About Methamphetamine?

Methamphetamine (Meth) is a powerful central nervous system stimulant widely abused in Washington State which impacts all levels of the community. Speed, meth, chalk, crystal, ice, glass are all names for the drug Methamphetamine. Meth comes in many different forms and is snorted, swallowed, injected, or smoked. "Crystal" methamphetamine or "ice" is the crystallized form of meth, which dominates the market as the preferred form of methamphetamine and is typically smoked.

Effects of Meth Use
Methamphetamine is a powerful drug. It acts by changing how the brain works. It also speeds up many functions in the body. Methamphetamine can cause lots of harmful things, including inability to sleep, paranoia, aggressiveness, and hallucinations.

Taking even small amounts of methamphetamine can result in many of the same physical effects of other stimulants, such as cocaine or amphetamines, including increased wakefulness, increased physical activity, decreased appetite, increased respiration, rapid heart rate, irregular heartbeat, increased blood pressure, and hyperthermia.

Long-term methamphetamine abuse has many negative health consequences, including extreme weight loss, severe dental problems (“meth mouth”), anxiety, confusion, insomnia, mood disturbances, and violent behavior. Chronic methamphetamine abusers can also display a number of psychotic features, including paranoia, visual and auditory hallucinations, and delusions (for example, the sensation of insects crawling under the skin).

• Click here to see animations of Meth's effect on the brain
• Drugs Alter Your Brain

Signs of Meth Use

• Decreased appetite
• Anxiety, shaking hands, nervousness
• Incessant talking
• Rapid eye movement
• Paranoia
• Sleeplessness
• Seizures
• Skin ulceration and infections
• Violent and erratic behavior
• Loss of pleasure

For additional signs and symptoms, click here

How Can I Help Someone Who is Using Meth?
Be a real friend. You might even save a life. Encourage your friend to stop or seek professional help. For information and referrals, call the Crisis Clinic at 360-586-2800 or click here for a list of local treatment agencies.

Sources: Mind Over Matter is produced by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health and the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign - Freevibe Safety

Tips for Dealing with a Meth User:

• If possible, keep your distance (preferably a 7 to 10 foot radius).
• Once a person has been identified as a possible meth user, call for help.
  
• Slow your speech and lower the pitch of your voice.
  
• Keep the person talking. (When an abuser is silent, their paranoid thoughts can more easily take over).
  
• Slow your movements to decrease of odds of our physical actions being misinterpreted.
  
• Keep your hands visible. (If your hands are hidden, abuser can imagine danger and become violent).
  
• Avoid bright lights. A meth user is already paranoid. If blinded by a bright light, the chance of violence increases.                                                                                                                              Source: S. Alex Stalcup, M.D., New Leaf Treatment