How do tweakers think

Consumption of methamphetamine has a neurotoxic effect on the brain cells which store the pleasurable brain neurotransmitters, dopamine, and serotonin. Research has shown that meth addicts who have remained abstinent for at least nine months recovered from the damage to their dopamine transporters.

Their motor skills and memory, however, were not found to have healed much at all during that time. The consumption of methamphetamine has been proven to be associated with irreversible damages to the brain and the peculiar behavior known as tweaking. Even before tweaking occurs, there are immediate effects of meth on the body. Such symptoms include:. After these immediate effects, tweaking occurs. Tweaking is the most dangerous stage of meth use, especially when use occurs over a long period of time or in binges.

While it is not uncommon for a methamphetamine user to continue using the drug after the initial high, the second high is typically not as extreme. Highs lessen each time during a binge. During this process, the user will often not sleep and will become irritable as they seek another high.

There are multiple stages of tweaking. Methamphetamine is classified by the U. Medically, it can be used for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ADHD , and as a short-term part of weight-loss treatments. However, its uses are limited, and, fortunately, it is rarely prescribed even though the prescribed doses are far lower than those misused by addicts.

All other forms of methamphetamine use, possession, and manufacture are illegal and punishable by both fines and incarceration. In fact, many states have legal restrictions on the purchase and supply of precursor chemicals commonly used to manufacture methamphetamine , particularly pseudoephedrine , a common over-the-counter decongestant.

Methamphetamine is produced in several forms and, as previously mentioned, it can be smoked, snorted, injected, or orally ingested. In the U. The immediate effects of taking methamphetamine and, in particular, crystal meth include:.

The immediate effects of using meth make this a very attractive drug for recreational substance abusers. Meth has a huge number of alternative or street names, which include:. Methlies Quik Mexican crack. Pervitin Czech Republic. Zoom Blade. Tina How is Meth Manufactured? Methamphetamine is a purely synthetic man-made chemical, unlike many other powerful drugs, such as heroin and cocaine, that are derived from natural plants. It is commonly manufactured in secret illegal laboratories, either in the U.

Chemical ingredients from common cold remedy medications, eg. These chemicals, however, are potentially explosive, and, because many meth cooks are drug users themselves and likely disoriented , resulting accidents often leave the lab workers either severely burned and disfigured or killed.

Like all powerful and dangerously addictive substances, methamphetamine was originally developed for medical purposes. Produced by chemically adjusting its parent drug, amphetamine , in Japan, during the early 20th century, methamphetamine was originally used in nasal decongestant medications and bronchial inhalers.

Methamphetamine was used widely during World War II, as a way to keep troops awake and alert. However, thanks to the false sense of euphoria users experience, it was successfully used in high doses when given to Japanese Kamikaze pilots before their suicide missions. After the war, meth abuse by injection in Japan reached epidemic proportions when supplies stored for military use became available to the public. In the midth century, it was regularly used as a nonmedical stimulant by U.

In , the U. In the s, Mexican drug cartels set up huge illegal labs in California, prompting the arrival of smaller private labs in U. The illegal use of meth remains a serious and ongoing problem in the U. In some regions of the nation, it poses an even greater threat than opioid use , and it has resulted in more violent crime than any other illegal substance. The psychological, medical, and social consequences of meth misuse can be both devastating and irreversible for the addict, as its prolonged use can cause memory loss, aggression, psychotic behavior, and malnutrition.

Because of this, meth misuse creates new crime waves, unemployment, and high case numbers of child neglect and abuse. There are 7 distinct phases that users experience when taking meth; these are:. Usually, you only need to look for a few signs. You may notice:. You may behave erratically, and sometimes people can even become violent.

There are several signs you can look for in yourself, and they are both physical and psychological. Keep in mind that addicts tend to prefer to stay in denial of addictions. That means that you may need to ask someone else to give you their opinion. Have you noticed any of the following signs of meth addiction :. If you have noticed any of these, you may already be a methamphetamines addict. You may want to consider taking a meth addiction quiz like this one.

It will dig a little deeper into your drug use patterns and history. Meth is short for methamphetamine. Wikipedia refers to it as a strong central nervous system depressant. It is mainly used as a recreational drug. However, it has been used to treat ADHD and obesity in the past. This drug has a lot of names that it goes by. Some of these include:. No matter what you call it, this is one dangerous drug. People who abuse it are very prone to becoming addicted to it.

In terms of the possibly dangerous physical effects on the body, using meth can cause a number of cardiovascular problems, which include a rapid heart rate, an irregular heartbeat, and increased blood pressure. Hyperthermia elevated body temperature and convulsions are possible should the user overdose, and, if these symptoms are not treated immediately, can result in death.

The precise reasons for the euphoria that meth produces are still not fully comprehended, scientifically-speaking. Meth addiction is on the rise. With over 10, overdoses reported in due to methamphetamine use. Compare that to just deaths in and the increase is startling.

To understand why a person becomes addicted to meth in the first place, you need to know what a meth high feels like. This is where dopamine and serotonin are produced during pleasurable activities like sex, eating delicious foods, and even riding a roller coaster.

But what makes methamphetamine and similar narcotics so dangerous is that users will never reach the same high they did the first time. This behavior puts addicts at risk for an overdose. Not only does meth trigger these feel-good emotions, but it also confuses the brain into thinking it needs the drug to feel happiness.

The brain believes the addict is receiving enough dopamine from outside sources the crystal meth and natural production slows down.

Not all feelings associated with meth use are positive. This makes sobriety unbearable. Users then turn to meth to escape from the sadness, worry, and stress they feel when sober. Many addicts report being flooded with bad memories, which crystal meth helps them forget.

Another scary emotion associated with meth use is invisibility. This fearlessness quickly turns to aggression and anger. Especially when those around them question their abilities. Meth users lack self-awareness. This also raises body temperature, causing sweating, rapid breathing, and feelings of extreme hot or cold.