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Treatment-Hotline2 :: Drug Addiction :: Drugs of Abuse
Facts About Crystal Meth
addiction and alcoholism are believed to be a learned behavior that is masking a person's emotional or physical pain. There are almost as many treatments as there are addicts and alcoholics.
Educate yourself before making any type of life-changing decison regarding alcoholism, addiction and substance abuse treatment.
Facts About Methamphetamine or crystal meth
Methamphetamine is a powerfully addictive stimulant that dramatically affects many areas of the central nervous system. The drug can easily be made in clandestine laboratories from relatively inexpensive over-the-counter ingredients and can be purchased at a relatively low cost. These factors make methamphetamine a drug with a high potential for widespread abuse.
Methamphetamine comes in many forms and can be smoked, snorted, injected or orally ingested. Sometimes appearing as a white, odorless, bitter tasting crystalline powder that can be easily dissolved in water or alcohol, it is referred to as speed, meth, and chalk and in its smoked form it is often referred to as ice, crystal, crank, and glass.
Methamphetamine or crystal meth use and abuse was traditionally associated with white, male, blue-collar workers, but is now reportedly being used by diverse groups in all regions of the country. Meth use is increasing among men who have sex with men and use other drugs, making this population more vulnerable to contracting and spreading sexually transmitted diseases, especially HIV/AIDS. Also, young adults who attend "raves" or private clubs also are increasingly abusing crystal meth. There have been notable increases in the number of Meth addicts among homeless and runaway youth.
Increasing use of methamphetamine is reported among male and female commercial sex workers who also trade sex for drugs and among members of motorcycle gangs. Also, people in occupations (such as long-haul truckers) that demand long hours, mental alertness, and physical endurance, have been using this drug at increased rates.
Several cognitive behavioral interventions designed to help modify a patient's thinking and behaviors, and to increase skills in coping with various life stresses, have been found to be effective in treating methamphetamine addiction. Unfortunately, there are currently no medications available to treat addiction or overdose to amphetamine or amphetamine-like drugs such as methamphetamine.
Withdrawal from methamphetamine is typically characterized by drug craving, depressed mood, disturbed sleep patterns, and increased appetite. Antidepressant medications can be prescribed to combat the depressive symptoms frequently seen in methamphetamine withdrawal.
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