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Description: 
Methamphetamine (C10H15N), also known as
"speed," "meth," "crystal,"
"crank" or "ice," is a chemical widely known for its
stimulant properties on the human body. It is a central nervous system
stimulant from the amphetamine family. Like cocaine, it produces
alertness, and elation, along with a variety of adverse reactions. The
effects of methamphetamine, however, are much longer lasting then the
effects of cocaine, yet the cost is roughly the same. For this reason,
methamphetamine is sometimes called the "poor man's cocaine."
It is frequently confused with other drugs that share similar symptoms,
including amphetamine, 4-methyl-aminorex(ice), ephedrine, caffeine, and
other chemicals, both legal and illegal. The word speed, in street
terms, often refers to any one of these substances.Source: http://www.erowid.org/chemicals/meth/meth.shtml Background: First Synthesized in 1887, methamphetamine is made from the drug ephedrine, an organic substance used as a medicine in China for hundreds of years. In the 1930s it was sold in the U.S. as a nasal spray for treatment of inflammation of nasal passages (ephedrine still is sold for this purpose) and as treatment for narcolepsy (sudden sleep disorder). During WWII, it was used by both sides to improve soldiers' performance. This became a major problem in Japan after World War II as they experienced the first known epidemic of methamphetamine abuse. In 1970, the Controlled Substances Act regulated the production of methamphetamine. Today much of the methamphetamine available on the street is illicit and produced in clandestine laboratories in the United States and more recently, Mexico. Because of this, questions always linger about the quality of the drug. Source: http://www.kci.org/meth_info/faq_meth.htm Usage: Methamphetmine can be smoked, snorted, injected, or taken orally, and its appearance varies depending on how it is used. Typically, it is a white, odorless, bitter-tasting powder that easily dissolves in water. Because much of the methamphetamine in the U.S. is homemade, its color and appearance can vary according to the skill of the chemist and the raw materials used. Source: http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/concern/amphetamines.html Effects: Methamphetamine's effects include euphoria, hyper-excitability, extreme nervousness, accelerated heartbeat, sweating, dizziness, restlessness, insomnia, tooth grinding, incessant talking, and other effects. Other effects include elevated blood pressure, heart rate, and other general symptoms of increased nervous activity, hyperthermia (extreme rise in body temperature as high as 108 degrees), and convulsions. Hyperthermia and convulsions sometimes can result in death. Users of large amount of methamphetamines over a long period of time can develop an amphetamine psychosis, which is a mental disorder similar to paranoid schizophrenia. The symptoms of this psychosis are hallucinations, delusions, and extreme paranoia. Source: http://www.lec.org/DrugSearch/Documents/Meth.html Dependency: Physical Dependence: moderate Psychological Dependence: moderate to severe Tolerance: strong Withdrawal symptoms can occur when use of any amphetamines is stopped abruptly. Users may experience fatigue; long, disturbed periods of sleep; irritability; intense hunger, and moderate to severe depression. The length and severity of the depression is related to the quantity used and the frequency of use. Source: http://www.erowid.org/chemicals/meth/meth.shtml Treatment: Methamphetamine is a highly addictive drug and assistance is often needed to recover from this addiction. Below are some treatment programs that may be useful for methamphetamine users as well as others:
More Information:
Meth Chemistry Resources: Due to the increased popularity of "home brewed" meth, it's important for persons providing treatment for meth addiction, persons using meth, and the public at-large, to be aware of the basic chemistry and related hazards of methamphetamines; meth labs are frequently found in homes and other locations where one wouldn't such activity to take place and thus it's important to be aware.
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