Commonly Abused Drugs
Commonly Abused Drugs
Methamphetamine
An extremely addictive stimulant amphetamine drug.
Street Names | Commercial Names | Common Forms | Common Ways Taken | DEA Schedule |
---|---|---|---|---|
Crank, Chalk, Crystal, Fire, Glass, Go Fast, Ice, Meth, Speed | Desoxyn® | White powder or pill; crystal meth looks like pieces of glass or shiny blue-white "rocks" of different sizes | Swallowed, snorted, smoked, injected | II |
Possible Health Effects | |
---|---|
Short-term | Increased wakefulness and physical activity; decreased appetite; increased breathing, heart rate, blood pressure, temperature; irregular heart beat. |
Long-term | Anxiety, confusion, insomnia, mood problems, violent behavior; paranoia, hallucinations, delusions, weight loss, severe dental problems ("meth mouth"), intense itching leading to skin sores from scratching. |
Other Health-related Issues |
Pregnancy: premature delivery; separation of the placenta from the
uterus; low birth weight; lethargy; heart and brain problems. Risk of HIV, hepatitis, and other infectious diseases from shared needles. |
In Combination with Alcohol | Masks the depressant effect of alcohol, increasing risk of alcohol overdose; may increase blood pressure and jitters. |
Withdrawal Symptoms | Depression, anxiety, tiredness. |
Treatment options | |
Medications | There are no FDA-approved medications to treat methamphetamine addiction. |
Behavioral Therapies |
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