psychologically addictive. Large doses of methamphetamine can result in a strong feeling of euphoria at the expense of physical fatigue and a strong "come-down" as the drug 's effect wears off.

Effects
Methamphetamine is reported to attack the immune system, resulting in increased susceptibility to a variety of opportunistic infections (including MRSA, streptococcus, pseudomonads, and other bacterias and yeasts). This may simply be a result of long-term sleep deprivation and/or chronic malnutrition.

Methamphetamine inhibits pain and increases metabolism, which allows a person to push muscles to points of failure that would otherwise be harder or impossible to reach. (See the article entitled Exercise and Stimulants for a better description of the factors involved.)

Other side effects include twitching, "jitteriness", repetitive behavior (known as "tweaking"), and jaw clenching or teeth grinding.

Methamphetamine addicts often lose their teeth abnormally fast, a condition known as "methmouth"; several factors, including jaw clenching, neglect of personal hygiene by heavy meth users, and dry mouth may contribute to tooth loss. Methamphetamine causes decreased production of acid-fighting saliva and increased thirst, resulting in increased risk for tooth decay, especially when thirst is quenched by high-sugar drinks. Smoking methamphetamine may speed this process by leaving a crystalline residue on the teeth, although no studies have been done to support this claim.

Users may sexually compulsive behavior and may engage in extended sexual encounters with one or more individuals, often strangers. As it is symptomatic to continue taking the drug to combat fatigue, an encounter or series of encounters can last for several days. This compulsive behavior has created a link between meth use and sexually transmitted disease (STD) transmission, especially HIV and syphilis. This caused great concern among larger gay communities, particularly those in Atlanta, Miami, Chicago, New York City, and San Francisco, leading to outreach programs and rapid growth in 12-step organizations such as Crystal Meth Anonymous.

Common side effects of methamphetamine include

  • Cardiovascular - Hypertension
  • Endocrinal - Elevated body temperature
  • Eye - Dilated pupils
  • Gastrointestinal - Diarrhea, nausea
  • Neuro-psychological - Euphoria, paranoia
  • Skin - Rash
  • Miscellaneous - Anorexia, insomnia, restlessness, weight loss

Other unwanted side-effects

  • Compulsive fascination with useless repetitive tasks (see Punding)
  • Severe psychological addiction
  • Acne
  • Depression
  • Formication (false sensation of flesh crawling with bugs, with possible associated compulsive picking and infected sores)
  • Amphetamine psychosis
  • Erectile dysfunction ("Crystal cock")
  • Long-term cognitive impairment due to neurotoxicity
  • Tooth decay (Due to neglection of hygiene and/or chemicals used in manufacture of crystal methamphetamine; "meth mouth")
  • Damage to immune system
  • Persistent anhedonia with chronic use
  • Staphylococcus infection
  • Death

Severe side effects (with chronic use) include

  • Amphetamine psychosis
  • Clinical depression
  • Kidney damage
  • Liver damage

  
Drug Rehab Programs   Show All articles
Search by Zip
  Enter Zip  search
Contact Drug Rehab Programs near you.
Firstname *
Lastname *
Email *
Phone *
Alt. Phone
Zip *
Brief reason to contact *
Los Angeles Drug Rehab ProgramMIAMI-DADE Drug Rehab ProgramCook Drug Rehab Program
SAINT LOUIS Drug Rehab ProgramHarris Drug Rehab ProgramMaricopa Drug Rehab Program
Orange Drug Rehab ProgramSan Diego Drug Rehab ProgramPRINCE GEORGES Drug Rehab Program
Kings Drug Rehab ProgramDade Drug Rehab ProgramQueens Drug Rehab Program
Dallas Drug Rehab ProgramWayne Drug Rehab ProgramKing Drug Rehab Program
San Bernardino Drug Rehab ProgramSanta Clara Drug Rehab ProgramDEKALB Drug Rehab Program
Broward Drug Rehab ProgramDU PAGE Drug Rehab ProgramRiverside Drug Rehab Program
New York Drug Rehab ProgramPhiladelphia Drug Rehab ProgramMiddlesex Drug Rehab Program
Tarrant Drug Rehab ProgramAlameda Drug Rehab ProgramSuffolk Drug Rehab Program
Cuyahoga Drug Rehab ProgramBexar Drug Rehab ProgramClark Drug Rehab Program
 
More information...
A Drug Rehab and Dual Diagnosis Treatment
National statistics have shown that drug addicts and alcoholics who attend a long term addiction treatment and drug rehab programs...
How To Select A Drug Rehab Clinic
A drug rehab clinic can be the ideal place to detox from the unhealthy lifestyle that is being lead. It is essential that careful planning of which drug or alcohol addition treatment program is select...
How to Find a Drug Rehab in Florida?
When you're in need, the quickest way is the best: if you put “drug rehab in Florida” in your search engine, the first page it finds will be the right one....
Drug and Alcohol Rehab
Rehabilitation from drug addiction is a complex process. It involves commitment from the individual addict to abstain from further drug use. The physical dependence on the drug needs to be overcome...
What Happens in Drug Rehab?
Drug rehabilitation is an important part of the recovery process for anyone addicted. For someone who has never been in a rehabilitation center,...
The Extensiveness Of Drug Rehab
Drug rehab is not fun. It is not a day in the park. It is one of the most challenging aspects of anyone’s life. Those who have not had to deal with it can not understand it...
Drug Rehab Treatments
It is with definite grief that we have to realize that our society is not prospering as well as it should. Crimes are still being continuously committed, be it by cruel acts of violence or mass ...
Drug Rehab Statistics
Drug abuse is defined as the compulsive and habitual misuse of any drug for various purposes, such as achieving calming or euphoric effects, an escape from reality, dulling anxiety, and fighting ...
Drug Detox Programs and Drug Rehab
For those who are addicted to various drugs, usually drug detox program is the only way to help them overcome their drug addiction. Whether they are addicted to street drugs or have a prescription...
How to Choose a Drug Rehab or Alcohol Rehab Program
Drug addiction is defined as "the compulsive use of psychoactive drugs, to the point where the user has no effective choice but to continue use." Drug addiction is a complex illness and effective ...
Types of Rehab Treatments
The types of rehabilitation treatments include inpatient rehab treatment, outpatient rehab treatment, residential rehab treatment, short-term rehab treatment and long-term rehab treatment. ...
Factors to consider while choosing a rehab program?
For those who are seeking a drug rehab program or an alcohol rehab program, it could be a little difficult and even confusing to identify the best rehab program that would ideally suit your needs...
Drug and Alcohol Abuse
Drug abuse includes the use and abuse of illegal drugs such as marijuana, heroin, cocaine, ecstasy etc. and prescription drugs such as sleeping pills....
Alcohol Addiction Treatment
There are a number of alcohol addiction treatment options and the type of treatment a patient receives varies according to the severity of his or her alcohol addiction....
How do Drug Rehab Centers work?
A typical drug rehab center follows the treatment process that starts from drug detoxification and takes the patient through drug rehabilitation to restore the individual to good health....
Dual Diagnosis
Dual Diagnosis refers to a condition in which a person suffers from co-occurring disorders such as a psychiatric disorder and substance abuse which is an addiction to a substance like alcohol or drugs...

Contact Us | Site Map | RSS Feeds | Articles | Jobs | All Members | Popular Searches | Popular Questions