Methamphetamines Crack/Cocaine Drug Unit (Day 6) Methamphetamines Crack/Cocaine

Bell Ringer #6 Create an advertisement for “Say No To Drugs” Use the information you have taken in your notes to this point. You must have at least 7 valid points or arguments to say no.

Central Nervous System Stimulant METHAMPHETAMINES Central Nervous System Stimulant

What is Meth? A potential central nervous system stimulant. Drug made from harmful chemicals. A health and environmental danger.

Meth make-up Starter fluid Freon (freezer) Iodine crystals Hydrochloric acid Lye Sulfuric Acid (drain cleaner) Lithium metal Red and yellow phosphorus Sodium metal Etc. (these are only a few of the harmful chemicals that make up methamphetamines)

Why should I be concerned? Users aren’t the only people poisoned by this drug. Manufacturing is extremely dangerous and involves many chemical products. Many of these are potentially lethal and toxic when combined. These chemical fumes permeate the walls, carpets, plaster and wood in the meth labs. Most labs are houses! Even after the labs are shut down, the dangers for a new owner of the house can be extremely high.

Mental and Physical Dangers!!! Aggressive and psychotic behavior Irritability Anxiety Paranoia Auditory Hallucinations Delusions Severe Depression with talks of suicide Loss of appetite Central Nervous System failures Kidney and Liver damage Burning eyes, throat, and nose. Skin irritation Long term cardiac and neurological damage (strokes)

Physical and Behavioral Symptoms Unexplained weight loss Abnormal sweating Sores that don’t heal Dilated pupils Tremors Chest pain Burns on lips or fingers Itching Poor hygiene/body odor Picking at skin/pulling hair Skin lesions on face, arms, or legs Etc. Withdrawal from friends or family Change in friends Disinterest in previously enjoyed activities Long periods without sleep (24-120 hrs) Long periods of sleep (24-48 hrs) Slurred and rapid speech

Environmental Hazards Meth lab “cooks” leave approx. six pounds of hazardous toxic waste for each pound of methamphetamine produced. Lab operators often pour leftover chemicals and by-products down household drains, wells, storm drains, or directly onto the ground. Many of the chemicals remain in the soil and groundwater for years. Clean-up costs are extremely high because contaminated soil, buildings and other materials must be removed and incinerated (burned).

Signs of a Meth Lab Frequent visitors at all times of day and night Occupants usually appear unemployed, yet have plenty of money Unfriendly occupants that seem secretive about their activities Suspiciously watch passing cars Paranoid or odd behavior Extensive security at the home, such as “Beware of Dog” or “Private Property” signs. Large fences, lots of bushes or trees around the house. Chemical odors Occupants smoke cigarettes outside of the house Etc.

Users introduce Meth by: Smoking Injecting Snorting Oral use (eating) All users feel a false sense of well-being afterwards (the rush of strong feelings)

“Meth Mouth” Condition of the teeth Meth dries out the salivary glands leading to high levels of bacteria and dry mouth. Acid causes erosion of tooth enamel Meth decay starts at the gum line and spreads around the entire tooth, eating the enamel in its wake. Meth users grind their teeth causing cracks Meth causes blood vessels to the oral tissues to shrink making the tissue break down and die.

How Meth affects user’s lives! The Rush - initial response The High – feels aggressively smarter, etc. Can last 4-16 hrs. The Binge – Can last 3-15 days. Constant use of the drug Tweaking – feeling one gets when drug no longer gives the “high” and unable to relieve terrible feelings of craving The Crash – Body can’t cope with drug effects Meth Hangover – a deteriorated state after the crash Withdrawal – 30-90 days can pass before user realizes they are in this stage. Craving for more hits and it is extremely painful and difficult.

Street Names Beannies Brown Chalk Crank Chicken Feed Crypto Redneck Cocaine Speed Tick Tick Tweak Batu Blade Cristy Crystal Crystal Glass Glass Hot Ice Shards Etc.

“A Deadly White Powder” “Rock” CRACK/COCAINE “A Deadly White Powder” “Rock”

COCAINE Powder or crystal form Extracted from coca leaves Originally developed as a pain killer Most often sniffed with the powder absorbed by the bloodstream through the nasal tissues Can be ingested or rubbed into the gums Some users inject it but there is a more substantial increase of overdose Inhaling the smoke speeds up absorption

Street Names Aunt Nora Binge Blow C Coke Dust Booger Sugar Mojo Nose Candy Snow White Toot Sniff “Rich Man’s Drug”

Statistics 2nd most trafficked illegal drug in the world Largest amounts of seized cocaine are from South America, followed by North America As of 2006, 35.3 million Americans aged 12 and older reported having used “Coke”

Hey boy What does it do? Creates a physiological dependence Stimulates key pleasure centers of the brain and causes extremely heightened euphoria. Dopamine, the “feel good” chemicals of your brain are depleted with use. Tolerance is developed quickly

Short Term Effects Loss of appetite Increased heart rate Increased breathing rate Dilated pupils Nausea Bizarre, erratic, sometimes violent behavior Hallucinations Irritability Intense Euphoria Paranoia Depression Intense craving for more of the drug Panic and psychosis Convulsions, seizures and sudden death from high doses (even one time)

Long Term Effects Permanent damage to blood vessels of the heart and brain High blood pressure Heart attacks and strokes Liver, kidney and lung damage malnutrition Tooth decay Weight loss Sexual reproduction damage and infertility Severe depression Death (even after just one use)

CRACK Crystal form of cocaine Yellow in color to pale rose or white Heated and smoked Named for popping sound it makes when heated Most potent form of cocaine and also the riskiest Usually 75-100% pure, far stronger and more potent than regular cocaine Smoking crack allows it to reach brain more quickly which brings an intense and immediate high (short lived about 15 min.) Sold cheap to get you hooked

Street Names Apple Jacks Badrock Ball Base Crack Devil Drug Dice Electric Kool-aid Hard Ball Ice Cube Raw Rock Rock Star Sleet Snow coke Sugar Block Etc.

Statistics In US federal courts in 2007, 5,477 individuals were found guilty of crack cocaine-related crimes More than 95% of these offenders had been involved in trafficking 8.6 million Americans 12 or older have used crack

Why so addictive? One of the most powerful illegal drugs when it comes to producing physiological dependence Stimulates key pleasure centers in the brain Compulsive crack use develops soon after the person starts using Tolerance is developed quickly so more of the drug is needed to get “high”

Short Term Effects Loss of appetite Increased heart rate Increased blood pressure Increased body temp. Dilated pupils Disturbed sleep patterns Nausea Hallucinations Intense Euphoria Anxiety Paranoia Depression Intense craving for more of the drug Panic and psychosis Convulsions and seizures Sudden Death (even with one use)

Long Term Effects Permanent damage to blood vessels of brain Strokes Heart Attacks Liver and kidney damage Chest pains Respiratory Failure Malnutrition Tooth decay Sexual problems Risky behavior Delirium or psychosis Severe depression Death