-­‐ The  United  Nations  Office  on  Drugs  and  Crime  estimated  that  there  are  24.7  million  users  of  amphetamine  stimulants  worldwide  

-­‐ In  2012,  a  Monitoring  the  Future  (MTF)  study  indicated  that  1.7  percent  of  12th-­‐graders  had  tried  methamphetamine  

-­‐ The  US  government  estimated  in  2008  that  13  million  people  over  the  age  of  12  have  tried  methamphetamine,  and  nearly  530,000  of  those  people  use  it  regularly  

-­‐ Common  street  names  for  meth  include  crank,  glass,  speed,  and  ice  

Methamphetamine  Addiction  

Signs,  Symptoms,  and  Treatment  

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This  brochure  is  not  intended  as  a  substitute  for  your  health  care  professional’s  opinion  or  care  

 

Meth  Statistics  

     

Effects  of  Meth  A  high  on  meth  can  be  described  as  “feeling  invincible”:  feelings  of  euphoria  and  manic  energy.  It  also  increases  nervousness  and  irritability,  which  can  lead  to  extreme  paranoia  and  sleep  deprivation.  Short-­‐term  effects  of  meth  use  include:    

-­‐ Increased  alertness  -­‐ Increased  heart  rate  -­‐ Auditory  hallucinations  -­‐ Extreme  rise  in  body  temperature  -­‐ Uncontrollable  movements  -­‐ Loss  of  appetite  -­‐ Anxiousness  -­‐ False  sense  of  confidence/wellbeing  

 

Long-­‐term  effects  of  meth  use  include:    

-­‐ Possible  brain  damage  -­‐ Permanent  psychological  problems  -­‐ Malnutrition  -­‐ Behavior  that  mirrors  paranoid  

schizophrenia  -­‐ Kidney,  lung,  and  liver  damage    

What  is  methamphetamine?  Methamphetamine  is  an  intensely  addictive  psychoactive  stimulant,  a  toxic  combination  of  chemicals  from  over-­‐the-­‐counter  cold  medicine  and  everyday  substances  like  battery  acid  and  antifreeze.  The  drug  is  typically  smoked,  snorted,  or  injected.  It  is  ranked  as  a  Schedule  II  drug  under  the  Controlled  Substances  Act,  which  indicates  that  the  user  has  a  high  chance  of  abusing  it  and  becoming  addicted.  Pharmaceutical  methamphetamine  is  infrequently  prescribed  to  treat  ADHD,  narcolepsy,  and  severe  obesity,  but  in  the  US,  it  is  usually  produced  illegally  in  home-­‐based  meth  labs.    

Signs  of  Addiction  Methamphetamine  is  not  as  frequently  abused  as  other  drugs,  such  as  alcohol  and  prescription  medications,  but  it  is  extremely  destructive  (both  physically  and  psychologically).  If  you  believe  that  someone  you  know  may  be  addicted  to  meth,  look  for  the  following  signs:  

-­‐ Violent  and  aggressive  behavior  -­‐ Nervousness,  irritability,  and  paranoia  -­‐ Hyperactivity,  twitching  -­‐ Insomnia  -­‐ Weight  loss  -­‐ Rotting  teeth,  acne,  and  skin  sores  

Treatment  Meth  addiction  is  not  easy  to  overcome.  But,  with  the  help  of  an  addiction  specialist,  recovery  is  absolutely  possible.    

Inpatient  facilities,  outpatient  programs,  counseling  services,  and  detox  centers  are  available  nationwide  that  cater  specifically  to  meth  addiction.  Find  your  path  to  recovery  at  www.AllTreatment.com.