Methamphetamine Essay Example

In the United States, methamphetamine manufacturing and abuse have increased at enormous rates in the past decade. The abuse and dependence of methamphetamine use in the U.S. rose to more than 500 percent from 1992 to 2002. A significant number of states have admitted a considerable number of the general population who are addict and dependents of methamphetamine. According to Lineberry and Bostwick, methamphetamine is a stimulant that was first manufactured by the Japanese in 1893. Factory workers and military personnel from countries such as German, England, and Japan utilized the drug during World War II for its energy-promoting and performance-enhancing properties (77). After the end of World War II, the Japanese military dumped huge amounts of the drug on the market, and hence methamphetamines became readily available to the citizens.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Save 25%

Methamphetamine is similar in structure with amphetamine; however, it has more pronounced effects on the central nervous system. Methamphetamine intake causes decreased appetite, lower sense of well-being, and increased activity (Smith, Galloway, and Seymour 664). Methamphetamine can be injected intravenously, swallowed, smoked, and insufflated. Methamphetamine is available either as crystalline hydrochloride salt or formulated tablets (Petit, Karila, Chalmin, and Lejoyeux 1). The production of methamphetamine involves the use of household chemicals such as over the counter cold remedies, lithium camera batteries, diet pills, tincture of iodine, matches, paint thinner, kerosene, and rubbing alcohol. The manufacturing process also involves corrosive products such as sodium hydroxide from lye-based drain cleaners and battery acid. Anhydrous ammonia from fertilizers is also utilized in the cooking process of methamphetamine (McKellar 3). Methamphetamine is also mixed with other substances such as caffeine and talc. Methamphetamine comprises of two isomeric forms, which are d-amphetamine and l-methamphetamine. The d-isomer is the one manufactured for illicit use. Methamphetamine is produced in clandestine super labs. In California, these superlabs produce eighty-five percent of methamphetamine, which is sold in the United States. These superlabs are called illegal by the Drug Enforcement Agency because they are hidden from the public view. The manufacturing process of methamphetamine requires a professional cook who will be responsible for all the activities. The cook controls the chemicals during the heating process and around open flame. A majority of these chemicals are hazardous and toxic to inhale or touch. A combination of these chemicals produces volatile compounds and vapors that have significant health hazards (McKellar 4). The chemical reactions can also cause fire and explosions that might affect people living near the laboratory. Careless handling and overheating of the chemicals cause solvents to burst into flames.

Methamphetamine acts on the central nervous system through a non-exocytosis mechanism that causes the release of monoamine neurotransmitters such as dopamine norepinephrine and serotonin (Barr, Panenka, MacEwan, Thornton, Lang, Honer, and Lecomte 302). Methamphetamine causes various pharmacological effects using multiple molecular processes. Methamphetamine increases the levels of monoamine redistribution of catecholamines from synaptic vesicles to the cytosol, and the reverse transport of neurotransmitter through plasma membrane transporters (302). Methamphetamines also block the activity of monoamine transporters and increase cytosolic levels of monoamines by inhibiting the activity of monoamine oxidase. Methamphetamines also increase the activity of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), which is the dopamine-synthesizing enzyme. The combined mechanisms of the methamphetamine make it a potent releaser of monoamines. Equally important, the drug is known to have a high lipid solubility, which makes it be transferred rapidly across the blood-brain barrier. Animal studies have indicated that synaptic levels of monoamines are decreased in limbic brain nuclei. The increased administration of non-contingent amphetamines resulted in reduced levels of neurotransmitter release.

Crystal meth is the popular type of methamphetamine that is widely used by addicts. The consumption of crystal meth results in the release of dopamine, which causes euphoria. However, the increased feelings of happiness depend on the method of administration. Smoking or injecting crystal meth causes an immediate rush, but when ingested orally, the effect of the drug will be felt after twenty minutes (Buxton and Dove 1537). Crystal meth has a longer duration of action that can last up to twelve hours. It is even possible for a user to stay for ten days awake if binging on crystal meth. Users feel more powerful, energetic, confident, and show increased productivity. Enhanced sexual performance and reduced appetite are the other side effects associated with the consumption of crystal meth. Furthermore, the impact of methamphetamine on epinephrine and norepinephrine release by adrenal glands may lead to high blood pressure, stroke, muscle tremor, stomach cramps, hyperthermia, and insomnia (Barr, Panenka, MacEwan, Thornton, Lang, Honer, and Lecomte 303).

An overdose of methamphetamines results in psychiatric complications and consequences. The overdose of the same drug is associated with psychosis, violent behaviors, mood and anxiety disorders, and cognitive deficits. Chronic and dependent users of methamphetamines have a higher risk of suffering from psychosis. More extended periods of use, the method of administration, heavy use of the drug, and a history of psychotic symptoms increases the chances of the user to suffer from psychosis (Petit, Karila, Chalmin, and Lejoyeux 2). Moreover, frequent use of methamphetamines, the high degree of dependence, and the extended methamphetamine use has been associated with depression and increased levels of anxiety among users. Addicts who inject the drug also show violent behaviors. Research has also found out health outcomes associated with methamphetamine use. Methamphetamine users have increased chances to suffer from cardiovascular pathologies such as chest pains, palpitations, and hypertension. Cerebrovascular complications are also eminent among methamphetamine users. Addicts are likely to experience an ischemic stroke, subarachnoid, and intracerebral hemorrhage (Petit, Karila, Chalmin, and Lejoyeux 3). Neurotoxicity is another health outcome that emerges due to the use of methamphetamines. The degeneration of dopamine, serotonin axons, and termini leads to the depletion of monoamines. Primate experiments in vivo have indicated that methamphetamine use results in neurotoxicity, which can take up to one year for an individual to recover from such effects (3).

The increased use of methamphetamines in the society has led scientists to develop some pharmacological strategies to mitigate the problem. Although no actual treatment has been introduced to treat addicts of methamphetamines, some of the strategies that can be utilized include The PROMETA protocol (Petit, Karila, Chalmin, and Lejoyeux 3). The pharmacological approach comprises of flumazenil, gabapentin, and hydroxyzine, which function as placebos to treat methamphetamines dependence. They help patients to continue undertaking their treatments and manage their methamphetamine craving. Additionally, immunotherapy is another strategy that can be used in the treatment of drug addiction. The Anti-methamphetamine monoclonal antibodies (AMMA) approach in rats and pigeons showed potential benefits of using immunotherapy in the treatment of methamphetamine addiction. The method can be used in humans to prevent relapse and overdose.

Conclusion

In conclusion, methamphetamines are stimulants that have been in use since World War II. The drug was used due to its increased performance and energetic properties. Several methods of administration of the drug include smoking, snorting, oral ingestion, and injection. Methamphetamines have been found to have various psychological and health effects on the lives of the addicts. Individuals suffer from neurotoxicity, various cardiovascular complications, violent behaviors, mood and anxiety disorders, and depression. Although there is a lack of a proper treatment strategy that is permanent in the treatment of methamphetamine addiction, various pharmacological approaches have been introduced by researchers to enable patients to stay in their medications and reduce their craving to the drug.

Works Cited

Barr, Alasdair., Panenka William, MacEwan William, Thornton Allen, Lang Donna, Honer William, and Lecomte Tania. "The need for speed: an update on methamphetamine addiction." Journal of Psychiatry & Neuroscience, Vol. 31, No. 5, 2006, pp.301-313.

Buxton, Jane A, and Naomi A. Dove. "The burden and management of crystal meth use." Canadian Medical Association Journal, Vol. 178, No.12, 2008, pp. 1537-1539.

Lineberry, Timothy W., and J. Michael Bostwick. "Methamphetamine abuse: a perfect storm of complications." Mayo Clinic Proceedings. Vol. 81. No. 1. Elsevier, 2006.

McKellar. "Methamphetamine: A Review Of The Literature On Methamphetamine To Provide An Informative Overview Of The History Of Methamphetamine, How It Is Produced And Distributed, And The Impact It Has On The Individual, Families, Neighborhoods, Communities And Local Government." Journal of Addictive Disorders, 2005, Accessed from http://www.breining.edu/

Petit, Aymeric., Karila Laurent, Chalmin Florence, and Lejoyeux Michel. "Methamphetamine addiction: a review of the literature." Journal of Addiction Research & Therapy S 1, 2012, pp. 1-6.

Smith, David E., Gantt P. Galloway, and Richard B. Seymour. "Methamphetamine Abuse, Violence and Appropriate Treatment." Val. UL Rev. 31, 1996, pp, 661.