Methamphetamine, or meth, is potent central nervous system stimulant that is extremely addictive, inexpensive and readily available in many parts of the U.S. It can be ingested, snorted, injected or smoked. It is commonly manufactured in small labs. Users report that meth causes a pleasurable initial rush, followed by euphoria and increased energy that lasts for several hours. Meth use has a devastating effect on health. The effects of meth on the body are many, according to the October 17, 2007 issue of the journal "American Family Physician."
Tooth Decay
Methamphetamine abuse causes "meth mouth," a condition characterized by exceptionally severe tooth decay, according to the American Dental Association. Commonly, the teeth have to be extracted because they can not be salvaged. Methamphetamine users describe their teeth as rotting, black and crumbling. Several factors are believed to cause "meth mouth." The drug causes a dry mouth, which allows bacteria to build up on the teeth. Users ignore oral hygiene, grind the teeth and crave sugary drinks.
Brain Damage
Chronic methamphetamine abuse damages the brain. It reduces blood flow by damaging blood vessels in the brain, produces harmful free radicals, damages nerve endings, alters brain chemicals and kills brain cells, the National Institute on Drug Abuse says. Users suffer increased risk of movement disorders similar to Parkinson's disease, and impairments in thinking and memory.
Increased Risk of STDs
Methamphetamine users face increased risks for HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. Users engage in high-risk sexual activity because the drug increases sexual arousal while decreasing inhibitions, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention explains. Exchanging sex for methamphetamine also increases risk for disease. The risk of HIV infection is especially high for men who have sex with men, the CDC says, due to the higher prevalence of HIV infection in that group and sexual practices that carry a high risk of transmission.
Pregnancy Risks
Compared with other pregnant women, pregnant women who abuse meth are usually younger, less educated and have a lower income, according to "American Family Physician." They are less likely to have a partner, and receive less medical care during pregnancy. Meth crosses the placenta and affects the fetus, and 49 percent of infants exposed in-utero experience symptoms of drug withdrawal after birth. Infants may suffer from heart abnormalities, cleft lip and palate, prematurity and death.
Prematurely Aged Appearance
Chronic meth abusers develop a prematurely-aged appearance that results from a combination of poor hygiene and grooming, malnutrition, extreme tooth decay and excessive weight loss,"American Family Physician" explains. Abscesses that result from skin picking also contribute to the aging effect of meth.
References
- American Dental Association: Meth Mouth
- National Institute on Drug Abuse: NIDA Pursues Many Approaches to Reversing Methamphetamine's Neurotoxic Effects
- American Family Physician: Methamphetamine Abuse
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Methamphetamine Use and Risk for HIV/AIDS spacer spacer
- Frontline: Faces of Meth
