Methamphetamine: Extent of the Problem
The reasons for methamphetamine's growing popularity stem not only from the immediate effect upon the user—which I describe below—but also the relative ease of attaining the chemicals to manufacture methamphetamine and sell it for profit.
Like any drug, we know that people use methamphetamine for a very simple reason: it makes them feel good, at least in the immediate, short term. Users have described the initial allure of methamphetamine as the short, intense rush followed by a sense of euphoria, extra energy, increased libido, and sense of invulnerability lasting up to eight hours.
Percentage Reporting Methamphetamine Use (2002 National Survey on Drug Use and Health)
The medium and long term effects of methamphetamine, however, are nothing short of devastating. Methamphetamine users begin to exhibit nervousness, paranoia, schizophrenia-like symptoms, irritability, confusion, and insomnia. Along with increased use comes the propensity
for violence, erratic behavior, and often—partly due to association with other methamphetamine users—fraudulent activity such as identity theft, forgery conspiracies, and car theft. There are few more cruelly efficient means of aging an individual than using methamphetamine. Law enforcement and treatment providers report chronic methamphetamine users in their twenties who—in addition to having wrinkled, leathery skin, few teeth left, and open sores—appear to be in their fifties.
Psychologically, withdrawal from methamphetamine produces depression that can last for months. Both current and former methamphetamine users can exhibit psychotic symptoms that persist for years after the use has ended.
