Meth Addiction Drug Abuse

Meth or methamphetamines were first developed in Japan in 1919 from the original amphetamine, developed in Germany in 1887 to help people with respiratory problems. We aren't going to cover all the history of methamphetamine here but wanted to give you an idea of where it originated. Over the years amphetamines came to be used for a number of maladies including:

• colds
• asthma
• allergies
• narcolepsy
• attention deficit disorder
• fatigue
• obesity
• depression

While amphetamines are still used in some commonly prescribed prescription drugs used to treat ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), traumatic brain injury (TBI), narcolepsy and chronic fatigue syndrome. This is different than what we commonly think of as meth. We aren't going to go into the chemical makeup  here but will focus more on meth addiction.

Meth is one of the most abused drugs because of the stimulant effect and because of the ease of production. You may have heard of a meth lab in your own neighborhood. Some of the first effects someone using meth will notice are: decreased appetite, increased respiration, restlessness, irregular heartbeat, and increased blood pressure.

What meth addicts may not know is that long term problems of using meth may include: extreme weight loss, very severe dental problems (meth mouth), mood swings, violence, anxiety and paranoia, confusion, sleeping problems, hallucinations, delusions, and other serious problems.

If you currently have, or know someone that has, a meth addiction. Seek help right away. The longer you use meth, the harder it will be to break the addiction.