Methamphetamine Notes

The main ingredient that goes into making meth is pseudoephedrine, a decongestant in most over the counter cold medication, that in combination but a host of other toxic chemicals such as lye and drain cleaner. Form White or yellow powder, clear or yellowish crystals or "shards", or in pill form. Use Smoked, snorted, swallowed, or injected. Addiction Factor Extremely Addictive Physical & Mental Effects Brain damage, organ failure, open sores, rotting teeth, stroke, mania, paranoia, obses

Sive compulsive behaviours, twitching or shaking, psychosis, etc. Social Effects Withdrawal from friends and family, increased criminal activity to support addiction o r due to violent episodes while high, and an increase in overall violent and/ or rude behaviour. Environmental Effects When methamphetamine is being synthesized, there are over 5 pounds of toxic wast e as a byproduct for every pound of meth. This waste is almost never disposed of properly and finds its w ay into ecosystems which pollutes water, destroys habitats and kills wildlife and can be harmful to huma ns if they should come nto contact with any chemical byproducts.

This is why many meth lab technicians ar e sent to the hospital for chemical burns. What Does Methamphetamine Do To The Body? Heart Methamphetamine affects the heart and the circulatory system by increasing heart r ate and blood pressure substantially. Repetitive use can cause irregular heartbeat, heart attack, stroke, and u Itimately death. These side effects will improve over a long period of time in which the individual has abstai ned from using the drug. The Senses Meth may cause the user to see, hear, feel, smell, or taste things that aren't really the e, if these sort of hallucinations persist, fullblown psychosis may develop.

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Bones Since Meth use can cause loss of appetite, some meth users can develop anorexia an d/or osteoporosis. This is because of the lack of essential proteins and elements such as calcium which help keep the body strong and healthy The Muscles Because the drug has such a profound effect on the part of the brain that aids in the coordination of movements, the user very likely to eventually develop: Involuntary muscular contracti ons, uncontrollable twitching or shaking, and strange movements like facial ticks.

These side effects wors n as the addiction progresses. Immune System Since meth causes vasoconstriction (narrowing of the blood vessels) the skin can become deprived of oxygen, and nutrients. This also means that white blood cells and other immunocytes (cells of the immune system) also may not be able to reach certain areas of the skin. In conjunction, this will lead to pale or grey tinted skin, acne, and open sores.

Temperature Regulation When an individual uses meth their body temperature skyrockets which can be very dangerous, leading to an increase in heart rate and blood pressure as well as increasing the likelihood of orga failure or brain damage caused by cellular destruction due to the high temperatures created within t he body. The Teeth Smoking meth will cause rotten teeth and gums. This can be caused by any of the foll owing: Poor oral hygiene, bacteria, teeth chattering or grinding, or the acidity ot the drug itselt.

Hair The toxic chemicals in meth, combined with the constant urge to pull at the hair or pi ck at the scalp while high can lead to thinning, greying, or drying of the hair, as well as an increase in oils produced by the scalp. bald patches may also occur in individuals who have a bad habit of pulling hair out. References: http://www. methpro]ect. org/answers/whatdoesmethdotoyour body. html#BodybyMeth The Heart Specificly. The Heart On Meth While under the influence of meth, you probably already know that it increases heart rate and blood pressure, but what does that really mean for the heart of the user?

To get an idea, th e average adult heart will pump between 6,000 and 7,000 litres of blood per day; when a person uses meth even a few times a week, this output will increase to an unhealthy level of about 7,500 to 8,500 litres per day, The same goes for heart rate. The average adult heart rate at rest is between 60 00 beats per minute depending on the size, shape, gender, and overall health of the individual, but when he or she ingests methamphetamine, their heart rate at rest will spike, causing it to fall between 100 120 beats per minute.

That means that when he or she is sitting, their heart rate is going as fast as it should if they were to walk up a flig ht of stairs between two floors of a house, or take a brisk walk. This is especially dangerous when engagin g in any kind of physical activity since the users heart will gain the potential to beat too fast which wil I eventually send it into rrhythmia (irregular beating of the heart) which is a medical emergency and is likely to result in death.

Considering the poor cardiovascular health of meth users, most individuals who expe rience an arrhythmia, heart attack, or stroke while under the influence are more likely to die due to the fact that after prolonged used, the addicts heart will need to increase in size so it can compensate for the hear t rate and blood pressure spike. Having an enlarged heart is especially dangerous because it means t he the heart is not as strong as it once was, leaving it more susceptible to complications. Left Ventricular Hypertrophy

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