Methamphetamine Addiction: Impacts, Treatment, and Prevention

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“The clown was an evil one. They’re
either good or bad, and this one was
definitely the latter.” - Chris Thrall
Methamphetamine Addiction
The 2016 National Drug Strategy Household Survey found that about 1.3
million Australians (above the age of 14 years) or 6.3% of the population (or
one out of every 70 people) have used crystal meth at one point in their lives
abd 1.4% used Meth in the last 12 months. Moreover the use of meth also
increased from 68% in 2017 to 75% in 2018. More than 20% of those who
use meth, do so on a weekly or daily basis while 24% use them every few
months (Degenhardt et al., 2017). The survey also showed that 7% of
individuals who acknowledged of ever using Meth are lifetime users. The
number of hospital separations due to the use of stimulants, poisoning with
psycho stimulants and onset of psychotic disorders caused by meth use has
also increased over the last decade. The usage of Meth was also found to be
significantly high among part time and full time college and university student
in some studies (Degenhardt et al., 2016; McKetin et al., 2018; Darke et al.,
2017).
Even though meth can have a significantly adverse impact on health, it is possible for
individuals addicted to this drug can be saved. Several treatment programs exist that can
help individuals overcome their addiction to Crystal Meth and lead healthier lives.
Detoxification: This is generally the first step for most treatment processes in which the
person abstains from using the drug for a certain period to give the body the time to reove the
drug from the system and thus give the body the time to heal (Alam-mehrjerdi et al., 2015).
Rehabilitation: Admitting individual to a rahab can help to overcome addiction though a
combined approached of behavioural modification and pharmacotherapy.
Cognitive Behavior Therapy: This approach can be used to overcome the addictive behavior
and help individuals to avoid the urge to use the drug or identify triggers that can lead to drug
use.
Group Counseling: This is a groupd based approach in which a counselor can advise
multiple individuals on strategies to quit meth.
Yoga Therapy: This therapy can help individuals to control their emotions and thus control
their urge to use drugs.
Medications: Various medications can be prescribed for the treatment such as Buproprion,
Modafinil, Naltrexone, Mirtazapine, Topiramate, Dextroamphetamine, Rivastigmine and
Nicotine (Darke et al., 2017).
Support Groups: Support groups can support faster recovery among the addicts, helping
them to get over their addictive behavior and providing support to their families to help the
addicts in a more effective manner.
Family Based Intervention: This strategy relies on the involvement of family support to help
the addict to get over the problematic behavior. This strategy ensures the providence of
emotional support to the addict (Alam-mehrjerdi et al., 2015).
Crystal Meth can have both short term as well as long term impacts on health.
Short Term Impacts:
Even small amounts of methamphetamine can cause similar results as seen in the
case of Cocaine. The short term effects can include increase in physical wakefulness and an
increased physical activity, reduction in apetite, rapid breathing, irregular or rapid heartbeats,
increase in blood pressure as well as body temperature (Mukherjee et al., 2018;
Zimmermann, 2017; Rommel et al., 2016).
Long term Impacts:
Individuals who use Meth through injections are at a higher risk of getting infections
such as hepatitis or even HIV through contact with infected blood or bodily fluids. Meth can
also impact the cognitive functioning, thereby limiting the judgment or decision-making
process and thereby increase the risks of risky behaviors that can jeopardize their health and
well being (Cuzen et al., 2015). According to Zimmermann (2017), meth can make the
progression of infections such as HIV much worse. Mukherjee et al. (2018), suggested that
the neurotoxic properties of Meth leads to injuries to the nerve cells causing cognitive
dysfunction. Other studies have shown that long term use of meth can cause extreme weight
loss, severe dental health problems (a condition called meth mouth), intense skin sores
caused be excessive scratching, anxiety disorders, skeeping disorders, violent behavior,
paranoia and hallucinations. Use of meth for prolonged period also causes changes in brain
chemistry which can impair verbal learning and memory and can increase risks of
Parkinson’s disease. Moreover, its ability to stimulate dopamine secretion also can lead to
addiction (Deeb et al., 2017).
The contacts below can be approached to help an individual suffering from Meth addiction:
Lifeline Australia
Postal Address (National Office) PO Box 173, Deakin ACT 2600
Telephone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Postal Address (Sydney Office): PO Box R1084, Royal Exchange NSW 1225
The Cabin Sydney
Postal Address: Suite 506, Eastpoint Tower, 180 Ocean Street, Edgecliff NSW 2027, Australia
Telephone: [phone] (local); [phone] (overseas)
Meth Helpline: 1800 874 878
Crystal Meth Anonymous
Postal Address: P.O. Box 3314 Redfern, NSW 2016
Telephone: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Addiction Center
Telephone: [phone]
Methamphetamine is a potential stimulant of the central nervous
system and is commonly used as a recreational drug. Studies have shown
that the drug has neurotoxin properties and is often used as an euphoriant
and aphrodisiac. In most countries the drug is classified as schedule 2
controlled substances. The drug mainly activates/excites the pleasure or
reward centers of our brain which leads to the continued usage of the drug
(Degenhardt et al., 2017; Chomchai & Chomchai, 2015).
This drug is also commonly known as ‘crystal meth’ and its looks like
fragments of glass due to its crystalline nature. The drug tastes bitter and
chemically similar to amphetamine. The drug is used in different ways such as
inhaling, smoking, swallowing, snorting and injecting. The drug has several
adverse impacts on the physical and psychological health of the users
(Zimmermann, 2017; Rommel et al., 2016).
Introduction
Impact of Meth on health:
Alam-mehrjerdi, Z., Mokri, A., & Dolan, K. (2015). Methamphetamine use and treatment in Iran: a systematic review from the most populated Persian Gulf country. Asian Journal of Psychiatry, 16, 17-25.
Chomchai, C., & Chomchai, S. (2015). Global patterns of methamphetamine use. Current opinion in psychiatry, 28(4), 269-274.
Cuzen, N. L., Koopowitz, S. M., Ferrett, H. L., Stein, D. J., & Yurgelun-Todd, D. (2015). Methamphetamine and cannabis abuse in adolescence: a quasi-experimental study on specific and long-term neurocognitive effects. BMJ open,
5(1), e005833.
Darke, S., Kaye, S., & Duflou, J. (2017). Rates, characteristics and circumstances of methamphetamine‐related death in Australia: a national 7‐year study. Addiction, 112(12), 2191-2201.
Deeb, W., Yancey, J., & Malaty, I. (2017). Acute parkinsonism and basal ganglia damage from crystal methamphetamine. Movement Disorders Clinical Practice, 4(1), 148-149.
Degenhardt, L., Larney, S., Chan, G., Dobbins, T., Weier, M., Roxburgh, A., ... & McKetin, R. (2016). Estimating the number of regular and dependent methamphetamine users in Australia, 2002-2014. Medical journal of Australia,
204(4), 1-e1.
Degenhardt, L., Sara, G., McKetin, R., Roxburgh, A., Dobbins, T., Farrell, M., ... & Hall, W. D. (2017). Crystalline methamphetamine use and methamphetamine‐related harms in Australia. Drug and alcohol review, 36(2), 160-170.
Degenhardt, L., Sara, G., McKetin, R., Roxburgh, A., Dobbins, T., Farrell, M., ... & Hall, W. D. (2017). Crystalline methamphetamine use and methamphetamine‐related harms in Australia. Drug and alcohol review, 36(2), 160-170.
McKetin, R., Degenhardt, L., Shanahan, M., Baker, A. L., Lee, N. K., & Lubman, D. I. (2018). Health service utilisation attributable to methamphetamine use in Australia: Patterns, predictors and national impact. Drug and alcohol
review, 37(2), 196-204.
Mukherjee, A., Dye, B. A., Clague, J., Belin, T. R., & Shetty, V. (2018). Methamphetamine use and oral health-related quality of life. Quality of Life Research, 27(12), 3179-3190.
Rommel, N., Rohleder, N. H., Wagenpfeil, S., Härtel-Petri, R., Jacob, F., Wolff, K. D., & Kesting, M. R. (2016). The impact of the new scene drug “crystal meth” on oral health: a case–control study. Clinical oral investigations, 20(3),
469-475.
Zimmermann, U. S. (2017). Editorial to Methamphetamine (“Crystal meth”) and New Psychoactive Substances. Pharmacopsychiatry, 50(03), 85-86.
Helpline
Treatment/Prevention/Intervention:Statistical Data:
REFERENCES
Crystal Meth
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