Methamphetamine, or commonly known as meth, is an extremely addictive drug. Similar to most drugs, once improperly used, meth addiction could result to detrimental effects towards the user’s body. Upon entering the brain, methamphetamine triggers the fast release of dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine which control feelings of pleasure. It is very active in mesolimbic reward pathways of the brain which causes extreme euphoria.
Methamphetamine has a stimulating effect on sex, mood, and energy. It may cause weight loss and appetite suppression. Also, it gives the body with alertness and the ability to concentrate. Like any other drugs, overusing meth develops tolerance. Meth tires out the brain’s store of dopamine and destroys the wiring of dopamine receptors. The pleasurable effect of the drug is not eternal. Negative effects on the body takes place once the user of meth takes increasing amount due to tolerance. Meth addicts usually elicit poor judgment and dangerous behaviors such as committing petty and violent crimes. Maintining pleasant effect of the drug makes the user to likely increase doses which in turn results to the destruction of body organs, mental disorders, and even death. Long-time users of this drug have been known to develop symptoms of psychosis, like paranoia, aggression, hallucinations, and delusions. In addition, physical effects of Methamphetamine use are diarrhea, palpitations, and dizziness, jaw clenching and facial ticks. Meth can also lead to heart failure since it increases heart rate. Some consequences include bronchial dilation, dilation of the blood vessels to the skeletal muscles, dilation of pupils and the emptying of the bladder and intestine.
In the United States, methamphetamine addiction is quite common. There are 1.4 million meth users in America, and it does not stop there. With the number of meth users increasing, the government is quite helpless. Meth is readily available and cheap. Meth’s main object is the youth most especially those problematic ones; ravaged by broken homes, neglect and little parental influence. A report from the National Association of Countries revealed that meth users comes from the different spectrum of the youth: from high school and college students to white and blue-collar workers.
What pushes people to using meth? Meth is easy to use, cheap, and could work as an energy booster. The attractive part of this drug is that it’s benefits even if temporary are very immediate.
Meth addiction destroys the life of a person. Once addicted to it, the symptoms could lead to undesirable and unhealthy behaviors. Moreover, depriving the body from taking in meth would lead to depression, aggression, anxiety, fatigue, paranoia, and intense craving for the drug.
Getting away from this kind of addiction is quite a daunting task. It is like pulling your hair on your head one by one until everything is gone. It’s that painful. It is not an overnight process. Most of all, it wouldn’t work if it is a forced thing. Meth addicts should be first of all, be very willing and determined to fight the addiction and get rid of it for good. The enthusiasm should not come from the people around the meth users. The motivation should come from the self. After accepting one’s problem, the desire to do something about it should come next. There have been a number of meth-specific programs that have been developed. The objective of treatment is to teach the addict new skills that will help cope with the user’s drug cravings and prevent relapses. Meth treatment therapies involve individual and small group approaches. Treatment allows the patient to see beyond the immediate positive effects of drug use and lead them to see the negative effects that inevitably follow. Moreover, recovered addicts are taught to deal with their lives more successfully, increase their confidence and self-esteem, and set positive personal goals.
When you get addicted to something, it is difficult to veer yourself away from that addiction. Addiction is similar to letting go of a loved one, we know that letting it go is the exact thing to do, but we find it difficult to do it because we know it would hurt so bad. The first step should always start with the self.
