Methamphetamine is a highly addictive and commonly abused central nervous system stimulant. Usually smoked, it can also be injected, snorted or ingested, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians, or AAFP. Its use has catastrophic effects on the physical and mental health of addicts, on their families, and on society as a whole.
Signs
Chronic abusers develop distinctive physical characteristics, according the AAFP. Methamphetamine abusers often have many scabbed sores from obsessively picking the skin. Obvious severe tooth decay occurs. The American Dental Association, or ADA, uses the term "meth mouth" to describe the damage done to teeth from methamphetamine addiction. Characterized by black, crumbling and rotting teeth, often the only treatment is extraction. Severe weight loss and malnutrition develop from loss of appetite. Users develop a markedly aged appearance.
Adverse Effects
Methamphetamine use produces a pleasurable rush followed by euphoria and increased alertness that lasts several hours. Long periods of sleep and bad mood occur as it wears off. Users can experience anxiety, seizures, paranoia, hallucinations, stroke, heart attack, loss of appetite, trauma, high blood pressure and, in some cases, death. Increased sex drive often leads to high-risk behavior and exposure to sexually transmitted diseases. Chronic use can cause irreversible brain damage resulting in neurological and psychiatric symptoms such as confusion, memory loss, psychosis and suicidal thoughts and behavior. Heart failure, respiratory failure and hepatitis can develop. In pregnant women, deaths have been reported. Effects to the fetus include growth retardation, premature birth, cleft lip and palate, heart abnormalities and death. Users run greater risk of infection with HIV/AIDS and hepatitis from contaminated injection equipment.
Withdrawal
Withdrawal symptoms include anxiety, irritability, lethargy, inability to concentrate, slow movement, paranoia and increased appetite. Seizures are possible. Severe and prolonged depression occurs, requiring close monitoring for suicidal thoughts and actions. The AAFP reports that no effective treatments are available for this withdrawal syndrome that occurs in 87 percent of abusers.
Treatment
Cognitive-behavioral interventions are currently the most effective treatments available, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, or NAMI. These interventions include individual counseling, 12-step programs, encouragement of non-drug-related activities, family education and drug testing. Contingence management, another treatment method, provides rewards in exchange for negative drug tests and participation in treatment.
No FDA-approved medications exist to treat methamphetamine addiction. Studies show some promise from several antidepressants that may reduce craving or improve adherence to treatment, notes NAMI.
Cost To Society
Methamphetamine addiction affected 400,000 Americans and cost the U.S. approximately $23.4 billion in 2005 in the form of crime, use of the criminal justice system, foster care for children of addicts, drug treatment, health care and lost productivity, according to a February 2005 article in NYTimes.com. Injuries, deaths and toxic waste cleanup resulting from exploding methamphetamine labs cost $61 million. Costs that could not be measured include the hardships placed on families and friends of addicts and on the children of addicts not placed into foster care.
