-
1 of 10
-
2 of 10
-
3 of 10
-
4 of 10
-
5 of 10
-
6 of 10
-
7 of 10
-
8 of 10
-
9 of 10
-
10 of 10
Methamphetamine spreads eastward from West
Archive
Comments
Story
Scientists know methamphetamine as one of the most dangerous psycho stimulant drugs created. Broken down, ‘meth’ has a longer acting morphine-like effect in which people use in replacement of a morphine or heroin addiction.
The synthetic, mood altering and addictive amphetamine is used to treat some children with attention deficit disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, as well as adults with narcolepsy.
This addictive stimulant activates certain brain systems. Doctors have made meth a schedule II stimulant, meaning it has a high abuse potential, available only in small prescriptions that do not come with a renewal or refill.
Methamphetamine increases dopamine release levels in the brain, which enhance mood and body movement. Chronic meth use changes how the brain functions completely. In animal research, meth destroys neuron cell endings.
Methamphetamine, made in illegal labs across the western United States, goes by many names including crystal, crank, ice, stove top, speed, tweak and poor man’s cocaine.
Though known by many names, meth has specific side affects and long term affects. Short-term affects include restless wakefulness, increased physical activity, decrease in appetite, abnormal respiration, rapid heartbeat, non-regular heartbeat and hyperthermia.
These side affects go along with anxiety, insomnia, increased irritability, tremors, confusion, cardiovascular collapse and eventually, death. The National Institute on Drug Abuse
reports long term affects include paranoia, aggressiveness,
anorexia, memory loss, auditory hallucinations, delusions and
severe dental problems.
Not to mention, methamphetamine can also spread the HIV virus, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C. Injecting meth through reused needles from person to person spreads HIV and Hepatitis. The NIDA reports that reusing needles may even increase the advancement of HIV and therefore AIDS.
“Studies with methamphetamine abusers who have HIV indicate that the HIV causes greater neuronal injury and cognitive impairment compared with HIV-positive people who do not use drugs,” the NIDA said.
This rising epidemic in methamphetamine abuse has opened up more research and more therapies for abusers.
“… the most effective treatments for methamphetamine addiction are behavioral therapies such as cognitive behavioral and contingency management interventions,” researchers and scientists from the National Institute on Drug Abuse said.
Even after treatment, recent studies have shown that chronic abusers of methamphetamine have reduced motor skills along with impaired verbal abilities. Governor Jim Risch has personally stated that he intends to lessen the meth epidemic in Idaho while in office.
This drug has increased its users in other parts of the country since it first raised problems. It started as a nasal spray for asthma and then to treat narcolepsy and ADD. Then the Japanese used it for their pilots in the military to stay awake.
The general public started to use it and abuse spread worldwide. In the 50’s, truckers, athletes and students in the United States started attachment to the drug.
Ten years later, the public started noticing the affects of the drug and immediately made it illegal.
The illicit production of meth started and here it is today, a widely used drug in the western U.S. that is being distributed from Mexico and also made in small clandestine meth labs. The main problems of this drug come from Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Oregon and Washington.
Because of continuous meth use and the impact it has taken on people’s lives, President George W. Bush dubbed Nov. 30 as National Meth Awareness Day.
Boise State held an event with a speaker from Washington D.C. at the Student Union Building. A woman who suffered from the abuse of her meth addiction told her story.
“It’s overpowering all our systems. Our foster care kids are suffering from it,” Georgia Girvan of the Regional Alcohol Drug Awareness Resource Network Center said.
Though only 12 million Americans have reported trying the drug at least once, this drug rises above most in toxicity and addiction.
People have slowly started to realize the effects of this illegally made drug.
MARTEE ORTIZ
