Crystal Meth and It's Life Long Effects
Kelly Tyndall
Valerie Shay
ENG 090.0902
1 May 2013
Crystal Methamphetamine and the Life Long Effects There is a recreational man-made drug that is considered one of the most addictive drugs available, it is known as Crystal Meth. This drug can be smoked, snorted, or injected. The drug is highly addictive due to the fact it gives the user a false sense of well-being and energy, which makes the user go beyond their physical limits while under the influence. After the high, which last between 12 to 20 hours, the user will go through extreme fatigue and depression. According to my brother, who is a recovering meth addict, “once you use the drug for the first time, you are hooked; it gives the user a high that they have never experienced.” Crystal Meth has serious side effects that will harm the user’s health for a life time. First, the appearance of a user deterients drastically over time. The user develops sores because they are constantly picking at their skin. Also, the user’s muscle tone is lost due to malnutrition. According to www.drugfreeworl.org, the toxic ingredients in meth lead to severe tooth decay known as “meth mouth.” The teeth and gums are destroyed from the inside, and the roots rot away. The use of Methamphetamine causes long range damage to the user’s organs. Increased heart rate and blood pressure; damage to the blood vessels in the brain can cause strokes or an irregular heartbeat that can in turn, cause cardiovascular collapse or death; and even, liver, kidney, and lung damage. As the drug takes over the user’s life, the family is slowly falling apart, affecting the children who witness the violent and erratic behavior of their parents. Crystal Meth keeps a person from making logical decisions. For example, my brother once told me that during one of his binges with meth, he chased my sister-in-law around their house with a shot gun; all the while my nephews witnessed the horrific scene. Despite all the published facts about this drug,
Valerie Shay
ENG 090.0902
1 May 2013
Crystal Methamphetamine and the Life Long Effects There is a recreational man-made drug that is considered one of the most addictive drugs available, it is known as Crystal Meth. This drug can be smoked, snorted, or injected. The drug is highly addictive due to the fact it gives the user a false sense of well-being and energy, which makes the user go beyond their physical limits while under the influence. After the high, which last between 12 to 20 hours, the user will go through extreme fatigue and depression. According to my brother, who is a recovering meth addict, “once you use the drug for the first time, you are hooked; it gives the user a high that they have never experienced.” Crystal Meth has serious side effects that will harm the user’s health for a life time. First, the appearance of a user deterients drastically over time. The user develops sores because they are constantly picking at their skin. Also, the user’s muscle tone is lost due to malnutrition. According to www.drugfreeworl.org, the toxic ingredients in meth lead to severe tooth decay known as “meth mouth.” The teeth and gums are destroyed from the inside, and the roots rot away. The use of Methamphetamine causes long range damage to the user’s organs. Increased heart rate and blood pressure; damage to the blood vessels in the brain can cause strokes or an irregular heartbeat that can in turn, cause cardiovascular collapse or death; and even, liver, kidney, and lung damage. As the drug takes over the user’s life, the family is slowly falling apart, affecting the children who witness the violent and erratic behavior of their parents. Crystal Meth keeps a person from making logical decisions. For example, my brother once told me that during one of his binges with meth, he chased my sister-in-law around their house with a shot gun; all the while my nephews witnessed the horrific scene. Despite all the published facts about this drug,
Cited: The Truth About Crystal Meth- A Drug Free World. www.drugfreeworld.org/drugfacts/. 2006–2013 Foundation for a Drug-Free World.