Methamphetamine Facts
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Methamphetamine is a stimulant that is produced in clandestine labs throughout the United States. There is an FDA approved medication that includes methamphetamine known as Desoxyn although it is not commonly prescribed except for in severe cases of obesity and sometimes for ADHD. These methamphetamine facts will help you to better understand what methamphetamine is, how it’s used and the risks involved with such use.
What Meth Looks Like
When produced on the streets, methamphetamine looks like a shiny rock or piece of glass. It tends to come in various sizes and may even be in powder form. The most pure methamphetamine is usually not cloudy and contains little or no color while impure forms such as crank often are yellow or pink in color.
How Methamphetamine is Abused
Methamphetamine is abused in a number of different ways. It can be:
Crystal meth comes in a few different forms. One is a rock or crystal-like form shown here.
- smoked
- snorted
- ingested
- injected
The method of use plays a key role in the level of the euphoric effects that are felt. Injecting produces the strongest and most dangerous high while ingesting the drug tends to produce a more prolonged and drawn out high.
Meth Effects
According to the DEA, “researchers have reported that as much as 50% of the dopamine-producing cells in the brain can be damaged after prolonged exposure to relatively low levels of meth.” The effects of meth include:
- increased energy
- anxiety and paranoia
- insomnia
- confusion
- irritability
- aggression
- hallucinations
- changes in behavior and mood
- delusions
Facts About Meth Use in the US
- According to the National Household Survey on Drug Abuse, an estimated 9.6 million people in the United States who are at least 12 years old report having abused meth at least one time in their lifetime.
- Meth use in high school is of grave concern as an estimated 7% of all high school seniors report having abused methamphetamine.
- According to a study produced by the University of Michigan, an estimated 2% of high school seniors have abused methamphetamine at least once in the past 30 days.
- At least 3% of high school seniors report having abused methamphetamine in the past year according to the University of Michigan’s Monitoring the Future Survey.