Drugs-The Effects of Meth: Psychosis
The Effects of Meth: Psychosis
Scott Houston
COM/156
March, 2014
Michelle Salman The Effects of Meth: Psychosis
Crystal Methamphetamine was invented in 1887. During WW-II it was widely used by both sides, The Allies and The Axis . Biker gangs in America manufactured and distributed water soluble (injectable) meth throughout the 1970’s and 1980’s. Mexican cartels opened up large manufacturing operations in Mexico and the U.S. and the abuse spread. Most people familiar with the drug knows it has many adverse effects on the user, from keeping the user awake for up to several days at a time, to delusions and paranoia. As well there are physical effects such as extreme dehydration, skin rashes, and extreme loss of weight. It is a very dangerous and illegal drug. In addition, the most severe effect of its use in large doses, or with extended use, is psychosis. Reports of extreme psychotic behavior have come in from all over the United States and around the world. Methamphetamine psychosis is a serious side effect of methamphetamine use and may seriously affect the user (Gard, 2004).
Crystal methamphetamine is a powerful drug which can cause the user to feel euphoria, intense feelings of body tingle, and an overall feeling incomparable to any other illicit drug. The user, looking for the ultimate high, will generally inject the drug into the blood stream via a hypodermic syringe. In this way the user can induce a greater quantity of the drug into the body with a single, massive dose of up to a half gram, or roughly 100cc liquid meth in the syringe (Gard, 2004). Many who abuse the drug inject this much in a single dose in order to get as high as possible. This massive dosage effects the signal processes in the brain. Neurons transmit electrical signals in the brain during normal activity (Mastin, 2010). After time, injecting methamphetamine in large doses several times per month for several years will cause a breakdown in the communicating
Scott Houston
COM/156
March, 2014
Michelle Salman The Effects of Meth: Psychosis
Crystal Methamphetamine was invented in 1887. During WW-II it was widely used by both sides, The Allies and The Axis . Biker gangs in America manufactured and distributed water soluble (injectable) meth throughout the 1970’s and 1980’s. Mexican cartels opened up large manufacturing operations in Mexico and the U.S. and the abuse spread. Most people familiar with the drug knows it has many adverse effects on the user, from keeping the user awake for up to several days at a time, to delusions and paranoia. As well there are physical effects such as extreme dehydration, skin rashes, and extreme loss of weight. It is a very dangerous and illegal drug. In addition, the most severe effect of its use in large doses, or with extended use, is psychosis. Reports of extreme psychotic behavior have come in from all over the United States and around the world. Methamphetamine psychosis is a serious side effect of methamphetamine use and may seriously affect the user (Gard, 2004).
Crystal methamphetamine is a powerful drug which can cause the user to feel euphoria, intense feelings of body tingle, and an overall feeling incomparable to any other illicit drug. The user, looking for the ultimate high, will generally inject the drug into the blood stream via a hypodermic syringe. In this way the user can induce a greater quantity of the drug into the body with a single, massive dose of up to a half gram, or roughly 100cc liquid meth in the syringe (Gard, 2004). Many who abuse the drug inject this much in a single dose in order to get as high as possible. This massive dosage effects the signal processes in the brain. Neurons transmit electrical signals in the brain during normal activity (Mastin, 2010). After time, injecting methamphetamine in large doses several times per month for several years will cause a breakdown in the communicating
References: Grant, K., LeVan, T., Wells, S., Li, M., Stoltenberg, S., Gendelman, H., & ... Bevins, R. (2012) Methamphetamine-associated psychosis Gard, C. (2004, 01). METHAMPHETAMINE: Speeding toward psychosis. Current Health 2, 30, 25-27 Psychiatry Weekly, Volume 9, Issue 2, January 20, 2014 http://www.psychweekly.com/aspx/article/articledetail.aspx?articleid=1646 Mastin, L., (2010) The Human Memory, http://www.human-memory.net/ Psychosis, Berger, Fred K., M.D., Medline Plus, 2014