What is Meth or Methamphetamine ?

Meth or Methamphetamine is a drug that is not found in the nature but synthesized in laboratories. It is a psychoactive drug that is used as a recreational drug.

Methamphetamine has strong stimulatory effects on the body as well as the brain, this has lead it to being widely abused as a recreational drug and also as a performance enhancer. However, the drug like other psychoactive drugs comes with many side effects and is also very addictive. It's addictive properties mean that abusers get increasingly dependent on it, aggravating its effects on the body and brain leading to rather extreme physical and psychological effects. Ceasing to take the drug can bring on severe withdrawal symptoms such as depression, suicidal tendencies, intense headaches, fatigue, severe hyperactivity and restlessness. Meth addicts can be rehabilitated with proper professional guidance at rehabilitation centers.

What is Meth called on the street?

Methamphetamine is becoming increasingly popular among recreational users and hence it's illegal synthesis and trade of the drug has also increased. Meth is known by many different names such as speed, fire, poor man's cocaine , yellow bam, trash, tina, and ice, glass and crystal, referring to it's clear crystalline form unless powdered or made into tablet forms or adulterated with other drugs or harmful chemicals.

How is Meth taken into the body?

Methamphetamine is used in various ways. It is injected using syringes, snorted in it's powdered form, smoked in pipes and dissolved in alcohol or water and taken in orally, although a rare and unusual way, meth is also known to be administered by inserting it into the anus or urethra.

Smoking meth is thought to be one of most efficient ways to take it as it produces strong and remarkable stimulant effects in the body commonly known as the 'rush'. Injecting is also popular way of taking meth in, as injecting too produces the 'rush'. Unfortunately these are also two of the most hazardous ways to take the drug. Smoking meth can lead to serious lung afflictions and injecting and sharing needles comes with the risk of HIV and other such infections.Snorting and imbibing the drug orally does not produce the strong effects of 'rush', but simply milder effects of increased alertness, energy and euphoria.

Effects of Methamphetamine

Meth is widely abused and appreciated for its stimulant actions of increasing alertness, energy, attention, sense of self esteem and increased sex drive. Meth also comes with a horde of unpleasant physical and psychological side effects such as acne, high or low pressure, anorexia, constipation, diarrhea, dilated pupils, sleeplessness, dizziness, twitching, restlessness, panic attacks, and hallucinations, paranoia and psychosomatic complaints.

Prolonged and high dosage use of meth is associated with schizophrenia like psychosis, brain, kidney and teeth damage in addition to a host of other severe behavioral and functional aberrations.