Meth Research Paper

When most people think about drug abuse they picture the typical image we have recieved from lessons in school or social media. We see horrifying pictures of vicitims who have become almost unrecoginzable after their drug usage, making us believe that we could never possibly reach that state they have came to. However, many do not understand the serious affects of drug abuse, specifically meth. Although it is typically not the most porpular drug in america, it is one of the most dangerous. It’s affects not only rapidly show physically but they leave users impaired for a continuous amount of time after. Although most do not directly come into contact with using meth it is also present in other drugs that contain amphetamines like adderall,

vyvanse, and dexedrine.
Methamphetamine is not the number one drug that is abused in most countries, but it is one of the most addictive and one of the most destructive. It’s important that parents and young adults are aware of the danger it contains. The methamphetamine molecule is structurally similar to amphetamine and to the neurotransmitter dopamine, a brain chemical that plays an important role in the regulation of reward, but it still differs from cocaine. Although these stimulants have similar behavioral and physiological effects, there are some major differences in the main mechanisms of how they work.
Compared to cocaine, which is almost completely metabolized and released from the body, methamphetamine has a much longer duration of action, and a larger percentage of the drug lingers unchanged in the body.

Methamphetamine therefore remains in the brain longer, which ultimately leads to extended stimulant effects. Although both methamphetamine and cocaine maximize levels of dopamine, administration of methamphetamine in animal studies leads to much higher levels of dopamine, because nerve cells respond differently to the two drugs. Cocaine prolongs dopamine actions in the brain by blocking the re-absorption of the neurotransmitter by signaling nerve cells. At low doses, methamphetamine also blocks the re-uptake of dopamine, but it also increases the release of dopamine, leading to much higher concentrations in the synapse, which can be toxic to nerve

terminals.
Meth is most often a white to light brown crystalline powder. It can also reflect light shades of blue or pink. It can be found in clear crystals that resemble broken pieces of glass. Methamphetamine can also be found in liquid form. Methamphetamine can be swallowed, snorted, injected or smoked. Some meth users abuse the drug over and over, a form of binging known as a “run.” They may inject the drug every few hours until they run out of supplies or become too incapacitated to continue.
Methamphetamine is a very strong stimulant.

With some methods of usage, there is a fast rush of euphoria followed by a long period of coming down, where depression takes place. A period of heavy meth use is usually followed by a crash in which the person can’t control his sleepiness. He or she may sleep long hours or keep falling into a sleep. There will be heavy drug cravings during this time period that can lead to another binge. When meth is ingested, there is no rush but the high may last for as long as ten hours. The user feels more energetic, does not sleep for long periods, usually several days, and loses his or her appetite. It is common for meth addicts to lose large amounts of weight and look gaunt, thin and undernourished. He or she will probably appear unusually active but may also act nervous and

anxious.
The user is likely to get overheated and may appear sweaty without it being hot or even participating in physical activity. The pupils will become dilated. Their blood pressure will also increase, including the desire for sexual pleasure.
Effects
During its production, methamphetamine is processed using harsh, hazardous chemicals. As a result, heavy use of this drug is very hard on the user. Methamphetamine is popular as a stimulant. As a stimulant, methamphetamine improves concentration, energy, and alertness while decreasing appetite and fatigue. Methamphetamines are also taken by people who are feeling depressed. Additionally, the lifestyle of a methamphetamine user usually creates further brain damage. All in all, it is one of the most damaging drugs on the street market. Repeated use can show up in an irregular heartbeat, rapid heartbeat, mood disturbances, violent, aggressive, paranoid behavior, confusion and insomnia. There may be a rapid deterioration of the person’s behavior or appearance if he or she is a heavy user. Heavy users tend to experience hallucinations and delusions. Some users develop sores on their face or body when they have been picking at their skin, thinking that there are bugs crawling under their skin that they can’t see. The comedown after a meth high often sends users into despair. The mind and body will react in several painful ways, otherwise known as a withdrawal. The severity of meth withdrawal, which can last up to 4 weeks, is one of the primary reasons that addicts can’t stay away — 88% of meth addicts relapse, returning to the drug at some point after quitting.
Due to the abrasive nature of the chemicals and the fact that the drug dries up the flow of saliva, a meth addict’s teeth may get rotten and brown. This is referred to as “meth mouth.”Meth users can also suffer from poor judgment and may engage in risky lifestyles and risky sex. When a person becomes a meth addict, getting the drug becomes far more important than taking care of the home, children or work. If there are children in the home of confirmed meth users, families should take effective action as the children of meth users may come to harm due to neglect, abuse or worse. An overdose of methamphetamine can cause overheating to the point of convulsions, cardiovascular collapse or death.