Crystal Meth - what does it do exactly?

[tomb lily]

No I'm not thinking of taking that (to be honest I tried it 15 years ago but only once or twice) -- I know someone who is using it and despite my warnings she keeps taking it. She does it for weight loss but I'm afraid that long term usage of the drug will cause other issues more serious than obesity.

So, without any sensationalism, what are the scientifically proven biological risks from taking Crystal Methamphetimines? My friend sniffs it I think.. she said she doesn't take it with a needle. I'm worried about her and pray for her a lot.

I want her to undestand the real physiological dangers of long term usage, not hearsay or speculation.

 

[Harlan Norris]

I have personal experience with meth. For several years it was my drug of choice. Your friend is in grave danger. Once an addiction is established, it's nearly impossible to break. Once your well into it, eratic behavior, paranoia,and agresive tendencies. It has a terrible effect on ones body. Hair loss,bleeding gums ect. It can and does cause severe liver damage. Pray for her mightily, see if you can convince her to get treatment. It may well be a matter of life and death. Above all, don't let her talk you into doing it. Take heart though I was able to quit. And much of the damage has been repaired. Tell her it can also cause her to become hyper thyroidal. The treatment for this condition usually produces a hypothyroidal condition that requires drug maintainance. Not to mention weight gain.

 

[crabbyintrovert]

Hi Tomb Lily--In addition to being concerned about the meth use, I'm also wondering about your friend's self perception...to use such an extreme measure to lose weight suggests that an emotional misconception is present. Even if the meth was taken out of the picture, her dangerous thinking would remain. That would be my first priority in seeking help for her.

You're being a great friend, bless you! Mi

 

[crabbyintrovert]

Hi, Mi again! Meth, molecularly, is very similar to our natural dopamine and norepinephrine. It is also a small molecule and can penetrate the blood/brain cell structure very easily (5-8 seconds when inhaled because it goes thru the lung's capillary wall then directly to the brain, 10-15 secs. when injected because it must travel to the heart, then lungs, brain). Their small size also attributes meth with the ability to affect our central nervous system, in another word, it enters virtually all of our body's cells...in all of our organs and nerves. (fyi, alcohol is actually the most pervasive whole-body destructor.)

When our brain chemistry is altered by an "outside" source, it adjusts itself, or normalizes. Withdrawal symptoms are caused by our brains frantic efforts to make up for the missing outside source of chemicals.

In the 1960's, amphetamines were widely prescribed as a diet aid. Studies found that initial weight loss comparisons (2 groups: 1 w/amphetamine and 1 w/placebo) to be about 2-3 lbs. more weight lost w/amphetamine, at the 3-week mark. As time went on, the results were about the same, each group within 2-3 lbs of each other. They tried increasing the amphetamine dosage, but still no major difference. "Even with moderate dose increases, four to six weeks seems to be the limit before tolerance occurs..." (source: Drugs, Society, and Human Behavior by Ray & Ksir, 10 Edition, 2004) Tolerance is a precursor to addiction, not only physiologically, but emotionally and behaviorally, too.

I hope this helps...please keep us posted. Mi