Crystal meth, known pharmacologically as methamphetamine, is a stimulant drug that affects the nervous system by increasing the activity of certain neurotransmitters known as monoamines. According to the Partnership for a Drug-Free America, the drug is taken by injection, snorting or smoking. Chronic use of methamphetamine is associated with problems affecting the heart, liver and immune system, according to the "Clinical Textbook of Addictive Disorders."
Rewarding Feelings
Stimulant drugs are highly addictive, in part, because of the rewarding feelings that they produce. According to the "Clinical Manual of Addiction Psychopharmacology," the rewarding feelings caused by taking stimulants such as crystal meth are due to the increased dopamine levels in certain areas of the brain--the ventral tegmental area, nucleus accumbens and prefrontal cortex.
Paranoia
High doses of stimulant drugs like crystal meth induce a state of suspicion and paranoia on users, according to the text "Treating Drug Problems." This paranoid state can lead to violent behavior or even homicide.
Delusions and Hallucinations
The text "Treating Drug Problems" says that it is not uncommon for feelings of paranoia to lead to a state of psychosis over time. In a state of psychosis, the user experiences delusions and hallucinations.
Autonomic Nervous System Disruptions
Stimulant drugs such as crystal meth activate the part of the nervous system that regulates the "fight or flight" response to threatening stimuli--the autonomic nervous system. Crystal meth causes the neurotransmitters dopamine, epinephrine and norepinephrine to become more active, resulting in dilated pupils, racing heart, anxious feelings, stomach upset and insomnia.
Impaired Cognitive Function
According to "The Clinical Textbook of Addictive Disorders," chronic use of crystal meth impairs cognitive processes, causing attention deficit, impaired abstract thinking, impaired memory, disruptions in the brain's processing of spatial information and difficulty transitioning between thought processes.
Death of Dopamine Neurons
Crystal meth affects cells that contain the neurotransmitter dopamine, leading to long-term damage or even death of those cells. The publication "NIDA Notes: Research Findings" featured an article in September 2000 that illustrated the death of dopamine-containing neurons in a part of the brain called the striatum. This particular type of cell death is also seen in patients suffering with Parkinson's disease--an incurable movement disorder.
References
- Partnership for a Drug-Free America: Crystal Meth
- "Clinical Textbook of Addictive Disorders Third Edition"; Richard J. Frances et al.; 2005
- "Clinical Manual of Addiction Psychopharmacology"; Henry R. Kranzler, M.D. and Domenic A. Ciraulo, M.D.; 2005
- "Treating Drug Problems"; Arthur W. Blume; 2005
- "NIDA Notes: Research Findings"; Methamphetamine Brain Damage in Mice More Extensive Than Previously Thought
