Risks & Effects
Methamphetamine can be taken orally or intranasally (snorting the powder), by intravenous injection, or by smoking. Immediately after smoking or intravenous injection, the methamphetamine user experiences an intense sensation, called a "rush" or "flash," that lasts only a few minutes and is often described as extremely pleasurable. Oral or intranasal use also produces a euphoric high -- but not a rush as with smoking or intravenous injection. Regardless of the ingestion method, users can become addicted quickly, and use it with increasing frequency and in increasing doses – always trying to chase the previous high. In addition to the short- and long-term physical effects of meth, meth use is also linked with transmission of HIV and hepatitis B and C due to the sharing of needles or injection devices, and also because users’ judgment may be impaired and they may be more likely to engage in other risky behaviors.
Short-term Physical Effects
Taking even small amounts of methamphetamine can result in increased wakefulness, increased physical activity, decreased appetite, increased respiration, rapid heart rate, irregular heartbeat, increased blood pressure, and hyperthermia. Other central nervous system effects include irritability, insomnia, confusion, tremors, convulsions, anxiety, paranoia, and aggressiveness.
Long-term Physical Effects
Methamphetamine causes increased heart rate and blood pressure and can cause irreversible damage to blood vessels in the brain, producing strokes. Other effects of methamphetamine include respiratory problems, irregular heartbeat, severe dental problems, extreme anorexia, and violent behavior. Chronic methamphetamine abusers can also display a number of psychotic features, including paranoia, visual and auditory hallucinations, and delusions (for example, the sensation of insects creeping under the skin, sometimes referred to as “crank bugs”). Long-term meth use can result in cardiovascular collapse and death. Additionally, long-term use of meth can lead to addiction, a chronic, relapsing disease, characterized by compulsive drug-seeking and drug use that is accompanied by functional and molecular changes in the brain.
Effects on the Brain
Methamphetamine releases high levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine, which stimulates brain cells, enhancing mood and body movement. It also appears to have a neurotoxic effect, damaging brain cells that contain dopamine and serotonin, another neurotransmitter. Over time, methamphetamine appears to cause reduced levels of dopamine, which can result in symptoms like those of Parkinson's disease, a severe movement disorder.
Meth Lab Risks
Meth is manufactured in clandestine methamphetamine labs, which can cause three main types of harm: physical injury from explosions, fires, chemical burns, and toxic fumes; environmental hazards; and child endangerment.
Physical injury from explosions, fires, chemical burns, and toxic fumes. Mixing chemicals in clandestine drug labs creates substantial risks of explosions, fires, chemical burns, and toxic fume inhalation.
Environmental hazards. Each pound of manufactured methamphetamine produces about five to six pounds of hazardous waste. Clandestine drug lab operators commonly dump this waste into the ground, sewers, streams, or rivers. The water used to put out lab fires can also wash toxic chemicals into sewers. Residual contamination of the ground, water supplies, buildings, and furniture may last for years.
Child endangerment. Many jurisdictions are now finding that children are commonly exposed to the hazards of clandestine drug labs. Some children have dangerous chemicals or traces of illicit drugs in their systems. Others suffer burns to their lungs or skin from chemicals or fire. Some have died in explosions and fires. Many are badly neglected or abused by parents suffering from the effects of drug abuse. Senior citizens whose caretakers are lab operators are similarly vulnerable. Pets, including guard dogs, can also be harmed.
