Crystal meth is recently considered as the most threatening and dangerous drug in America, and probably in other areas of the world. It is a stimulant that for the most part hits the central nervous system. This drug is extremely addictive. Meth has its benefits such as providing the person the ample energy to do anything for the whole day. Moreover, people who wanted to drop weight also use meth as a resort to doing so. Meth had been found to reduce one’s weight. Such benefits as these, may have allowed meth to penetrate into people’s lives and later on slowly damage every aspect of their lives.
The addict finds it very difficult to quit using meth because of the occurrence of withdrawal symptoms. Both physical and emotional symptoms are greatly apparent with continual use of crystal meth. The effects of meth are mainly connected
to its action as a potent central nervous system stimulant affecting the body’s mechanisms for regulating heart rate, body temperature, blood pressure, appetite, attention, mood, alertness and alarm responses.
Meth can be taken in a number of ways: swallowed, snorted, smoked, injected, anally and through the urethra. Techniques which increase the brain’s uptake of the substance have been rising; snorting is faster than swallowing, smoking is faster than snorting, etc. The drug alters the mood in different ways, depending on the route of administration. Right after smoking meth intravenously, the user experiences an intense rush that lasts only a few minutes and is described as extremely pleasurable. Snorting meth resulting in euphoria, described as a high but not a rush. While the effects of smoking and IV injection are very quick, smoking meth produces effects within 3 to 5 minutes and oral injection can take up to 20 minutes to produce a high.
The enjoyable effects of crystal meth stops working even before the blood concentration of the drug falls significantly. Thus, more meth and increasing frequency of use are necessary to maintain the high. Meth addicts indulge in binge behavior for days at a time; foregoing food, hygiene, sleep and other necessities. In addition, side effect associated with meth overdose include brain damage, meningitis, neurotoxicity, sensations of flesh crawling with bugs, compulsive picking and infecting sores, severe headache, muscle breakdown and kidney failure.On a very sad note, no medications are available to treat methamphetamine overdose.
Communities have now been on the move to preventing meth use among the people. Family-focused prevention efforts have been discovered to have greater force than strategies that focus on parents only.
To take away the toxins from the drug, detoxification is a necessary part of treatment. Because of this, withdrawal is also treated through providing certain drug that would copy the effects of meth but not as destructive as meth. Withdrawal from methamphetamine is usually characterized by intense drug cravings, depression, insomnia, and increased appetite.
Several cognitive behavioral interventions designed to help modify the patient’s thinking and behaviors, and to increase coping skills related to various life stressors are considered promising when conducted long term. The support from family and loved ones is still the most important ingredient in treating meth addicts. Knowing that he or she is loved and cared for would give confidence him or her to fight for her life despite the discouraging effects of meth. With the realization that the individual feels important in the family and also in the society, he can cope up form the darkness.
The determination and the will to change will still be one of the most important factor to change the individual regardless of the kind of treatment. Cognitive therapy is very helpful in making the person realize that life does not revolve around the drug. There is more to life than meth. The person would then learn coping skills and new perspectives in dealing with temptations and starting a new life as the person recovers form the battle with meth.
When faced with crystal meth addiction, one should not panicked because there are help available. One should just be willing and determined to look for the right treatment.
