Addictive street drug which gives the user a ‘rush’ with enhanced feelings of well-being, increased energy levels, heightened libido and appetite suppression.
There has been a rise in methamphetamine use disorder in the US, particularly in the Midwest where it is the leading cause of overdose deaths.
Associated with state of euphoria, agitation, anxiety, violence, mood irregularities, psychosis and depression.
Abuse of a variety of forms has reached epidemic proportions in the U.S.
It is sold in crystal or powder forms, is usually smoked, with less common routes-injection (less than 25%), snorting, oral, ingestion, and rectal insertion.
Approximately 2.6 million people used methamphetamine in 2023
More than 50% of methamphetamine deaths involve opioids.
Methamphetamine use is more common among males, sexual or gender minorities, those experiencing homelessness, and those with occurring substance use of cannabis, fentanyl, cocaine, benzodiazepines, tobacco, and alcohol.
Less expensive than cocaine, but stimulant effect is longer lasting.
Acute methamphetamine toxicity can cause chest pain, palpitations, hypertension, hyperthermia, impulsivity, psychosis, and delirium.
Severe toxicity includes:stroke, kidney injury, myocardial infarction, aortic dissection, cardiac arrhythmias, suicide, and traumatic injury.
The chronic use of methamphetamine increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, neuropsychiatric conditions – schizophrenia, Parkinson’s disease, cognitive impairment, sexually transmitted infections, poor nutrition, and poor dental health.
Injected amphetamine use,increases the risk of hepatitis B and C infections, HIV, endocarditis, and osteomyelitis.
Amphetamine withdrawal can occur with chronic use and typically begins with an hours of last dose, peaks at 72 hours and last four days two weeks.
Withdrawal symptoms include dysphoria, fatigue, insomnia, or hypersomnia, vivid dreams, increased appetite, and psychomotor retardation, or activation.
When mood and energy effects wear off, users become restless, anxious, irritable, fatigue and dysphoric, temporary relief with improved symptoms by further use of methamphetamines and reinforcement of addiction.
Production yields toxic waste of acids, lye, phosphorus and fine particulate matter which contaminate the environment.
Production requires inflammable ingredients leading to fires and explosions.
Patients with methamphetamine related burns have a higher mortality rate than matched-aged controls not exposed to amphetamines.
Methamphetamine is associated with degeneration of dopaminergic neurons, resulting in an increased risk for Parkinson’s disease.
Phosphine is a by-product of methamphetamine cooking and can cause multiple organ system damage by inhibiting cytochrome C oxidase, with the generation of free radicals.
Phosphine exposure can cause ocular, and respiratory damage with shortness of breath, nausea, headache and abdominal pain.
Phosphine exposure can lead to severe lung and cardiac damage with respiratory and cardiovascular failure.