Consequences of Using Crystal Meth

If you know someone with a Crystal Meth addiction, then you know the bizarre behavior one exhibits while under the influence of one of the most potent and highly addictive drugs there is. If you find yourself addicted to crystal meth, don't fool yourself; you are on a dwindling spiral.
Crystal meth users go through a metamorphosis whereby their appearance and personalities can change dramatically. Violence and self-destructive behavior become more standard as the abuse of the drug becomes chronic. A common hallucination experienced by meth users is the sensation that bugs are crawling on or beneath their skin. Users scratch or pick at their skin trying to get at the imaginary bugs; infections can ensue created by the open sores and unkempt conditions.
Along with open sores which never appear to heal properly, another tell tell sign of abuse is what is commonly called "meth mouth". There is some speculation about a lack of saliva, poor diet with high sugar content beverages being consumed along with poor hygiene, but meth users are notorious for clenching their jaws and grinding their teeth. The results are alarming.
Lured by initial euphoria, short-term use of the drug causes mind and mood changes which result in depression. Crystal meth creates such an immediate hold on the user that it can only take one use of the drug on some users to result in mental addiction. According to research published in the Free Radical Biology and Medicine, just one hit of crystal meth can cause birth defects affecting fetuses at all stages of development. The research was done by U of T pharmacy and pharmacology professor Peter Wells and his colleagues. "We've known for a while that meth abuse during pregnancy is associated with low birth weight, cleft palates and other malformations but this is the first research demonstrating that even a single exposure can cause long-term damage," says Wells. "It's pretty remarkable that a single low dose can have such an effect.
For long-time crystal meth users, chronic fatigue sets in, they'll be paranoid, they have delusional thinking and if the drug doesn't kill them, they can suffer permanent psychological damage. Which shouldn't surprise anyone who knows the ingredients used to produce the drug: battery acid, drain cleaner, lantern fuel and antifreeze. One statistic reveals that meth was involved in 17,696 emergency room visits in the United States alone.
As alarming as this all sounds, consider this: According to the Monitoring the Future Survey conducted in the US, nearly 5% of high school seniors have used crystal meth at least once in their lifetime; it's even more shocking that 3% have used it in the past year.

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Crystal Meth on the Body

Methamphetamine can cause a variety of cardiovascular 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 methamphetamine overdoses, and if not treated immediately, can result in death.

Chronic methamphetamine abuse can result in inflammation of the heart lining, and among users who inject the drug, damaged blood vessels and skin abscesses. Methamphetamine abusers 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 for methamphetamine abusers. A common method of illegal methamphetamine production uses lead acetate as a reagent. Production errors therefore may result in methamphetamine contaminated with lead. There have been documented cases of acute lead poisoning in intravenous methamphetamine abusers.

Fetal exposure to methamphetamine also is a significant problem in the United States. At present, research indicates that methamphetamine abuse during pregnancy may result in prenatal complications, increased rates of premature delivery, and altered neonatal behavioral patterns, such as abnormal reflexes and extreme irritability. Methamphetamine abuse during pregnancy may be linked also to congenital deformities.

Crystal Meth Side Effects

Short-term Effects:
Negative effects can include, but are not limited to disturbed sleep patterns, hyperactivity, nausea, delusions of power, increased aggressiveness and irritability. Can cause decreased hunger and bring on weight loss. In higher doses crystal meth has a greater "rush, " followed by increased agitation and sometimes violence. Other effects can include insomnia, confusion, hallucinations, anxiety and paranoia. Crystal Meth can also cause convulsions leading to death.

Long-term Effects:
Increased heart rate and blood pressure, damage to blood vessels in the brain, leading to strokes or irregular heart beat and cardiovascular collapse or death. It can cause liver, kidney and lung damage. There are strong indications that users suffer brain damage, including memory impairment and an increasing inability to grasp abstract thoughts. Those who recover are usually subject to memory gaps and extreme mood swings.

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