School starts back in just a couple of weeks. There are many anxious students awaiting their classroom assignments and many motivated teachers awaiting the arrival of this year’s crop of eager students. Along with the new school year comes a not-so-new problem that is a very real threat to the young people who will soon be in positions to make decisions which will affect many of us for years to come. A member of our practice who is also a nurse, educator, and a very concerned parent asked that I write a column about the threat that methamphetamine has become to our world. We are sometimes lulled into a false sense of security since Milledgeville is still a small town in comparison to other areas, but methamphetamine laboratories are here and our youth are definitely given access to this very dangerous drug.
Many people have experimented with different plant-based drugs and were able to leave them behind with the other foolishness that being young and purposeless carries, but methamphetamine is a caustic man-made chemical that permanently alters the structure and function of the central nervous system. In most cases there is no “harmless” experimentation and simply being able to leave it alone. Some 40 percent of those who use it only once become addicted to it and 80 percent of those who use it twice cannot stop. The drug is readily available because it is very inexpensive to manufacture out of simple household chemicals and over the counter cold medications which contain pseudo ephedrine. Crude labs are easily built and people can make this stuff in a garage, storage shed, bedroom, or just about anywhere. The manufacture of methamphetamine creates highly flammable chemicals which can ignite with only the smallest available spark, making explosions common in the hands of the “cooks”. A recent explosion in a motel in Atlanta happened because some teenagers rented a room for the weekend and were manufacturing methamphetamine for resale. Serious burns to the bodies of those who make methamphetamine go unreported and untreated due to fear of being caught. In some areas, methamphetamine accounts for up to 90 percent of drug arrests.
On the street, methamphetamine is referred to as “crystal”, “crank”, “speed”, “meth ”, “glass”, “ice”, and “go-fast”, just to name a few. It is commonly a white or yellow-colored crystalline powder and can be inhaled (snorted), smoked, injected, or taken orally. It is a powerful, intense substance which creates a sense of euphoria, extreme energy, and invincibility in the short term. It has also been reputed to increase libido and curtail appetite. These features make it attractive to young people who are insecure and searching for that something to grasp onto. It releases very high levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine which enhances body movement and is a mood elevator. The effects of methamphetamine are long-lasting unlike those of cocaine. The “high” one gets from cocaine lasts about 20 minutes and the “high” from methamphetamine lasts up to 24 hours. This is where the danger begins. Those searching for the initial rush of a dose of methamphetamine will use it repeatedly in a short period of time and will eventually cause insomnia, paranoia, confusion, and extreme central nervous system irritability. This over stimulation can cause bizarre and violent behavior. Methamphetamine eventually robs the body of calcium and other essential nutrients and appears to have a neurotoxic effect. Over time, Parkinson’s–like symptoms might develop along with behavior that is similar to that of schizophrenia. Internal organ damage is inevitable with repeated use and the risk of cardiac arrest and stroke is heightened due to the extreme increase in heart rate and blood vessel constriction that accompany the use of methamphetamine. Many users develop open sores and other skin lesions from the sensation that bugs are crawling on them and the resulting compulsion to scratch.
The manufacture of this chemical is not done without serious expense to our fragile eco-system. Authorities say that for every pound of methamphetamine that is produced there are 6 to 7 pounds of extremely toxic chemicals which are, quite naturally, disposed of illegally. This poses a risk to our drinking water as well as the quality of air that we breathe. With the untold numbers of clandestine labs out there, there is no telling how much environmental damage is being done.
According to Dr. Kathryn Wells, a well-known author on the subject of drug abuse, “Methamphetamine is a very addictive drug and leads to a chronic, relapsing disease. The addiction seen with this drug is believed to be related, at least in part, to the functional and molecular changes that are known to occur in the brain.” The irreversible damage is clearly being done to individuals. There is no estimating the cost of methamphetamine to the families associated with the people addicted to it. Our already taxed environment is being further assaulted by the uncaring and irresponsible manufacturers of this substance. What will the human toll be in the way of future generations? There is no way to predict that. Parents, talk to your children about drugs. Leave the communication lines open and watch for any sudden changes in behaviors, eating habits, and friends. Take the time to check up on your children and know that they are safe. By the time they begin to get into serious trouble it might be too late. Treat your body and your spirit well.