ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS ABOUT METH

What is methamphetamine?

Meth is a powerfully addictive stimulant that affects many areas of
the central nervous system and causes dramatic changes in the brain.

What exactly does meth do to the brain?

Meth is long lasting and toxic to dopamine nerve terminals in the
central nervous system. It unnaturally raises the level of dopamine -
the brain chemical that allows us to feel pleasure - to more than 10
times the amount caused by life's normal pleasures, including eating
and having sex. In stimulating this dopamine release, meth creates an
intense rush of pleasure. This powerful rewarding effect is a major
part of the biology of meth addiction. With repeated use, Meth can
turn off the brain's ability to produce dopamine, leaving users unable
to experience any kind of pleasure from anything other than more and
more meth.

In what forms do people use meth?

As a white, odorless, bitter-tasting powder that can be swallowed,
snorted or injected, or as a rock "crystal" that is heated and smoked.
Depending on the method of intake, the high from meth can last from 6
to 24 hours.

What are some street names for methamphetamine?

Speed, chalk, ice, crystal, glass, crank, yaba, fire, Tina and
tweak.

What are the short-term side effects of meth use?

Increased wakefulness and physical activity, rapid heart rate,
irregular heartbeat and increased blood pressure and body temperature.
Sustained low-level usage can produce drug craving, extreme weight
loss, loss of muscle tone, tooth decay and withdrawal-related depression.

What are the long-term effects?

Violent behavior, anxiety, confusion, insomnia, paranoia, auditory
hallucinations, mood disturbances and delusions such as having the
sensation of insects crawling on the skin. Chronic use frequently
leads to brain damage, respiratory problems, irregular heartbeat, and
irreversible damage to blood vessels in the brain - producing strokes,
heart and kidney damage, cardiovascular collapse and death.

How prevalent is meth use?

In 2008, 850,000 Americans age 12 and older had abused methamphetamine
at least once during the prior year. That same year, 1.2 percent of
eighth graders, 1.5 percent of 10th graders, and 1.2 percent of 12th
graders said they had abused methamphetamine at least once in the prior
year.

What ingredients are used to make meth?

Meth is derived from amphetamine and is commonly made using the base
chemicals ephedrine or pseudoephedrine found in over-the-counter
medicines. Other common household products added to the manufacture of
meth include nail polish remover (acetone), iodine, fertilizer
(anhydrous ammonia), pool chemicals (hydrochloric acid), batteries
(lithium), matches and road flares (red phosphorus), lye (sodium
hydroxide), drain cleaner (sulfuric acid) and brake fluid (toluene).

Is it true that meth production generates toxic waste?

Yes. For every pound of Meth produced, approximately five pounds of
toxic waste is generated. This waste may include corrosive liquids,
acid vapors, heavy metals, solvents, and other harmful materials.
Improper disposal can contaminate watersheds used by humans and animals.

Sources: The Meth Project, The National Institute on Drug Abuse