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Methamphetamine25or hemorrhage. Chronic methamphetamine use can also causean inflammation of the lining of the heart.Other effects caused by methamphetamine include headaches,decreased appetite, dry mouth, dilated pupils, trembling,chest pains, increased respiration and shortness of breath, hyperthermia(elevated body temperature), insomnia, and nausea andvomiting. In more severe cases (i.e., overdoses) it can produceseizures and convulsions, stroke, heart attacks, and death. Therisk of encountering these more serious side effects are greatlyincreased when methamphetamine is used in combination withother drugs like cocaine, marijuana, alcohol, and heroin.HOW METHAMPHETAMINEWORKS IN (AND DESTROYS) THE BRAINIn the brain, methamphetamine causes massive amountsof the neurotransmitters dopamine, norepinephrine, andserotonin to be released from neurons in the brain, particularlyin the limbic system and frontal cortex. Scientists believethe increased dopamine release in these brain regions isresponsible for methamphetamine’s ability to keep peopleawake, alert, energetic, active, and possibly addicted.Methamphetamine acts on a variety of brain regions to producea number of different effects (Table 2.1).Table 2.1 Methamphetamine’s Effects on the BrainEFFECTBRAIN REGION(S)Euphoria and pleasureDecreased appetite, hyperthermiaParanoia, hallucinationsIrritation, aggression, violenceIncreased respirationLimbic systemHypothalamusFrontal cortex,visual cortexFrontal cortexBrainstem
26DESIGNER DRUGSProlonged release of large amounts of dopamine in thebrain can be toxic to neurons, however, causing dopaminereleasingneurons to die. This damage may be permanent, asevidenced by brain scans on methamphetamine addicts thatshow that this damage is still present three years after ceasingto use the drug. Because dopamine-releasing neurons die offin regions of the limbic system, symptoms of impaired movementand muscle control can appear that are strikingly similarto Parkinson’s disease (see Chapter 7). The death ofdopamine neurons in the frontal cortex is believed to causethe paranoia and psychosis (hallucinations and delusions)seen in many chronic methamphetamine users.STATISTICS AND PATTERNS OFMETHAMPHETAMINE USE AND ABUSEIn the past, methamphetamine use and abuse in the UnitedStates was most prevalent in individuals who needed to remainawake and alert due to the nature of their occupations—long-haul truckers, for example—and in some “fringe”members of society. Today, however, it is predominantly usedby white males in their 20s and 30s and is becoming morepopular with teenagers at dance clubs and “raves.” For thesereasons, methamphetamine can be considered a “club drug.”Methamphetamine use is also increasing among homelesspeople, prostitutes, and runaway youths.Recent surveys indicate that as much as 4% of the U.S. population,including high school students, have tried methamphetamineat least once. Surveys of emergency room reportsindicate that over the past decade, upward of 3,000–4,000methamphetamine-related deaths have occurred. There has alsobeen a constant trend of more than 10,000 ER “mentions” ofmethamphetamine since 1994 (Figure 2.4). In addition, thousandsof meth labs have been raided and seized by law enforcementagencies in the United States in the past several years.Historically, most methamphetamine use was concentrated
Page 2 and 3: DRUGSThe Straight FactsDesignerDrug
Page 4 and 5: DRUGSThe Straight FactsDesignerDrug
Page 6 and 7: Table of ContentsThe Use and Abuse
Page 8 and 9: the connection between our demand f
Page 10 and 11: The term designer drugs was origina
Page 12 and 13: Designer Drugs and the Brain11may l
Page 14 and 15: Designer Drugs and the Brain13Figur
Page 16 and 17: Designer Drugs and the Brain15Other
Page 18 and 19: Designer Drugs and the Brain17Figur
Page 20 and 21: a much stronger “rush” than was
Page 22 and 23: Methamphetamine21Figure 2.2 Methamp
Page 24 and 25: Methamphetamine23known to hijack sh
Page 28 and 29: Methamphetamine27Figure 2.4 Althoug
Page 30 and 31: Methamphetamine29decline in their a
Page 32 and 33: Figure 3.1 The chemical structure o
Page 34 and 35: Ecstasy33Figure 3.2 Ecstasy tablets
Page 36 and 37: Ecstasy35that felt after taking coc
Page 38 and 39: Ecstasy37specifically in serotonin-
Page 40 and 41: Ecstasy39parties, and raves, and it
Page 42 and 43: Ecstasy41RAVESEcstasy and other des
Page 44 and 45: and underground laboratories began
Page 46 and 47: GHB45a coma-like state for which pa
Page 48 and 49: GHB47assault to the police. In addi
Page 50 and 51: GHB49a consequence, enforcement of
Page 52 and 53: GHB51STATISTICS AND PATTERNS OF GHB
Page 54 and 55: GHB53Figure 4.2 The number of emerg
Page 56 and 57: and European countries. Rohypnol is
Page 58 and 59: Rohypnol57Figure 5.2 The chemical s
Page 60 and 61: Rohypnol59Rohypnol can also act dir
Page 62 and 63: Rohypnol61Both of these are false
Page 64 and 65: list, signifying that further restr
Page 66 and 67: Ketamine65Figure 6.2 The chemical s
Page 68 and 69: Ketamine67HOW KETAMINE WORKS IN THE
Page 70 and 71: Ketamine69Figure 6.3 Although the n
Page 72 and 73: Ketamine71the drug. As with other d
Page 74 and 75: Figure 7.1 The opium poppy, shown h
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Painkiller Analogues75In 1979-1980,
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Painkiller Analogues77Figure 7.3 Th
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Painkiller Analogues79Figure 7.4 Th
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Painkiller Analogues81the brain tha
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Bibliography and Further ReadingCha
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Dillon, P. Copel, and J.K. Jansen.
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www.projectghb.orgInformation about
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Talk With Your KidsInformation on t
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Date rape drugsEcstasy, 37GHB, 43,
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legal status of,18-19looks of, 19-2
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Picture Creditspage:13: Lambda Scie
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