Crystal meth is a dangerous and illegal "street" version of the stimulatory drug methamphetamine that users smoke as a rock or "crystal" form. While methamphetamine remains available legally by prescription for a limited number of medical uses, the amounts prescribed legitimately typically prove much lower than those abused by meth addicts. Crystal meth has many devastating effects on the bodies and brains of meth users and should be avoided at all costs.
Hyperactivity
Even the smallest amounts of crystal meth can produce hyperactivity symptoms similar to other stimulants such as cocaine. The stimulatory effects of meth will result in high blood pressure, increased heart rate and irregular breathing patters. These effects in turn will cause insomnia, loss of concentration, increased physical activity and decreased appetite. When meth addicts use meth as a stimulant over a long period time, these hyperactivity side effects can lead to a number of psychosis-related complications including paranoid delusions, sensory hallucinations, extreme weight loss and severe, often violent, changes in social behavior.
"Meth Mouth"
Chronic meth users often become distinguished by a number of dental problems colloquially termed "meth mouth." Many stimulant drugs such as meth immediately cause symptoms of dry mouth through a loss of saliva production. Saliva has a number of protective roles in the mouth, preventing acidic tooth decay as well as bacterial growth. Long-term meth use causes a build-up of acid and bacteria in the mouth that cause great harm to the teeth and gums. These problems usually become enhanced because many meth users drink sugar-containing sodas in an effort to alleviate dry mouth. In addition to the dry mouth effects of meth, a number of toxic by-products in many meth preparations can also destroy tissues in the mouth. The METH Awareness and Prevention Project of South Dakota lists a number of chemicals found in meth that corrode teeth, including sulphuric acid, lithium and lye.
Changes in Brain Chemistry
A number of studies described by the National Institute of Drug Abuse confirm that meth use causes fundamental changes in the ways that brains function. Methamphetamine use causes brain damage specifically to the nerve endings in the brain that respond to the neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine. These neurotransmitters are critical not only for proper brain function, but also for judgment, mood maintenance and many other higher cognitive functions. The damage caused by meth to these nerve centers is likely irreversible and permanent. As a result, chronic meth users may experience many deficits in mental function, including depression, loss of motor coordination, memory loss and psychosis.
