CRYSTAL METH

What is Crystal Meth?

CRYSTAL METH IS SHORT FOR CRYSTAL METHAMPHETAMINE. It is one form of the drug methamphetamine but stronger, harsher, more addictive and more damaging.

Methamphetamine is a white crystalline drug that people take by snorting it, smoking it or injecting it with a needle. Some even take it orally, but all develop a strong desire to continue using it, because the drug creates a false sense of happiness and well-being—a rush of confidence, hyperactiveness and energy. People also experience decreased appetite. These drug effects generally last from six to eight hours but can last up to twenty four hours. The first experience might involve some pleasure, but from the start, methamphetamine begins to destroy the user's life.

Hvad er metamfetamin?

METHAMPHETAMINE IS AN ILLEGAL DRUG, IN THE SAME CLASS AS COCAINE AND OTHER STREET DRUGS. It is a powerfully addictive stimulant that dramatically affects the central nervous system.

Of all the illegal drugs on the market, methamphetamine has a position that is slightly unique. Given a supply of a few basic chemicals, a methamphetamine manufacturer can set up shop anywhere. Unlike other drugs, a meth manufacturer does not need access to crops like heroin poppies, coca leaf or marijuana that are only grown in remote or secluded regions. He does not need a cooperative pharmacist for illegally distributed prescription drugs.

These factors combine to make methamphetamine a drug with high potential for widespread use. It has many nicknames—meth, crank, chalk or speed being the most common. (See page 13 for a list of street names.)

As with similar stimulants, methamphetamine most often is used in a binge-and-crash pattern. Because tolerance for meth occurs within minutes—meaning that the pleasurable effects disappear even before the drug concentration in the blood falls significantly—users try to maintain the high by binging on the drug.

Crystal meth is used by individuals of all ages, but is most commonly used as a club drug, taken while partying in nightclubs or at rave parties. Its most common street names are ice or glass.

It 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.

Thus it is associated with serious health conditions, including memory loss, aggression, psychotic behavior and potential heart and brain damage.

Highly addictive, meth burns up the body's natural resources of vitamins and minerals, creating a devastating dependence that can only be relieved by taking more of the drug.

Crystal meth's effect is highly concentrated and many users report getting addicted the first time they use it. "I tried it once and BOOM! I was addicted," said one meth addict, who lost his family, friends and his profession as a musician and ended up homeless.

Consequently it is one of the hardest drug addictions to treat.

What is Meth Made From?

METH IS A SYNTHETIC (MAN-MADE) CHEMICAL, unlike cocaine, for instance, which comes from a plant.

Meth is commonly manufactured in illegal, hidden laboratories, mixing various forms of amphetamine with other chemicals to boost its potency. Common pills for cold remedies are often used as the basis for the production of the drug. The meth "cook" extracts substances from those pills and, to increase its strength, combines the ingredients with chemicals such as battery acid, drain cleaner, lantern fuel and antifreeze.

Every person who uses the drug is exposed not only to the harsh stimulant itself, but also to traces and residues of the corrosive and toxic chemicals that were used to make it. The health effects of these chemicals on the body and the mind are brutal.

What Does Methamphetamine Look Like?

Methamphetamine usually comes in the form of a crystalline white powder that is odorless and bitter-tasting and dissolves easily in water or alcohol.

Other colors of the powder include brown, yellow-gray, orange and even pink. It can also be compressed into pill form. As covered earlier, it can be snorted, smoked or injected.

Crystal meth comes in clear chunky crystals resembling ice and is most commonly smoked.

The Deadly Effects of Methamphetamines

WHEN TAKEN, METH AND CRYSTAL METH CREATE A FALSE SENSE OF WELL-BEING AND ENERGY and so a person will tend to push his body faster and further than it is meant to go. Thus drug users can experience a severe crash, or physical and mental breakdown, after the effects of the drug wears off.

Because continued use of the drug decreases natural feelings of hunger, users can experience extreme weight loss. Negative effects can also include disturbed sleep patterns, hyperactivity, nausea, increased aggressiveness, delusions of power, and irritability.

Other serious effects can include insomnia, confusion, hallucinations, anxiety and paranoia.

In some cases, use can cause convulsions that lead to death.

In the long term, meth use can cause irreversible harm: increased heart rate and blood pressure; damaged blood vessels in the brain that can cause strokes; an irregular heartbeat that can, in turn, cause cardiovascular collapse or death; and liver, kidney and lung damage.

Users may suffer brain damage, including memory loss and an increasing inability to grasp abstract thoughts. Those who recover are usually subject to memory gaps and extreme mood swings.

Crystal Meth Effects

Gadenavne

Medical Complications

METH CAN CAUSE A VARIETY OF CARDIOVASCULAR (HEART AND BLOOD VESSELS) PROBLEMS. These include rapid heart rate, irregular heartbeat, increased blood pressure, and irreversible, stroke-producing damage to small blood vessels in the brain. Hyperthermia (elevated body temperature) and convulsions occur with meth overdoses and, if not treated immediately, can result in death.

Chronic meth use can result in inflammation of the heart lining and, for users who inject the drug, damaged blood vessels and skin abscesses. Meth users also can have episodes of violent behavior, paranoia, anxiety, confusion, and insomnia. Heavy users also show progressive social and occupational deterioration. Psychotic symptoms can sometimes persist for months or years after use has ceased.

Acute lead poisoning is another potential risk. A common method of illegal meth production uses a form of lead. Production errors may therefore result in meth contaminated with lead, so meth users can suffer from acute lead poisoning.

Research also indicates that using methamphetamine during pregnancy may result in complications to the unborn child, increased rates of premature delivery and altered behavioral patterns, such as abnormal reflexes and extreme irritability. It may also be linked to birth deformities.

Downward Spiral of Meth Use

WHEN PEOPLE TAKE METH, IT TAKES OVER THEIR LIVES IN VARYING DEGREES. There are three categories of use:

The Stages of Meth "Experience"

Life Threatening Delusions

CITIES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES REPORT INCREASED PERCENTAGES OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE INCIDENTS associated with meth use. Domestic disputes, ordinarily regarded as dangerous situations for law enforcement, become intensified when a tweaker is involved, because of the person's unpredictability.

Many motor-vehicle violations and accidents may also involve tweakers. Paranoid and hallucinating, tweakers may decide to drive their cars. In their delusional state, moving shapes and shadows appear threatening and they are likely to increase their speed and exhibit erratic driving patterns in their attempts to evade the images. An additional threat to society and themselves may stem from the tweaker's tendency to arm themselves for their personal safety. Interviews with methamphetamine users have confirmed that these individuals often keep weapons in their automobiles as well as in their homes.

Tweakers may also be present at raves or parties. To support their habit, they often participate in spur-of-the-moment crimes, such as purse snatching, strong-arm robberies, assaults with a weapon, burglaries and thefts of motor vehicles.

Meth is readily available and today's users cross the ethnic and gender boundaries. Meth is psychologically addictive during the binge and high-intensity patterns of use, with users becoming paranoid and unpredictable.

Methamphetamine: A Short History

Hvad er stoffer?

MEDICIN ER I BUND OG GRUND GIFT. Mængden, der tages, bestemmer effekten.

Det gælder for alle stoffer. Kun den mængde, der skal til for at opnå effekten, er forskellig.

Men mange stoffer har et andet ansvar: De påvirker sindet direkte. De kan forvrænge brugerens opfattelse af, hvad der sker omkring ham. Som følge heraf kan personens handlinger være mærkelige, irrationelle, upassende og endda destruktive.

Narkotika blokerer også for alle fornemmelser, både de ønskelige og de uønskede. Så selv om de giver kortvarig lindring af smerter, udvisker de også evnen og årvågenheden og forplumrer en persons tankegang.

Om lægemidler

Medicin er stoffer, der har til formål at få din krop til at fungere bedre ved at fremskynde, bremse eller ændre noget ved den måde, kroppen fungerer på. Nogle gange er de nødvendige. Men medicin er stadig stoffer: De virker som stimulerende eller beroligende midler, og for meget kan slå dig ihjel. Hvis medicin misbruges, kan det være lige så farligt som ulovlige stoffer.

Om Narconon

NARCONON (BETYDER "INGEN NARKOTISKE STOFFER") stof- og alkoholrehabiliteringsprogrammet er åbent for alle, der ønsker at komme ud af deres afhængighed og leve et produktivt, stoffrit liv.

Narconon-programmet tager sig ikke kun af de invaliderende virkninger af stofmisbrug på krop og sind, men hjælper også med at finde ud af, hvorfor en person overhovedet begyndte at tage stoffer. Resultatet er, at titusinder har afsluttet Narconon-programmet og fået et nyt liv uden brug af stoffer.

Ud over rehabilitering af stofmisbrugere har Narconons stofforebyggelsesmedarbejdere uddannet millioner af skolebørn. Narconon har mere end 50 års erfaring med uddannelse om stoffer og har vist sig at være effektiv til at holde unge væk fra stoffer.

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