mETHAMPHETAMINE

methamphetamine

• Meth usually comes in the form of crystalline white powder 
• Meth can be taken orally, injected, smoked, or snorted 

The short term affects

• After smoking or injecting-Intense sensation called a "rush" or "flash"
• After snorting or swallowing-Euphoria, a high but not a rush
• After "rush" a state of high agitation that can lead to violent behavior.
• Includes intense wakefulness and insomnia and decreased appetite 
• Irritability/aggression, anxiety, and nervousness 

lONG TERM AFFECTS

• Highly addictive 
• Develop a tolerance quickly which results in needing larger amounts . 
• Chronic use can cause insomnia, hallucinations, compulsive cleaning  
• Delusions of parasites or insects crawling under the skin.
• Users can obsessively scratch their skin to get rid of these imagined insects.

AFFECTS ON THE BRAIN

• Increases the amount of the neurotransmitter dopamine
• Leads to high levels of that chemical in the brain
• Relapsing disease characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use.
• Goes into the reward part of the brain to replace the dopamine

TREATMENT

• Behavioral theropies
• cognitive behavior
• contingency-management interventions