Methamphetamine is extremely addictive. Withdrawal from meth is more intense and longer lasting than withdrawal from cocaine or amphetamines. Methamphetamine (meth) is a powerful stimulant drug. It is similar to a family of drugs called amphetamines. Meth has even more prolonged effects on the central nervous system and brain than stimulants such as cocaine or amphetamines.

Meth use can lead to meth “binges” which can last 2-3 days during which users do not eat or sleep, and may have psychotic behavior including hallucinations, and paranoia. Meth use can lead to damaged health, violent behavior, increased crime, chemical fires, child neglect, and many other consequences. Meth use releases high levels of dopamine, leading to feelings of immense pleasure. Users eventually can only achieve those feelings through meth use, and become incapable of feeling pleasure without meth. However, they never again reach the high they experienced the first time they used. This damage to the pleasure centers of the brain can begin to heal once the person stops using meth.

The dangerous chemicals used in producing meth can lead to harmful environmental damage exposing residents and neighbors to dangerous toxins, and increasing the risk of fire and explosion.

• Increased attention and decreased fatigue
• Increased activity
• Decreased appetite
• Euphoria and rush
• Increased respiratory rate
• Dangerously high body temperature
• Convulsions

• Anxiety and anxiousness
• Severe weight loss
• Changes to brain and central nervous system
• Damage to heart or other major organs
• Tremor or uncontrolled motor activity
• Hallucinations
• Mood disturbances, including homicidal or suicidal thinking
• Violent and/or paranoid behavior
• Amphetamine psychosis

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Fatigue
• Paranoia
• Aggression
• Intense drug craving

• Meth abuse causes the destruction of tissues and blood vessels, inhibiting the body's ability to repair itself.
• Acne appears, sores take longer to heal, and the skin loses its luster and elasticity, making the user appear years, even decades older
• Poor diet, tooth grinding and oral hygiene results in tooth decay and loss
• Some users are covered in small sores, the result of obsessive skin-picking brought on by the hallucination of having bugs crawling beneath the skin

What about Meth use and Pregnancy?

When you are pregnant, the drugs you take also go to your fetus. The toxicity of the meth manufacturing process is especially dangerous to you and your unborn child. If you or someone in your home is using any illicit drug while you are pregnant, get help immediately. Your health care provider can assist you in locating the resources in your community. If you are having trouble finding a prenatal care provider, you may contact your local county health department (chd). To find the chd serving your Florida county, go to http://www.doh.state.fl.us/chdsitelist.htm.
All pregnant women and new parents in Florida who have abused drugs during pregnancy are eligible for Healthy Start services. These services are aimed at reducing barriers to getting into treatment, providing support for abstinence and assisting in getting needed health care. To find Healthy Start services in your area, you may go to http://www.healthystartflorida.com
Here is a list of drug treatment providers.
(http://dasis3.samhsa.gov/)

For more information on the impact of methamphetamine use during pregnancy , you may go to The National Abandoned Infants Assistance Center [PDF; 310.94kb]

Recovery Is Possible

Experts once thought cases of meth addiction were hopeless -- a high percentage would always relapse -- but today they know that recovery is possible, although it may take years of medication and behavior therapy.

Because methamphetamine changes the brain's wiring by destroying its dopamine receptors, users need almost a year to allow those receptors to regrow. Until then, addicts cannot experience pleasure without the drug, and most slip into a deep depression that may cause them to relapse. This depression can be treated with psychopharmacology, and now many treatment programs include prescriptions for anti-depressants.

In addition, meth addicts must relearn certain behaviors. Because meth has trained them to associate all pleasure with the drug, they need to learn to modify their thinking and expectations. Counseling helps them cope with their cravings, examine the personal issues that lead to the abuse, and help them avoid situations that may cause a relapse. Many treatment experts insist that out-patient treatment is essential to recovery, with some programs starting to work with addicts even while they are still using the drug. In addition, some experts believe that because the disease is so debilitating and the recovery process so protracted, meth addicts also need help and reinforcement from the criminal justice system; many newly-formed drug courts keep track of users in recovery and install penalties for not participating in treatment programs.

For information about drug treatment options in your community, see the U.S. government's Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Locator.

Source: PBS
(http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/meth/faqs/#4)

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See the links below to get more information on the effects of methamphetamine and on resources available for prevention and intervention.

Cleanup of Clandestine Methamphetamine Labs Guidance Document (150 KB PDF -- you may need to downlodad the free Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the document).
Colorado Dept. of Health
(http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/hm/methlab.pdf)


The Faces of Meth
A project of the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office
(http://www.facesofmeth.us/)


(http://www.floridadec.org)

HIV/AIDS Counseling,Testing and Referrals
Dept. of Health, Bureau of HIV/AIDS website
(http://www.webmd.com/diseases_and_conditions/hiv_aids.htm)

HIV home page for WebMD
Gives an AIDS overview
(http://www.webmd.com/diseases_and_conditions/hiv_aids.htm)

Information regarding pregnant women at risk for HIV or substance abuse
(http://www.doh.state.fl.us/disease_ctrl/aids/Perinatal/PERINATAL.html)

Just Think Twice
(http://www.justthinktwice.com/)

Matrix Intensive Outpatient Treatment for People with Stimulant Use Disorders (IOP) – This link to the Gulf Coast Addiction TrA Technology Transfer Center provides information on the Matrix model and other proven treatment models. The Matrix model was August 15, 2006, by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA
(http://www.utexas.edu/research/cswr/gcattc/MatrixMethamphetamineTreatmentMaterials.htm)

Meth Resources.gov
(http://www.methresources.gov/)

Key to Methamphetamine-Related Literature - New York State Department of Health - This resource is a comprehensive thematic index of research articles which pertain to methamphetamine. The cited articles are drawn principally from peer-reviewed journals, however some "grey literature" has been included when its underlying research was noteworthy and not otherwise reported in the journals.
(http://www.health.state.ny.us/diseases/aids/harm_reduction/crystalmeth/index)

Meth and Child Welfare  [PDF; 2.57mb]– Includes promising Solutions for Children, Parents, and Grandparents provides a set of recommendations to improve the child welfare system's ability to counteract the impact of methamphetamine (meth) use on children, families, and communities.
(http://ipath.gu.org/documents/A0/Meth_Child_Welfare_Final_cover.pdf)

National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare (NCSACW) – Resources relating to substance abuse and child welfare. NCSACW is an initiative of the Department of Health and Human Services.
(http://www.ncsacw.samhsa.gov)

PBS
Includes link to PBS show on The Meth Epidemic
(http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/meth/)

STOP Meth - Florida's methamphetamine information website.
(http://www.stopmethinflorida.org/)

For more information on methamphetamines and children, you may go to Florida Department of Health's Substance Abuse website.


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