Methamphetamine Addiction Corissa Aufderhar Pharmacology MA161 Fall 2010

Methamphetamine-What is it? Synthetic drug Can be smoked, injected, swallowed, or snorted Powder, crystal, or rock forms Powerful central nervous stimulant Highly addictive Meth=Adrenaline high

Alternative Names: Clinical Methamphetamine, Methylamphetamine, or Desoxyephedrine Schedule II stimulant Limited medical use Narcolepsy ADD Obesity (short term)

Alternative Names: Street Cooking process: Multi step Ephedrine or Pseudoephedrine; household items Speed, Meth, Ice, Crystal, Chalk, Crank, Tweak, Uppers, Black Beauties, Glass, Biker's Coffee, Methlies Quick, Poor Man's Cocaine, Chicken Feed, Shabu, Crystal Meth, Stove Top, Trash, Go- Fast, Yaba, and Yellow Barn

User Populations 1.4 Million users in the U.S. Beginning: white, blue-collar, rural areas Now: Quickly diversifying into all areas Most rapid: high school students, college students, unemployed, More men; more white men than African- American, Latino, or Hispanic

User Populations (cont.)

Research NIH anwarded UCLA School of Dentistry $1.86 billion. James Cunningham at University of Arizona discovered Meth's potency greatest at Mexican border, and that new Meth laws are actually working!! Reducing production crossing the Mexican border Legal pseudoephederine buys lessen=fewer home labs

Treatment More intense and long term treatment than other drugs. Most effective treatment is cognitive behavioral therapy The Matrix model Changes: thinking, expectancies, behaviors, coping skills, dealing with cravings, avoiding risky behavior 3-6 months in length Group, family, and person therapy, 12-step program, and urine drug tests

Treatments (cont.) Withdrawal No physical effects, like other drugs Deep depression No enjoyments in life lasting up to 6 months while dopamine supply rebuilds

Case Study Jenny Jackson First use at age 15 Spent 14 years completely addicted, running from life Destroyed her body No sleep=weakened immune system Seizures Extreme weight loss, dehydration Severe acne and boils Extreme hair loss

Case Study (cont.) Tooth decay, resulting in abscesses and pus, only remedy was to pull her teeth out herself Pregnancy Continued to use till 6 months along Daughter born with multiple mental disorders Last relapse and her reaction prompted Jenny to get clean and stay clean Sober for 17 months Dentures Weight gain Self-acceptance issues