The dangers of methamphetamines,

Methamphetamine is a highly addictive stimulant. It is also called meth, speed, crystal, ice or chalk. It is used for medical purposes to treat people with ADHD and obese people as well. Methamphetamine effects the central nervous system and is proven to be toxic to the dopamine nerve terminals where there neurotransmitters are released. This works by stimulating the brain cells to promote euphoria and body movement. Creating a happy feeling and taking you to a place of euphoria, but only for a short amount of time. Methamphetamines can be taken orally, smoked, snorted or injected. Different types methamphetamines are used for some medical uses such as narcolepsy, Attention deficit disorder (ADD) and obesity. But must be taken under the direction of a doctor.

Meth can have significant side effects, even in the short-term, including addiction. Because the effects dont last long the user will urge to take more and more. Over time, a users tolerance will increase and thus, he or she will start taking larger dosage.

Neurological complications: Large dosages of meth can cause brain damage. Damaging the brain cells, which contain serotonin and dopamine. Which are associated with slowed motor skills and weakened memories in the individuals. Abusers who remained abstinent for at least nine months were found to recover from damage to their dopamine transporters, but their motor skills and memories were not found to have recovered. A longtime user may develop symptoms that are similar to a person with Parkinsons disease. Meth use will also result in anxiety, paranoia, aggressive behavior, convulsions and irritability.

Cardiovascular problems:

Methamphetamines will cause irregular heartbeat, an increase in heart rate, increased body temperature and elevate the users blood pressure. With continued use can cause the heart to weaken and possible failure ending in death.

Oral problems: Meth users usually have a condition called Xerstomia, which causes dry mouth a meth users teeth and gums will be prone to bacteria build-up. This is due to the lack of hygiene exhibited by meth user and the lack of brushing their teeth. He or she will exhibit varying degrees of gum disease, cracked teeth and tooth decay which is very disgusting.

Other side effects are lung problems and liver disease. A speech impediment may develop. The meth addict will have a weaker immune system and thus, is easily infected by diseases and other illnesses. The skin is also effected by meth use. The addict will get really bad acne, there skin turns a grayish color. The drug causes hallucinations of bugs crawling under their skin, causing the user to cut or dig them out. Meth users also lose their hair and are very fidgety. Anorexia can be a side effect as well because meth stops the person from being hungry, there for they lose a lot of weight.

Behaviors of someone abusing meth: may include very disturbing mood swings, and trying to stop may include symptoms such as anxiety, depression, extreme fatigue, and unusually long sleep periods when the user is coming down from the high. While meth use can be dangerous, many people find the excitement and euphoria that they experience to be nearly impossible to resist. I have had family members who used meth and have seen first- hand that they seem to become soulless they only care about where their next high is coming. Their paranoia and

anxiety gets so bad that they become violent. The user may start stealing or commit others crimes in order to get money for the drugs. Meth users also tend to neglect those around them, including their children and family members creating a great deal of emotional trauma. Without intervention, preoccupation with methamphetamines may ultimately consume daily life. A meth user is most likely to lose their jobs not being able to financially support themselves and family.

Studies have shown that men and women use meth equally compared to the use of other illegal drugs where men use more than women 3 to 1. Women how use meth tend to be mothers. They start using meth for the weight-loss and energy benefits but can become addicted after just the first time of use. Women who use meth tend to have relationship problems or a partner that uses as well. Women tend to have more emotional side-effects than men.

Women who are pregnant:

Methamphetamine use during pregnancy has been shown to result in pre-mature delivery as well as birth defects. Meth use can affect development of vital organs of the fetus such as the brain, heart, stomach and kidneys. It can also cause skeletal abnormalities. Additionally, there have been cases of babies in utero experiencing strokes and brain hemorrhages due to the mothers methamphetamine use.

Babies who are born at full-term but exposed to methamphetamine may have problems similar to premature babies such as, for example, low birth weight and difficulty sucking and swallowing. Also, meth-exposed babies may have difficulty tolerating light and touch and become unusually irritable, restless and inconsolable. As children, these babies tend to have learning disabilities, problems of inattention and hyperactivity as well as behavior problems related to anger and

impulsivity. Children who have addicted parents:

Children of addicted parents are vulnerable to physical and sexual abuse, malnutrition, truancy and medical neglect. Some children are chronically exposed to toxic chemicals in their homes if parents make meth. Therefore, many women with methamphetamine addiction are involved with child welfare agencies to take the children out of the home due to unsafe home environment. Placing the kids in foster care where the parents could lose custody of their child. The chemicals used to cook meth and the toxic compounds and byproducts resulting from its manufacture produce toxic fumes, vapors, and spills. A child living at a meth lab may inhale or swallow toxic substances or inhale the secondhand smoke of adults who are using meth; or other drug paraphernalia; absorb methamphetamine and other toxic substances through the skin following contact with contaminated surfaces, clothing, or food; or become ill after directly ingesting chemicals

Meth labs:

Houses that are used in the production of methamphetamines are a hazard to the health of the occupants. The chemicals used in the production of meth saturate deep into the walls carpets, ceilings and are often found in the plumbing system from being poured down drains. These chemicals pose a serious health risks to inhabitants of the home. Many of the chemicals used in the production of meth are known carcinogens (cancer-causing agents). Other symptoms including headaches, fatigue, sore throats and difficulty breathing and skin rashes are common in

individuals exposed to the chemicals found in a former meth house. If the homes was known as a meth lab then it will be condemned until costly repairs can be made livable again.

A person withdrawal from meth can begin a few hours since the last dose or may occur days after stopping the use of the drug. The severity of the symptoms will greatly depend on how much the person has used and how long he or she was addicted to meth. Here are a few expected side effects observed in people who are under methamphetamine withdrawal. Intense depression, unhappiness, with possible suicide thoughts cause the great happy euphoria feeling is gone. The person will experience severe headaches and even stomach cramps that resemble hunger pains. The recovering meth user will experience weight gain once he or she is better. The weight gain will help restore nourishment to a once fragile body.

Getting over a drug addiction is very hard and should be done in a treatment facility under a doctors supervision. Treatment centers are usually an in- patient facility that last for about 28 days. During this time the user will receive antidepressants to combat the anxiety and panic attacks, sleeping aids like Valium, to promote a fitful sleep. Counseling to help them get over their habits and triggers for drug craving. In a detox facility, a patient is made to join support groups made up of others who are undergoing detoxification. This will help strengthen a patients resolve to overcome the substance. Although treatment centers are very helpful they are not always effective the first time, patients can choose to stay in longer if needed. The only problem is that these types of facilitys can be very costly making it very hard to get treatment that is needed. Unfortunately based on statistics and crime rates, meth is not going anywhere fast. Meth is going to continue to be an ongoing problem due to the cheap ingredients to make meth and

the easy ways it is to conceal labs and mobile meth labs. Police are doing what they can to stop this drug. Until them awareness and knowledge are the only tools we have to keep this drug out of our lives.