Crystal Meth Effects
Crystal meth effects an individual not only psychologically but physically as well. The physical effects of crystal meth include: heart palpitations, blurred vision, extended wakefulness, and damage to the brain, lungs and liver. Crystal meth effects the users vision, judgment, coordination, and reflexes as well. Crystal meth can cause automobile and other machinery accidents. The effects of crystal meth may last from 2 hours to 20 hours depending on how much is smoked. Crystal meth effects behavior as well. This includes violence, hallucinations, depression and psychoses.
Crystal meth's effects increases arousal in the central nervous system by pumping up levels of two neurotransmitters, norepinephrine and dopamine. At low doses, crystal meth boosts alertness and blocks hunger and fatigue. At higher doses, crystal meth causes exhilaration and euphoria. At very high doses, the effects of crystal meth can cause agitation, paranoia, and bizarre behavior. Physical crystal meth effects include increased heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature.
Anxiety, emotional swings, and paranoia are the most common psychological effects due to chronic use of crystal meth. Symptoms increase with long-term use, and can involve paranoid delusions and hallucinations. Violence and self-destructive behavior are common. Overdose is also a risk with crystal meth. Symptoms include fever, convulsions, and coma. Death can result from burst blood vessels in the brain (triggered by spikes in blood pressure) or heart failure.
Crystal meth is made of highly volatile, toxic substances (based on such chemical "precursors" as methylamine and amyl amine) that are melded in differing combinations, forming what some have described as a "mix of laundry detergent and lighter fluid." The drug can either be snorted or injected, or in its crystal form 'ice' smoked in a pipe, and brings on a feeling of exhilaration and a sharpening of focus. Smoking crystal meth results in an instantaneous dose of almost pure drug to the brain, giving a huge rush followed by a feeling of euphoria for anything from 2-16 hours.
Crystal meth's effects and addiction potential are similar to that of amphetamine abuse, although as crystal meth is a lot stronger, the dangers involved are greater with an increased chance of overdose.
Abuse of crystal meth can bring on paranoia, short term memory loss, wild rages and mood swings as well as damage to your immune system. As far as we know, it is not physically addictive, although many have quickly developed a very strong psychological and damaging dependence for the drug.