Methamphetamine use among Teens

Methamphetamine is a powerful stimulant that affects mood. It can cause long-term damage to the brain's ability to control mood, therefore users often feel depressed and cannot experience happiness after they stop using. It is a highly addictive drug that comes in many forms. It can be ingested, injected, smoked, or snorted.

About 4.9% of teens have tried methamphetamine and between 3-4.5% are frequent users. Methamphetamine is a popular club drug because it creates a false high and improves mood. Another reasons teen use is because it suppresses the appetite.

Methamphetamine is a dangerous drug that:

Affects the brain. Meth causes mind and mood changes. Long-term effects can include damage to blood vessels in the brain, chronic fatigue, delusional thinking, and permanent psychological damage. Users often experience a severe crash after the effects wear off.

Affects the body. The drug creates a false sense of energy, pushing the body faster than it is meant to go. It increases the risk of stroke. Users who use needles increase the risk of getting AIDS.

Affects self-control. It can cause violent and psychotic behaviors.

Can kill. An overdose of Meth often results in heart failure. Damage can occur to the liver, kidneys, and lungs. Methamphetamine use resulted in more emergency room visits than any other club drug.

Signs of Methamphetamine use:

∑ Excessively happy state
∑ Decreased appetite or weight loss
∑ Increased physical activity
∑ Anxiety, shaking hands, nervousness
∑ Incessant talking
∑ Picking or scratching at skin or hair
∑ Increased temperature
∑ Aggressive or violent behavior
∑ Depression
∑ Increased heart rate or blood pressure
∑ Tremors or convulsions (at high doses)

Methamphetamine Paraphernalia:
Inhaling – razor blades, mirrors, straws
Injecting – syringes, heated spoons, surgical tubing
Injesting – bottles with little white pills

Slang/street names for Methamphetamine:
Crystal Meth, crank, bathtub crank, glass, pep pills, stove top, uppers, tweak, ice (when smoked), whitecross, speedball, go fast, Shabu sketch, granulated orange, trash, bikers coffee.