Crystal Meth Addiction

Crystal meth addiction is inevitable for those who abuse the drug regularly. Some experts would go so far as to say that with regular of the drug it is nearly impossible to avoid addiction to crystal meth. Crystal meth users become addicted to the drug very quickly. Crystal meth users find themselves over time using the drug with increasing frequency and in larger doses. Many people take crystal meth because it releases high levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine in the users brain. Dopamine works by stimulating brain cells which in turn enhance the users mood and their energy level.

Like other drugs of addiction, crystal meth users build a tolerance to its effects. What this means is that the user must take more and more crystal meth to experience the drugs effect at the same level of intensity. Eventually, the doses of crystal meth can become so high that the most dangerous side effects of crystal meth become a reality for the user. These side effects include increased heart rate, severe hyperthermia (high body temperature), paranoia, and stroke.

When someone who has a crystal meth addiction begins to feel the effects of the drug wear off, they often take more of the drug to prevent withdrawal symptoms from coming on. This leads to a very dangerous cycle. Addicted individuals who are looking to ease the symptoms of withdrawal may also use additional drugs besides crystal meth. Due to this drugs stimulating effects, addicts often use a depressant to comedown off the drug and to help get though the withdrawal process.

Those who have suffered with a crystal meth addiction in the past have stated that it can be extremely difficult and emotionally painful to stop using. The road to living drug-free may seem very difficult. If you or someone you care about is suffering with addiction problems, there are a few things one can do to get on the path to recovery. First, acknowledge the addiction. Ignoring the problem or bailing someone out only feeds their habit and keeps them ensnared in the addiction.

Next contact a professional in the drug rehab field. Unlike the traditional pharmacological approach to drug addiction, a number of treatment programs are now tailored specifically to deal with crystal meth addiction. These programs go beyond detoxification to prepare the addict for long-term recovery. Recovering addicts are coached individually or in small therapy groups. They are taught about their addiction, ways to manage their cravings, and how to avoid situations that could trigger a relapse.
When Bad Meth Trips Never End
Trips Never End For a person in the middle of a serious drug trip, hallucinations, confusion and raging emotions can make it feel as if he or she is teetering on the edge of insanity. Depending on the drug and the person, it very well might be true. In an issue of Marie Claire, singer Stacey "Fergie" Ferguson of the Black Eyed Peas describes a harrowing drug trip from crystal meth -- a drug known for its distressing psychological aftermath...
More...
Warnings on crystal meth usage
Warnings on crystal meth usage The effects of crystal meth on a woman Photographs from the US show the effects of smoking crystal meth There has been a "gradual rise" in the use of the class A drug crystal meth, a police report has suggested. The Association of Chief Police Officers warns that vigilance is needed to stop the use of the drug escalating, as it has in other countries.
More...
Crystal Meth Goes International And Industrial
Ioan Grillo | GlobalPost CULIACAN, Mexico -- The colossal water cistern set in a clearing in a hilly, heavily forested area can hold 25,000 liters of water -- enough to irrigate a major food farm. But follow the pipes down and there, beneath a corrugated iron roof and resting on hay bales, and its real, more sinister purpose is revealed. Here in the heat of northern Mexico, the factory churned out record amounts of methamphetamine -- known on the American streets as crystal meth, or ice -- a drug that has torn through the United States and become the biggest growth area for cartels south of the border.
More...
Crystal Meth & Schizophrenia
CRYSTAL METH USE CAN HAVE DISTURBING SIDE EFFECTS, ACCORDING TO HEALTH-CARE WORKERS AND COUNSELLORS A new story out of Canada discusses the use of methamphetamine and its relation to psychosis. It seems that the use of methamphetamine or as it sometimes called, crystal meth (one of its more popular street names), has the potential to induce psychosis: (Psychiatrist) Dr. (Heather) Keizer (has seen) a spike in the number of youth with psychosis after using meth in the winter of 2004. It dropped a bit in the summer months but picked up again this past winter. She sees youth, mostly boys, who hear voices in the walls...
More...
End of LiveChat code -->