Biological Effects of Methamphetamines
Biological effects of Methamphetamines
Maria B. Araiza-Chavez
BEH
317
Peter Pingerelli
October 26, 2010
Abstract
Biological effects of Methamphetamines Methamphetamines affect the human body in a physical and neurological and psychological way. The use of meth can lead to devastating effects to the nervous system for example leaving the user with nervous ticks and body jerks similar to a person suffering from Parkinson’s disease. On a physical level, the user may show skin sores and tooth decay. Last but the not least, the user may develop psychosis including hallucinations and paranoia. Not limited to the self destruction a user will suffer, the family and/or loved ones will also suffer the effects of methamphetamines. Family will suffer, but mostly the children are the ones who will be left alone to deal with this drug that has swept the nation. I will talk about the devastating effects to the family.
Methamphetamine is a stimulant drug that affects the abuser physically, psychologically, and neurologically. The history of methamphetamines dates back to 1887 when it was first developed by the Germans. The abuse of amphetamines can be logged back to when the Germans and Japanese would give their factory workers and their soldiers the drug to keep them alert during WWII. “The method they used to produce the drug became known as the Nazi or Birth method”. (Meth Awareness and Prevention Project of South Dakota [MAPP-SD], 2000, para. 1) For many years, it was considered a drug in search of a disease because it was not developed for any one particular cure. It wasn’t until 1920 when it was being researched more seriously and then started being used as medication from antidepressants to anti-congestants. Later in the 1930’s it was being sold as Benzedrine, as a nasal spray for congestion. By 1937 amphetamine began to be sold as medication in a tablet form. It is believed that
Maria B. Araiza-Chavez
BEH
317
Peter Pingerelli
October 26, 2010
Abstract
Biological effects of Methamphetamines Methamphetamines affect the human body in a physical and neurological and psychological way. The use of meth can lead to devastating effects to the nervous system for example leaving the user with nervous ticks and body jerks similar to a person suffering from Parkinson’s disease. On a physical level, the user may show skin sores and tooth decay. Last but the not least, the user may develop psychosis including hallucinations and paranoia. Not limited to the self destruction a user will suffer, the family and/or loved ones will also suffer the effects of methamphetamines. Family will suffer, but mostly the children are the ones who will be left alone to deal with this drug that has swept the nation. I will talk about the devastating effects to the family.
Methamphetamine is a stimulant drug that affects the abuser physically, psychologically, and neurologically. The history of methamphetamines dates back to 1887 when it was first developed by the Germans. The abuse of amphetamines can be logged back to when the Germans and Japanese would give their factory workers and their soldiers the drug to keep them alert during WWII. “The method they used to produce the drug became known as the Nazi or Birth method”. (Meth Awareness and Prevention Project of South Dakota [MAPP-SD], 2000, para. 1) For many years, it was considered a drug in search of a disease because it was not developed for any one particular cure. It wasn’t until 1920 when it was being researched more seriously and then started being used as medication from antidepressants to anti-congestants. Later in the 1930’s it was being sold as Benzedrine, as a nasal spray for congestion. By 1937 amphetamine began to be sold as medication in a tablet form. It is believed that
References: Meth Awareness and Prevention Project of South Dakota. (2000). A brief history of meth. Retrieved from http://www.mappsd.org/Meth%20History.htm Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office. (2010). History of methamphetamines. Retrieved from http://www.montgomerycountytn.org/County/sheriff/meth/methHistory.aspx National Institute on Drug Abuse. (n.d.). NIDA infofacts: methamphetamines. Retrieved from http://drugabuse.gov/infofacts/methamphetamine.html Pellowski, M. J. (2000). Amphetamines Drug Dangers. Berkeley Heights, NJ: Enslow Publishers, Inc.. Sheff, D. (2008). Beautiful boy, a father’s journey through his son’s addiction. Boston, NY: Houghton Mifflin Company. Sheff, N. (2007). Tweak (growing up on methamphetamines). New York, NY: Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division.