Crystal MethCrystal Meth

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A Deadly DrugA Deadly Drug

Methamphetamine is a powerful Methamphetamine is a powerful central nervous stimulant.central nervous stimulant.

Extremely addictive, meth comes Extremely addictive, meth comes in a variety of forms, and usage in a variety of forms, and usage ultimately leads to severe brain ultimately leads to severe brain damage.damage.

METH Can be smoked, METH Can be smoked, snorted, taken orally or snorted, taken orally or

injectedinjected

Made from common household Made from common household chemicals, methamphetamine is chemicals, methamphetamine is a synthetic (or man-made) drug. a synthetic (or man-made) drug.

IngredientsIngredients

Over-the-counter cold and asthma Over-the-counter cold and asthma medications containing ephedrine or medications containing ephedrine or pseudo ephedrine pseudo ephedrine

red phosphorousred phosphorous hydrochloric acidhydrochloric acid drain cleanerdrain cleaner battery acidbattery acid lyelye lantern fuellantern fuel antifreezeantifreeze

The manufacturing of meth occurs everywhere; The manufacturing of meth occurs everywhere; meth labs have been found in homes, cars, meth labs have been found in homes, cars, hotels, and many other locations. hotels, and many other locations.

These environments often expose children to the These environments often expose children to the dangers of meth production Just the fumes alone dangers of meth production Just the fumes alone

can cause burns on the skin of childrencan cause burns on the skin of children..

Effects of METHEffects of METH(Immediate)(Immediate)

EuphoriaEuphoria Increase alertnessIncrease alertness Diarrhea and Diarrhea and

nauseanausea Loss of appetiteLoss of appetite InsomniaInsomnia TremorTremor Jaw clenchingJaw clenching AgitationAgitation

Effects of METH Cont.Effects of METH Cont.

Compulsive Compulsive fascination with fascination with repetitive taskrepetitive task

TalkativenessTalkativeness IrritabilityIrritability Panic attacksPanic attacks

Side Effects associated with Side Effects associated with chronic usechronic use

Drug cravingDrug craving Weight lossWeight loss DepressionDepression Meth mouthMeth mouth PsychosisPsychosis

METH mouthMETH mouth

According to the American Dental According to the American Dental Association, meth mouth "is probably Association, meth mouth "is probably

caused by a combination of drug-caused by a combination of drug-induced psychological and induced psychological and

physiological changes resulting in physiological changes resulting in xerostomia (dry mouth), extended xerostomia (dry mouth), extended

periods of poor oral hygiene, frequent periods of poor oral hygiene, frequent consumption of high calorie, consumption of high calorie,

carbonated beverages and tooth carbonated beverages and tooth grinding and clenching.”grinding and clenching.”

METH mouthMETH mouth

Crystal meth users have the Crystal meth users have the sensation of bugs crawling sensation of bugs crawling

under their skin.under their skin.

“Better known as METH bugs”

Meth robs the body of calcium and Meth robs the body of calcium and appears to have a neurotoxic effect, appears to have a neurotoxic effect, damaging brain cells that contain damaging brain cells that contain dopamine and serotonin, another dopamine and serotonin, another neurotransmitter. neurotransmitter.

Over time meth appears Over time meth appears to cause reduced levels of dopamine, to cause reduced levels of dopamine, which can result in symptoms like which can result in symptoms like those of Parkinson's disease and those of Parkinson's disease and type-two schizophrenia type-two schizophrenia

Street NamesStreet Names

Crank refers to any form of Crank refers to any form of methamphetamine. methamphetamine.

Ice is a crystallized Ice is a crystallized smoke able chunk form of smoke able chunk form of methamphetamine that produces a more methamphetamine that produces a more intense intense reaction than cocaine or speed. reaction than cocaine or speed.

Ice has an appearance that is clear and Ice has an appearance that is clear and crystal-like, and resembles frozen ice crystal-like, and resembles frozen ice water. water.

Other Street NamesOther Street Names

BugsBugs DranoDrano Chalk Chalk ChankChank CocoCoco CrystalCrystal

IceeIcee HydroHydro LilyLily No DozeNo Doze RipRip SnapsSnaps SpeedSpeed

Before and AfterBefore and After

Before and AfterBefore and After

18 months later18 months later

Before and AfterBefore and After

10 years of METH use10 years of METH use

Before and AfterBefore and After

Before and AfterBefore and After

3 years and 5 months later3 years and 5 months later

Before and AfterBefore and After

17 months later17 months later

Desperate meth users who’ve Desperate meth users who’ve been deprived of their fix have been deprived of their fix have

been observed picking and eating been observed picking and eating scabs off of their bodies, along scabs off of their bodies, along with going to the extreme of with going to the extreme of drinking their own urine in an drinking their own urine in an

effort to try to find enough meth effort to try to find enough meth chemicals to get high.chemicals to get high.

99% of first-time METH users are 99% of first-time METH users are hooked after the first try hooked after the first try

Experts once thought cases of meth Experts once thought cases of meth addiction were hopeless -- a high addiction were hopeless -- a high percentage would always relapse -- percentage would always relapse -- but today they know that recovery is but today they know that recovery is possible, although it may take years possible, although it may take years of medication and behavior therapy.of medication and behavior therapy.

Crystal METHCrystal METH

http://www.anti-meth.org/index.htmlhttp://www.anti-meth.org/index.htmlhttp://www.metheducation.com/http://www.metheducation.com/

A Deadly DrugA Deadly Drug