Pubdate: Mon, 17 Dec 2001
Source: Daily Press, The (WI)
Copyright: 2001 The Daily Press
Contact:  http://www.ashland-wi.com/placed/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/960
Author: SANDY AGOSTINE

THE TRUTH ABOUT METHAMPHETAMINES

"First I started by smoking cigarettes, then shortly after that I drank 
alcohol, then smoked pot. Until I started high school, I never knew how 
many other choices I had..."

- -- Anonymous Ashland County student

One of the choices he has is most any kind of drug: licit or illicit. All 
he needs is a connection of some sort, either with someone who has it or a 
dealer.

Methamphetamine, a synthetic central nervous system stimulant, is one of 
these available drugs. It is manufactured illegally more than any other 
drug. Like other amphetamines, it induces feelings of well being, 
alertness, and energy. "Meth" can be orally ingested, snorted, smoked or 
injected. Users describe the effects of this drug as being just like those 
of cocaine, except they last many hours instead of minutes.

In the brain, meth increases the release and blocks the uptake of dopamine. 
This neurotransmitter controls feelings of pleasure and well being. It also 
increases the activity of serotonin and norepinephrine in some areas of the 
brain. A user's level of physical activity skyrockets as their desire to 
eat and sleep plummet. When the pleasurable effect wears off, it is 
replaced by a wired or anxious feeling. Meth can cause aggressive behavior, 
violence and paranoia as the drug elevates the user's heart rate, body 
temperature and rate of breathing.

Whereas certain drugs increase dopamine in a roundabout way, such as 
marijuana which works on the neurotransmitter anamide which in turn affects 
dopamine levels, methamphetamines stimulate this reward center directly. 
When a person comes down from the rush, they can have a strong craving for 
another dose as their natural reserves of both dopamine and norepinephrine 
drop. Studies by researchers at the U.S. Dept. of Energy's Brookhaven 
National Laboratory have found that "study subjects with reduced dopamine 
transporters also exhibited memory impairment and slowed motor function." 
This also adversely affects motivation, attention span, movement and other 
higher functions.

New research has also shown that it can take one to three years after 
quitting chronic use of methamphetamines before a user's body recovers, IF 
it ever does. During this recovery period, the low dopamine baseline can be 
passed onto offspring through the female or male. If a woman uses while she 
is pregnant, meth can destroy cells in the pleasure center as well as other 
areas of the brain involved with thought and emotion. To complicate matters 
further, individuals with lower biological levels of dopamine are more 
prone to becoming addicted. According to researcher and pediatrician, Jamie 
Hutchinson of Washington D.C. a baby born to a methamphetamine user may 
suffer lifelong emotional paralysis. This may include an inability to feel 
pleasure, to control emotional outbursts, and make judgments based on 
feelings. "Researchers report that death of the fetus or newborn and other 
medical complications have been associated with prenatal methamphetamine 
use, cause either by reduced blood flow to the fetus or direct toxicity to 
the fetal brain." (Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, 1996)

Ice is a very pure smokable form of methamphetamine. It is also called 
crystal or glass and it is even more highly addictive than meth because it 
produces intense effects with an almost instant onset. It also can do 
physical damage faster. Heavy or long term use of any kind of 
methamphetamine can cause brain damage similar to Alzheimer's disease and 
can harm other major organs of the body, such as the liver, kidneys, heart 
and lungs. Continued use results in severe mineral and vitamin 
deficiencies. This harms the user's immune system as it wears the mind and 
body down.

If you have any questions about drugs or whether your child may be using, 
please contact the Ashland Area Council on AODA, Inc.

Sandy Agostine is a Certified Prevention Professional and has worked as an 
Alcohol and Other Drug Counselor throughout Ashland County for the past 23 
years. She has a Bachelor Degree in Education. If you have any questions or 
comments, she can be reached at the Ashland Area Council on AODA, Inc. 
(715) 682-5207.
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart