Methamphetamine: Crisis at Hand

Methamphetamine is a strong addictive drug that is chemically related to amphetamine but the affects it causes on the central nervous system are far greater. It is a synthetic stimulant that is easy and fairly inexpensive to manufacture. Street methamphetamine is referred to by many names such as “speed”, “meth”, and “chalk”. Methamphetamine hydrochloride rocks are clear chunky crystals that look like ice. This form of methamphetamine is inhaled by smoking. Street names are “ice”, “crystal”, “glass” and “tina”.

Methamphetamine can be injected, smoked, snorted, and taken orally or rectally. The effects can last from hours to days. It can be immediately addictive because it is a pschyostimulant that increases the level of three neurotransmitters - dopamine, serotonin, and norephinehprine. Amphetamine abuse has been traced back to the 1930’s. The current epidemic began in Hawaii and the western United States but it is a well established epidemic covering the whole country. Between 1992 and 2002 treatment centers experienced a five fold increase in the admissions for stimulant addiction. Methamphetamine now accounts for the majority of amphetamines used in the United States with over 12 million adults using methamphetamine in 2003.

The “high” occurs almost instantly and produces feelings of euphoria, mood elevation, incredible feeling of energy, loss of inhibition, personal sense of power, loss of sexual inhibition. Meth users also experience loss of appetite, dehydration, rapid heart rate, high blood pressure, high body temperature, convulsions and death. Those meth users who have been addictive over a period of time may also demonstrate the following signs; rapid weight loss, facial disfigurement, inability to function socially affecting personal and professional relationships, and “meth mouth” (identified as poor dental hygiene, severe gum infections, broken teeth from excessive clenching, and oral wasting).

Use of methamphetamines over an extended period of time leads to neurotoxic effects including damage to brain cells that contain dopamine, serotonin and norephinehprine Even more, extended use leads to decreased levels of dopamine which can lead to symptoms like those of Parkinson. Other long-term symptoms noted are irritability, confusion, paranoia and aggressiveness.

Methamphetamine use is having significant effects on the HIV population. The first reason is that because of the lack of sexual inhibition many users involve themselves in parties that involve meth use and sexual encounters with a number of people. These sexual encounters involve strangers and more than not are performed without condom protection. In addition, those who do become HIV positive and continue to use tend to not be compliant with their antiretroviral therapy. Syphilis has also seen a re-emergence in meth using populations. There has also been an increase in the number of Methicillin Resistant Staph Infections in this population. This is due to the meth addicts who have gum infections and are prescribed medication to treat the infection but are not complaint about completing the antibiotics as prescribed.

Behavioral counseling is the current standard of care for dependence to methamphetamines. Contingency management programs have shown some promise in stopping use among addicts. In contingency management programs, users have to provide drug-free urine and they are given vouchers. The more consecutive drug-free urine samples that an individual provides, the higher the value that the voucher holds. Pharmacological intervention for methamphetamine use and abuse is an area of active research but there still does not exist FDA approved pharmacological intervention.

Contact our office for more information on this subject. We are willing to provide in- house presentations on this subject. Other services available to you for cases that involve Methamphetamine use are:

Medical Record Chart Review and Analysis

• Identify if clinical presentation is consistent with that of a Methamphetamine user
• Identify if patient has sought previous medical treatment that identified use of Methamphetamine
• Identify symptoms of withdrawal that would be consistent with Methamphetamine use
• Identify previous treatment courses where Meth user may have been non-complaint with treatment regimen

Time Line Chronology

• Used to identify and assess long-term use of Methamphetamine
• Used to identify and assess previous treatment sought for Methamphetamine addiction
• Used to identify previous medical treatment sought to treat various side effects of Methamphetamine use

Expert Witness Identification and Location

• Identify expert witness who can speak to Methamphetamine use, addiction and treatment

Medical Research

• Perform research searches and prepare reports regarding latest medical and nursing literature regarding Methamphetamine use, addiction, and treatments
  

References:
Colfax, Grant N. (2005). Methamphetamine: Important Clinical Guidelines for Healthcare Providers. Retrieved February 2007 from http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/514193_print

Ferri, Richard S. (2006). How Can I Crystal Methamphetamine Abuse in Patients? Retrieved February 2007 from http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/535832

National Institute on Drug Abuse (May 2005). Info Facts on Methamphetiamine. Retrieved February 2007 from www.drugabuse.gov

For more information on this issue please see Contact Us and see how our services can work for you.