The Danger of Life on Crystal Meth
By A. Wolski
The abuse of and addiction to methamphetamines and crystal meth is a serious and growing global problem at present. A prohibited and addictive schedule II drug, it is known on the streets as speed, ice, crystal meth, crank, and cristy. It is available through a valid prescription and, if used incorrectly, will lead to a dangerous dependency.
This drug is a psycho stimulant drug which means that it stimulates the activity of the central nervous system, causing the user to feel euphoric, alert, and energetic as well as giving him or her the feeling of being very overconfident. However, when the levels become toxic, the user may become paranoid, irrational, psychotic, and often aggressive and violent. They may go on to suffer toxic psychosis and drug induced schizophrenia.
In many cases, the first time user is unaware of the harmful effects this drug has on the body or mistakenly believes that it won't happen to them. They just want to feel the euphoria that the drug produces.
The long term effects of methamphetamine abuse can include:
- Ulcers and sores on the skin
- Psychosis and paranoia
- Depression
- Cardiovascular problems
- Sleep disorders
- Hepatitis from sharing needles
Other complications that result from methamphetamine abuse can include:
- Financial difficulty
- Negative effects on work and study
- Being prone to accidents
- Family and relationship breakdown
- Legal problems
Pure methamphetamine is a white, odorless powder which dissolves easily in liquid. Some users take it orally, others snort the powder, and others inject it into the veins. There are even users who smoke it.
Although methamphetamine is used for medical purposes, these uses are very limited and at a much lower dosage than used by the addict or recreational user. Much of the supply comes from abroad though there are also many illegal labs around the country.
As you can see, methamphetamines affect the body both physically and psychologically, making it an extremely hazardous substance. It causes psychological problems much more quickly than other drugs and these effects may last for many hours at a time. Because of the euphoric high of methamphetamines, many first time users will go on to use it again.
The positive news is that addiction can be cured if treated correctly. Residential programs and non-residential programs for drug addiction are available for users who want to get clean and are prepared to make the effort to recover. These treatment programs also involve counseling. The treatment programs involve the cleansing and detoxification of the body. Counseling sessions involve supporting the crystal methamphetamine user to win the battle with his addiction. It is vital for the crystal methamphetamine user to get enough concern and back-up from his family, his friends, and the society so that he can recover within a shorter period of time.
The sooner the user beats this addiction, the better for the affected person as well as for those close to him or her. Living with a methamphetamine addict can be very traumatic and those who have been affected in this way may benefit from some counseling as well.
Anne has worked primarily within health and welfare for around 35 years. She has always loved to write and has a wide range of interests. She is the owner of http://www.ozehealthbiz.com and http://www.ourkidzbiz.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=A._Wolski
