Meth-A demon drug even in small doses

Drug Addiction - Meth Has Plagued America for More Than a Decade

The short term risks are significant and include death, repercussions of regular use are physically devastating and mentally anguishing. Meth addiction results in tremendous personal torment. Desperate meth users who’ve been deprived of their fix have been observed picking and eating scabs off of their bodies, along with going to the extreme of drinking their own urine in an effort to try to find enough meth chemicals to get high.

(PRWEB) February 28, 2006 -- Crystal meth has become the new crack with the exception that making meth is easier than making crack The National Association of Counties, surveyed 500 law enforcement groups in 45 states, found that 58% rated meth as the number one drug problem.

Long-term methamphetamine abuse results in many damaging effects, including addiction. This is characterized by compulsive drug-seeking and drug use which is accompanied by functional and molecular changes in the brain. In addition to being addicted to methamphetamine, chronic methamphetamine abusers exhibit symptoms that can include violent behavior, anxiety, confusion, and insomnia. They also can display a number of psychotic features, including paranoia, auditory hallucinations, mood disturbances, and delusions (for example, the sensation of insects creeping on the skin). The paranoia can result in homicidal as well as suicidal thoughts.

The short term risks are significant and include death, repercussions of regular use are physically devastating and mentally anguishing. Meth addiction results in tremendous personal torment. Desperate meth users who’ve been deprived of their fix have been observed picking and eating scabs off of their bodies, along with going to the extreme of drinking their own urine in an effort to try to find enough meth chemicals to get high.

A demon drug, even in small doses it’s deadly, 99% of first-time meth users are hooked after the first try. It is also known as ice, jib, glass or speed and it has become a major worry in North America because of its increasing popularity and its devastating effects.

This synthetic stimulant is made of ghastly array of over-the-counter chemicals such as battery acid, brake fluid, floor-stripper, drain cleaner and flammable retardants found in fireworks. These are just a few of the ready-made products that make up the glass-like shards that users usually smoke or snort. Meth can also be injected, or ingested orally.

Nationwide, 7.6% of high school students surveyed in 2003 as part of the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System reported using methamphetamine during their lifetimes. Male students (8.3%) were more likely than female students (6.8%) to report lifetime methamphetamine use. Hispanic (8.3%) and white (8.1%) students were more likely than black (3.1%) students to use methamphetamine within their lifetime.

According to data from the 2004 National Household Survey on Drug Use and Health;

110 million Americans age 12 or older (46% of the population) reported illicit drug use at least once in their lifetime 15% reported use of a drug within the past year 8% reported use of a drug within the past month.

Among students surveyed as part of the 2005 Monitoring The Future study, 3.1% of eighth graders, 4.1% of tenth graders, and 4.5% of twelfth graders reported lifetime use of methamphetamine. In 2004, these percentages were 2.5%, 5.3%, and 6.2%, respectively.

During 2004, 5.2% of college students and 9% of young adults (ages 19–28) reported lifetime use of methamphetamine.

These statistics show that meth is no joke. Ninety-nine percent of first time users are hooked after their first try and the life expectancy of a person who uses meth regularly is as little as five years. A 1999 study of the methamphetamine problem reports, methamphetamine abusers were characterized as low socio economic status, less educated, relatively young white males. Today the majority of methamphetamine abusers still tend to fit that profile.

Joanna Young, national president of the www.DrugAddictionHelpLine.com, adds, "Illicit drug use is associated with suicide, homicide, motor-vehicle injury, HIV infection, pneumonia, violence, mental illness, and hepatitis. It is harmful to not only the individual but the community."

For answers on how to overcome drug and alcohol addiction, go to;

http://DrugAddictionHelpline.com/
http://AddictionHelpRehab.blogspot.com/
http://www.DrugAddictionSolutions.com/
http://www.DrugAddictionTreatment.ca
http://centralcalcoalition.org/
http://www.addiction-rehab-success.com/

Labels: Crystal Meth Addiction, CrystalClear, help for meth addicts, Meth, meth addiction treatment

methamphetamine detox in Arkansas

Some FAQs About Methamphetamine Detox In Arkansas

When planning a methamphetamine detox in Arkansas, there are several points that people need to consider. Here are some of the commonly asked questions and their answers.

Q1. Why is methamphetamine detox in Arkansas considered to be one of the most difficult forms of detox treatments?

Methamphetamine is an amphetamine drug. These drugs have a propensity to attack the central nervous system of the user in a very short while. Almost as soon as the person consumes methamphetamine, the substance will stimulate the brain to release a hormone known as dopamine. Dopamine is the hormone that is equated with the sensation of pleasure that the person experiences. Hence, the person likes consuming methamphetamine. It gives him or her a false sense of pleasure.

Now, this is important to this question because it is the fast acting nature of methamphetamine to produce a high that makes the detox difficult. Since the person begins equating the sensation of pleasure with the use of methamphetamine, it becomes extremely difficult to remove the craving for the substance completely from the body of the person. The person will not be able to stay away from the substance for a long time, which is required in the detox program. There will be a strong withdrawal process and it will be a great challenge for the treatment providers to control the person's urges for the substance.

Q2. Is there a medication therapy included with the methamphetamine detox in Arkansas? If so, what are the purposes of these medicines?

Yes, there is definitely a medication therapy implemented during the detox program for methamphetamine addiction in Arkansas. There are two main types of medicines based on the benefits that they intend to provide to the person's body. The first benefit is to try and stop the temptation that the person has for methamphetamine. When the person consumes these medications, a revulsion fort he substance might be caused in the patient. Sometimes, this revulsion can be so strong that the patient will not feel like using the substance any more. In this manner, the patient will find it easier to answer the craving for the substance.

The second purpose of this medication is to normalize the patient's body and mind that might have become ravaged due to the addictive substance. These medications act on the brain and the nervous system and try to bring the body functions back to normal.

Q3. What is the difference between the methamphetamine detox in Arkansas and other forms of detox programs?

In implementation, there's no difference. Patients who are undergoing the methamphetamine addiction treatment by way of detox will also be made to abstain completely from the substance in a treatment center, away from family and friends. Soon enough, the patient will develop some withdrawal symptoms from being kept away from methamphetamine. Depending on the patient's intensity of addiction, these withdrawal symptoms can be mild or intense. The medications that the treatment provider will administer will depend on the level of reaction the patient shows in the withdrawal process.

But one thing is unique about the methamphetamine detox treatment in Arkansas. Due to the strong nature of the addiction, the person faces a very strong withdrawal which is difficult to come out of. That is the reason the methamphetamine detox in Arkansas will usually take a very long time. While other detox programs will take as little as seven days, the meth detox program can take even as much as twenty eight days.

Q4. What points will be looked into before a meth detox program in Arkansas is implemented/

The extent of the patient's addiction is one of the most important points that are seen. If the patient is addicted to the substance since a very long time, then it becomes difficult to implement a severe detox program. The program will need stronger medication and extensive medical care.

The second factor is the physical health of the patient. If the patient has any secondary form of physical illnesses, then they might be referred to a dual diagnosis program that can look into both the conditions present in the body. The same applies to patients who are with some kind of mental illnesses. These patients find it difficult to go through the detox because they are not able to make the strong determination that is needed to work out the addiction. They may also be referred to the dual diagnosis treatment program

People who are facing a methamphetamine detox in Arkansas have to definitely suffer a lot. But a careful selection of the program will help lessen the impact of the detox program.

Click on http://www.addictioninfo.net/arkansas to read more articles such as this one on methamphetamine detox in Arkansas.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/diseases-and-conditions-articles/some-faqs-about-methamphetamine-detox-in-arkansas-552213.html

Labels: CrystalClear, Meth, Methamphetamine Detox, methamphetamine detox in Arkansas

crystal meth addiction treatment

Planning A Crystal Meth Treatment In Alabama

Crystal meth is a derivative of methamphetamine. If methamphetamine can be considered to be one of the most addictive drugs known to us, then crystal meth can be easily included in this category. In fact, being a more concentrated form of amphetamine than methamphetamine is, the chances of crystal meth being more dangerous of the two are quite high.

There are several centers for crystal meth treatment in Alabama, most of them following the rehab treatment policy. These centers are finding a high rate of admissions of late, which is making the issue seem to be more problematic than ever before. In addition, the age of the people that are getting into crystal meth treatment in Alabama is also quite low; it generally lies in the range of 18 to 25 years.

This makes it clear that crystal meth addiction is a youth-centric addiction in Alabama and that makes matters more serious because the younger the people are when they get into a crystal meth habit, the greater are the chances that they will enter into a full-blown addiction as they grow older, and the more difficult it will become to treat their condition.

The first step you have to be sure of when you are planning a crystal meth treatment in Alabama is whether the person is really in a crystal meth addiction or not. This can be difficult to find out, because several drugs have similar symptoms. If the patient shows a temporarily boosting effect such as feeling more happy than required, having a tendency to work surprisingly more, looking more bright eyed and cheerful than normal and having an elevated blood pressure, then it could be indicative of a crystal meth addiction.

You must read for detailed signs and symptoms of crystal meth addiction which you will easily find on the Internet. Visiting federal websites such as those of the organizations such as Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, National Institute of Drug Abuse and National Clearinghouse can help you in learning more about these symptoms.

Get in touch with a counselor on substance abuse treatment in Alabama who will help you plan the addiction treatment. This is also important because it helps confirm whether it is actually a crystal meth addiction or not. The counselor will tell you how you can plan an intervention program to get the person out of the denial phase and into a treatment center. You might want to use an intervention specialist.

Using an intervention specialist, also known as an interventionist, for crystal meth treatment in Alabama is a good idea because they can accurately guide you on what you must do at every step of the treatment, including which treatment center you must choose for the patient's particular condition. They become of invaluable assistance because they will also help you convince the patient to accept that there is a problem and to seek treatment for the same.

Your next step, i.e. when the patient is convinced about getting into treatment, is to choose a treatment center. The interventionist and the substance abuse counselor both will guide you on this, but you have to make sure that the treatment center you are selecting has special expertise for dealing with meth rehab treatment. They must ideally have a license stating the same. You will also do well if you check the credentials of the treatment center as to since how many years they are providing crystal meth treatment. Check also the credentials of the treatment providers. Ideally, they should be qualified from an organization such as the American Society of Addiction Medicine.

Distance is not quite important when you are planning a crystal meth treatment in Alabama. If there is a good treatment center with a good program in another city, you may consider enrolling the patient for a program there. Since most meth treatments are inpatient and will go on for several weeks, this will not be much of a problem. You can always shift the patient to a local center when the aftercare therapy gets underway.

You must remember that at every stage the crystal meth treatment proves to be more difficult than any other form of drug treatment. It is definitely much more difficult to convince a patient of this form of treatment, the detox program is quite long and a very elaborate counseling program needs to be used in which the family will also be expected to participate. Even so, aftercare is quite important, because there is always a very high chance of relapse with this kind of treatment.

Click on crystal meth treatment in Alabama to know more about how it functions.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/diseases-and-conditions-articles/planning-a-crystal-meth-treatment-in-alabama-492840.html

Labels: Crystal Meth Addiction, CrystalClear, help for meth addicts, Meth, meth addiction treatment, speed

help for meth addicts

A Parent's Guide to Crystal Meth…how to Keep your Kid Safe

Crystal meth is the most destructive drug in America today. Teens can get it, they love to experiment with available drugs, and they are not well aware of the real risks of meth use and abuse.

There are few drugs more addictive than crystal meth, and the intense and pleasurable high so easily seduces recreational users into abuse and addiction; and with addiction, the physical, mental and spiritual devastation is tragic.

Meth addicts age by literally decades in a few short years of abuse. Meth mouth (meth destroys the teeth) is but one of the obvious and external faces of the damage of meth, and the internal damage is just if not more severe. Meth use increases the risks for a host of cancers, for fatal heart disease, for Parkinson's and even for very early dementia.

Meth takes happiness away

And the soul suffers most of all. There is a price to be paid for the extreme pleasure of a meth high, and meth addicts soon find the depression and dysphoria of sobriety unbearable, and need continual meth intoxication just to avoid the soul crushing feelings of normalcy. Those meth addicts that do conquer the cravings and the physical addiction are faced with months or even years of lingering depression, and some meth addicts report never truly feeling happy again after prolonged addiction(How to beat a meth addiction).

Parents need to protect their kids from the dangers of meth, but astonishingly, about half of all parents never even bother to speak with their kids about the dangers of the drug. Reflecting this, today's teens are very ill informed as to the real dangers of meth use, and a recent study commissioned by the Meth Project (a non profit group) found that about one in three teens did not see much harm in experimenting with the drug, and an even scarier 25% even saw some benefits to meth use (weight loss, and enjoyment).

How to keep kids safe
There are a number of things that parents can do to keep kids safe from meth, but everything needs to start with a dialogue that continues throughout the years about the dangers of meth.

Additionally, parents need to stay involved and active in their teen's life and make sure they are close and involved enough to be ready to spot any signs of drug or alcohol abuse, and if so, to get help at the earliest possible opportunity.

Parents need to make clear the family policy on drug and alcohol, discuss the reasons for your concerns, and also the consequences for breaking the family no-substance use policy. Parents also need to set a good example, and kids are quick to spot a hypocrite; and don’t often listen to a "do as I say and not as I do" type of parent.


Parents can set a good example by using alcohol only in moderation, and by never using illegal drugs.
There are no guarantees
There are no guarantees, and every time your teen leaves the house they step into a world of danger and temptation. All you can do is give them the tools they need to stay drug free, educate them as to the dangers, and stay involved enough to be able to spot a problem at the earliest possible opportunity.

You do your best and hope for the best; but if you don’t talk to your kids about the dangers of meth, you are taking a very big gamble with their health and happiness.

Christian Shire is an addictions professional writing about all matters pertaining to treatment and recovery. If you need help making a decision about treatment visit Choosehelp to read more.
Read the daily addiction blog Troubleblog for stories of recovery and the latest news on treatment options.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/a-parents-guide-to-crystal-methhow-to-keep-your-kid-safe-227374.html

Labels: CrystalClear, help for meth addicts, Meth, meth addiction treatment, Methamphetamine addiction treatment

crystal meth substance abuse treatment

Issues That Make Substance Abuse Among The Youth More Problematic

Substance abuse is definitely a major problem in itself, but when the victim is a young person, the issue becomes much more serious. Today, there is a large number of treatment centers that cater especially to young people that are trying to come out of an addiction, but it is appalling to see how there are patients as young as ten and twelve years seeking admission to these centers. This clearly indicates that the age of people getting into chemical dependencies is going down. Moreover, these treatment centers claim that they face many more problems in doling out treatment to the younger patients than to adults. Here we discuss some of these problems that the treatment centers face in treating adolescent and teen substance abuse.

Ignorance in the Patients

The first problem that is encountered with young-age substance abuse is the fact that these patients are too immature to understand the gravity of their situation. They do not comprehend that the habit they are with is a life-threatening habit. Being young, they only see that they get temporal pleasure by chasing the addiction, without actually realizing the repercussions on various aspects of their life that the habit might cause.

Why do young people get into an addiction in the first place? Substance abuse resources reveal that most youngsters who pick up a chemical habit are under some or the other kind of emotional stress. This could be an overburdening pressure to compete in academics or sports or the feeling of neglect within their family. They may also succumb to the habit due to sheer pressure from their companions. If we see this, we realize that youngsters do not take up addiction for the sake of the addiction. For them, the addiction is a kind of a release from some perceived problem or a way to make their presence felt to the people around them.

This is why we say that ignorance plays an important role in harboring substance abuse in teens and adolescents. It is quite a challenging task for the treatment providers to help their underage patients come out of this ignorance and know better about the precarious situation they are in.

Young Age of the Patients

Of course, the tender age of the patients poses difficulties too. The body and the nervous system of the person are still developing. In such a situation, it is quite possible that the addiction houses itself in a much intense manner in the person's constitution. This will only make it more difficult to pull the person out of the dependency.

At the same time, it becomes difficult to provide them intensive forms of medication. This is because most medications provided in substance abuse treatment are addictive themselves and because of their young age, there is a danger that they might experience a withdrawal because of the substance that is actually provided to mitigate their dependency. Due to this reason, only mild forms of medications are provided to the younger patients. This makes it more difficult for them to undergo the detox phase of the treatment program, but there is no solution to this situation.

Strong Denial

This actually ties up with the fact that most young patients who are into addiction are ignorant of the situation they are in. Because they have no judgment of the seriousness of their condition, they will shun treatment processes. They will feel that their addiction is no more than a habit and that they don't need any treatment to snap out of it. They will be confident about this fact. This strong denial is quite difficult to overcome. Treatment centers that cater to substance abuse in the youth find that their patients who are into denial will not respond to the recovery process. It is a certainty that they have to be pulled out of their denial. But it is a challenge for the centers to make that happen.

Possibility of Secondary Addictions

Most states today have a presence of addictions that target the youth. Methamphetamine and crystal meth are very good examples of this. The labs that manufacture these substances distribute them in places where youth frequent, such as the nightclubs and the rave parties. It is quite possible then that these youth may have taken up some such club drug addiction or some other kind. When that happens, it becomes extremely difficult to bring them out of their dependencies.

As time passes, young substance users find that they lose the kick that they get from one substance. This is when they try higher forms of addiction, making the treatment quite difficult.

Click on http://www.substanceabusers.com to read more articles such as this one on substance abuse.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/issues-that-make-substance-abuse-among-the-youth-more-problematic-552202.html

Labels: Meth, meth addiction treatment, substance abuse treatment

CrystalClear™ Herbal Meth Addiction Help

CrystalClear™ is a new weapon in your personal arsenal of tools against your meth addiction. Holistic health experts developed this 4-part system knowing full well that this is a life or death struggle – and without serious, effective help, many would lose.

Crystal meth is a derivative of methamphetamine. If methamphetamine can be considered to be one of the most addictive drugs known to us, then crystal meth can be easily included in this category. In fact, being a more concentrated form of amphetamine than methamphetamine is, the chances of crystal meth being more dangerous of the two are quite high.

Starting on CrystalClear is a huge step in valuing yourself and reclaiming your life from methamphetamine addiction. Now make every action you take part of your effort to rid yourself of the effects of this terribly addictive drug.

Stay with CrystalClear, and stay with your plan. This is a lifelong journey, one that is filled with rewards.

Labels: Crystal Meth Addiction, CrystalClear, Meth, meth addiction treatment, Methamphetamine Detox, withdrawal from speed

Methamphetamine Addiction Treatment

Things That You Must Remember When Looking For Methamphetamine Addiction Treatment

The reality of methamphetamine addiction has come closer home than most people think. It may be your neighborhood youth joint where this lethal substance is being abused by teenagers or the mysterious house in your neighborhood where you are not sure who lives may be getting used as a meth lab. In most states of America, methamphetamine has become a burning problem. The substance is coming from foreign shores as well as being locally produced. This two-pronged attack is becoming much more for the authorities to handle, despite all the highway interdiction points and the crackdowns on houses that appear to be suspicious.

That is the reason you should be quite well aware of this type of addiction. The thing that you should really set the alarm bells ringing for you is that in most states, methamphetamine is being circulated among the youth. The primary users of this substance lie between 18 and 25 years of age. This is quite a vulnerable population, because if they begin a methamphetamine addiction so early on in life, there are much greater chances that they might get into a full-blown addiction.

However, the good news is that there are several treatment options for people who are trying to come out of their methamphetamine problems. Families are using these special meth rehab centers to treat their young members who have gotten into this habit. There are several useful resources where you can educate yourself about this kind of addiction and even decide upon a treatment method.

Though the number of options for methamphetamine addiction treatment are quite adequate throughout the US and even Canada today, it is important that the families take their time, get thoroughly educated and informed on how the addiction and even the treatment works and then plan out the treatment program. Getting a methamphetamine victim into an inappropriate recovery method is quite akin to giving them no treatment at all.

Here are some points that you can use to decide methamphetamine addiction treatment for someone in your house.

1. It is extremely important to check out first if the program you are considering has a license for methamphetamine addiction treatment or not. A general drug treatment license won't do. It needs to be a special license for methamphetamine because this addiction follows a very different pattern. Because meth and its purer version crystal meth both target specific areas of the central nervous system, the symptoms of the addiction are quite different. Hence, you must make sure that the center is qualified for handling the recovery procedures.

2. Next, you have to check whether the treatment providers at the center are qualified or not. Ideally they should be qualified through a center such as the American Society of Addiction Medicine. Most websites for meth addiction treatment will mention this on their websites itself, and if they don't, you have every right to ask and make sure for yourself. Moreover, it is also important that they are experienced in handling the treatment. You can ask what experiences they have.

3. Now, check what kind of treatment program it is. It might be a simple detox, or a detox and counseling, or a complete rehab program. Again, the detox can be with different methods. There are also some programs that involve herbal treatments and other alternative modes. You have to see what kind of treatment option would be the best based on the situation of the patient. You have to also see what kind of medications will be used during the entire treatment process at the center you are considering and then learn about them. This is not an easy task; you will first have to see what different treatment options are available and then will have to see what will suit the patient in the best way. A substance abuse counselor can help in a great way to help you decide the treatment program according to the situation the patient is in.

4. This finishes checking the primary aspects of the methamphetamine addiction program. This is when you can begin looking into the practical aspects of the treatment, such as how to arrange the money, whether you will get coverage for the treatment or not, whether the program has been qualified by the state, the distance of the center from your place of residence, etc. Since there are several programs for methamphetamine addiction treatment in most states, you will get a good variety. Take your time and make the decision that seems to be the best option for the patient.

Visit http://www.drugrehabclinics.net to read more articles like this one on methamphetamine addiction treatment.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/diseases-and-conditions-articles/things-that-you-must-remember-when-looking-for-methamphetamine-addiction-treatment-527099.html

Labels: Crystal Meth Addiction, CrystalClear, detoxification from amphetamines, Meth, Methamphetamine addiction treatment

Meth Addiction Treatment

Right Treatment for Meth Addiction

Methamphetamine is popularly known as ?meth? or ?speed?. This substance is a white and unscented crystalline powder which gets easily breaks up in water. The substance is derived from its parent drug amphetamine that is initially incorporated in bronchial inhalers, nasal decongestants, and other associated products.

Similar to amphetamine, meth has the tendency to increase the activity of a person, suppress the appetite, and there is an overall sense of well-being. This is also an extremely addictive drug that is extensively abused by the young generation. Meth addiction has become a severe issue and is normally leading to serious consequences.

The meth addiction treatment ranges from cases to cases. Prime treatment for this addiction is a thorough outpatient program which is intended to care for the patient's agitation, psychosis, paranoia and dysphoira. An effective meth addiction treatment necessitates the application of a cognitive behavioral therapy. This method will prepare the patient for an enduring recovery. Definitely, to conquer meth addiction is defying, recovery can be achieved and this is not impossible. However, determination from the patient himself and the support from the family and his physicians are required.

Dealing with meth overdoses involves particular procedures in the E.R. The patient who has encountered meth overdoses will have hyperthermia and convulsions and this is usually fatal. Treatment in the E.R. normally centers on the abrupt physical symptoms. Overdosed individuals are placed on ice baths to cool them off and anticonvulsant drugs are also given.

As of now there are no medicinal treatments for this type of addiction. Although, meth depression is normally succeeded with depression, then anti-depressant medications are supportive for sufferers who lately have turn temperate. Shock treatment is an obsolete variety of addiction treatment, and was no longer applied due to the negative effects it produced.

Results after treatment from meth addiction are comparable to the outcomes of patients who have undergone heroin or cocaine treatment. Also, treatment will not merely restore the health and well being of a person, but the reunification will be stronger as they have conquered the battle with addiction. Meth is hazardous, the abusers particularly the young ones must be taken care of, and the recovery is not hopeless. The youth should be safeguarded from this outbreak, so the parents and other concerned individuals along with the help of treatment experts should conquer this altogether.

Meth addiction is among the severe form of drug dependency. This is the most rigid to recover from as well as the most harmful. Treatment for this addiction should be well taken care of and you should find a professional and treatment center that possesses complete facilities to handle this kind of case. Initially, the addicted person should admit to himself that he has an issue. Next is to be able to make a move in curing his condition.

Help for Meth Addiction in Florida and Meth Addiction Treatment available.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/alternative-medicine-articles/right-treatment-for-meth-addiction-665417.html

Labels: CrystalClear, CrystalClear™, Meth, meth addiction treatment, treatment from meth addiction

Meth Addiction-Herbal Help

Meth: A One Sniff Addiction

Methamphetamines, or meth, is one of the most addictive drugs on the planet. Not only that, it is perhaps one of the most popular and widely used drugs in the USA. In one study of high school teens, 20% had tried it and nearly eight percent had used it within the past 30 days. The average age of first use was 14.5, and almost half said they could obtain it within twenty four hours. One out of every five people treated for meth addiction last year was under 18.

Meth is easy to use, cheap to make and can work as an energy booster. A single puff of meth can make a user high for up to 24 hours. It's also deadly, a concoction that can include toxic chemicals such as battery acid, drain cleaner and fertilizer.

Often times meth is made in home "underground" laboratories. This makes it hard to track and of course monitor how the meth is made. The labs themselves can be very dangerous and are subject to exploding. Many people report deaths from inhalation and chemical burns.

What is meth?

Methamphetamine is a powerful central nervous system stimulant. It works directly on the brain and spinal cord by interfering with normal neurotransmission. The main neurotransmitter affected by methamphetamine is dopamine. It is either snorted through the nose or inhaled as smoke. Either way provides a possibly deadly combination, but at the least an extremely addictive response. Meth is considered a club drug,giving party goers extra energy for long intensive forays into the club scene. It also lends itself to sexual enhancement and experience.

Street methamphetamine is referred to by many names, such as "speed," "meth," and "chalk." Methamphetamine hydrochloride, clear chunky crystals resembling ice, which can be inhaled by smoking, is referred to as "ice," "crystal," "glass," and "tina".

What does meth do?

The effects can be scary and include irritability, aggressive behavior, anxiety, excitement, auditory hallucinations, and paranoia (delusions and psychosis). Abusers tend to be violent. Mood changes are common, and the abuser can rapidly change from friendly to hostile. The paranoia produced by methamphetamine use results in suspiciousness, hyperactive behavior, and dramatic mood swings.

Am I addicted to meth?

The answer isn't a simple yes or no. Methamphetamine abuse is thought to have three patterns: low intensity, binge, and high intensity. Low-intensity abuse describes a user who is not psychologically addicted to the drug but uses. Binge users use a lot occasionally, but when they do they tend to use to the extreme. High intensity users are considered to be full fledged addicts.

Meth is a difficult drug addiction to treat, and often requires hospitalization and intensive professional support. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has a phone number to call to help locate treatment resources quickly - 1-800-662-HELP.

To learn more, the DEA has put together an informative website for parents and teens called Just Think Twice at http://www.justthinktwice.com/gotmeth whyriskit.html.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/meth-a-one-sniff-addiction-550148.html

Labels: CrystalClear, Meth, Methamphetamine Detox, withdrawal from speed

How to Stop Meth Addiction

How to Stop Meth Addiction…talk to your Kids About Meth, Only Half of All Parents Ever Do

Meth devastates, it kills, and it ruins otherwise promising young lives. Almost half of all American parents never speak with their kids about the dangers of meth, and reflecting this, an astonishing percentage of high school kids either see little harm with trying the drug, or even worse, see some benefit.

Crystal meth is scary. Incredibly addictive recreational use can so easily progress to addiction, and the physical, mental spiritual harm done by an addiction to meth is beyond compare.

The health risks of meth

Meth addicts can expect greatly accelerated physical aging, cognitive declines, early dementia, and a fantastically increased risk for a host of diseases and cancers. Characteristic meth mouth is but one of the obvious and external signs of the damage of the drug, and a few years of meth use visibly ages the body by decades.

The mental anguish of a meth addiction also devastates, and the high is punished with extreme lows of depression and despair, and those meth users who do manage to quit their addiction face months or even years of very intense depression and dysphoria as the brain struggles to right itself from the legacy of abuse. The sad fact is that some people can never completely recover from a meth addiction.

So it's very worrying when a recent survey commissioned by the non profit Meth Project finds that more than half of all parents never speak to their kids about the dangers of crystal meth.

Scary attitudes

Perhaps even more disturbing is the attitude today's teens hold towards the drug, and a scary percentage do not fear the drug, and even more worrisome percentage sees some benefit from taking the drug.

33% see little harm in experimenting with crystal meth, 25% actually see some benefit to trying the drug (weight loss, fun) and almost half of all surveyed reported that their friends would not have any problem with them if they started experimenting with crystal meth.

Teens are prone to experiment with drugs and alcohol, and parents can only do so much to protect their kids from the dangers that lurk outside of the home, but neither are teens unresponsive to drug education and those teens that do get the facts about meth are far less likely to report positive associations with the drug, and far less likely to risk addiction with casual experimentation.

The job falls to parents to do a better job teaching kids of the dangers of meth and warning them of the ease of addiction, and the lifelong battle that would then ensue. We won’t beat meth in this country overnight, but we could do a lot to better the problem just by getting informed and speaking with our kids about real dangers of the drug(How to beat a meth addiction).

A teen meth addiction is surely every parent's worst nightmare, and of all the drugs out there--and there are some very destructive intoxicants--meth is by far the worse, by far the most addictive, and by far the most destructive.

It's never a guarantee, but a few words with your kids can do a lot, and may just save a lifetime of heartbreak.

Christian Shire is an addictions professional writing about all matters pertaining to treatment and recovery. If you need help making a decision about treatment visit Choosehelp to read more.

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Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/how-to-stop-meth-addictiontalk-to-your-kids-about-meth-only-half-of-all-parents-ever-do-227370.html

Labels: Alcohol Rehab, Crystal Meth Addiction, CrystalClear, CrystalClear™, Meth, Teen Drug Abuse