Question

WHAT DOES METH DO TO YOUR BODY? Summarize the ideas under the “Physical Damage” Section (1 ½ mins. of A&E: A Question of Life or Meth)

Answer 1

Meth (methamphetamine) is a dangerous and an addictive substance that can get anyone hooked to it. Effects of meth to users and abusers are both elevating as well as harmful. Even using it for the sake of experimenting can get the user addicted to it which is bad. The stages of meth users experience is as following:

1. The user first feels a 'rush' just as the meth is used. It is felt through physical symptoms of elevated blood pressure, high rate of heartbeat and pulse soaring. This physical effects feel similar to adrenaline rush that people get when doing something adventurous, and this feeling is addictive to many. With meth this rush may last between 15-30 minutes.

2. The user then feels 'high' or meth intoxication. This is usually one of the early stage that is attributed to meth addiction. this feeling of high is associated with psychological changes. High feels pleasant due to the activation of rewarding system of the brain. Due to its use the cells dump dopamine ('feel good hormone') into the system which causes a surge of pleasure and exhilaration. To maintain this high the meth dosage has to be increased a bit due to the changes that take place (brain tries to compensate to the high by reducing dopamine receptors). It is this surge that makes people addicted. But this stage has its side effects which includes emotional blunting, aggression, delusion, focusing too much on insignificant things, etc. High can last in between 4-16 hours.

3. The user then goes on 'binge' (uncontrolled use) to maintain the high. User keeps on abusing it until she/he stops getting the rush and the high. Body stops responding to the drug after repeated abuse. With the binge comes the side effect of hyperactivity, both in body and mind. Racing thoughts, confusion, jumbled talk, etc. are commonly associated with this stage.

4. When the rush stops, the dangerous stage of 'tweaking' sets in. The user now starts feeling craving, empty, and fidgety. Bugs crawling under the skin feeling, picking of which causes wounds (meth sores), self-mutilation, sleep deprivation, moderate to severe hallucinations, anxiety, and setting of psychotic stage. At this stage the user is dangerous to both others and to self.

5. Then comes the 'crash' to the addicted and binge user. The body gets overwhelmed and deprived and finally shuts down due to the effects. This causes the individual to fall to a deep sleep which can last from 1-3 days.

6. When they wake up, user has 'meth hangover'. It feels similar to any other hangover with effects being severe headache, dehydration, exhaustion, starvation, and in a deteriorated state. Sometimes this stage can lead to the individual taking more meth as a solution to these problem, reinforcing the addiction. Hangover stage lasts from 2-14 days.

7. If 30-90 days pass without any drug usage, 'withdrawal' sets in. The user shows the symptoms of depression with displeasure, loss of energy, depressed mood, etc. Then the craving sets in making the individual feel suicidal. Since the experience is painful and harrowing most of the users just go back to taking meth.

Even though while using meth there are side effects, but the prolonged use of meth can cause a lot of damage. These include:

1. addiction
2. retardation in motor activity (lethargy, jitters, etc.)
3. mood disturbance
4. psychosis (symptoms of hallucination and delusion)
5. aggression
6. retardation in mental activity (decision making, learning, memory, etc.)
7. physical problems (tooth decay, sores, weight loss, etc.)
8. changes in appetite and sleep
9. changes in brain structure and function
10. high risk of stroke
11. high risk of Parkinson