Methamphetamine– Some background information

Methamphetamine is a highly addictive and potent synthetic central nervous system stimulant in the phenethylamine and amphetamine class of drugs (Willis, 2020). As there is no skill required to synthesize it from simple ingredients such as phosphorus from matches, pseudoephedrine from cold medicine, and iodine, the laboratory size may be small to large-scale (Willis, 2020). It is also naturally found in the Ephedra sinica herb (Willis, 2020). Meth is usually a white, odorless, bitter-tasting crystalline powder and crystal meth looks like pieces of glass or crystal.

It is a legal but highly regulated drug in the United States and the legal status depends on the approval for medical use.  (Jones, Olsen, O’Donnell & Mustaquim, 2020; Willis 2020). Although FDA approved, meth is rarely used medically to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and other conditions such as obesity, which makes it a schedule class II drug (Willis, 2020).

Transmission route

Transmission route: ingestion, inhalation, snorted (insufflation), intravenous, suppository (anal and vaginal)

Causes

Psychosis and other mental disorders, cognitive and neurological deficits, cardiovascular and renal dysfunction, Transmission of HIV, viral hepatitis, sexually transmitted infections, increases mortality (Jones et al. 2020)

History

• 1919: Meth was first synthesized in Japan and given to Allied and Axis WWII soldiers as performance aid and to counteract insomnia.
• 1943: Used to treat narcolepsy, obesity, alcoholism, depression, ADHD (Methamphetamine Facts)
• 1960: Illegal use increased in US
•  1971: Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act, classification of Schedule II drug
• 1980: Popular due to easy access of fertilizer as ingredient in production

Trend

National Institute on Drug Abuse:     15 to 25 million meth abusers worldwide, second to marijuana, admission in US higher than for cocaine or alcohol

US Customs and Border Protection:   2014 – 19613 pounds, 2018 – 56362 pounds

Drug Enforcement Administration’s National Forensic Laboratory Information System Meth reports:  136% increase since 2008

National Survey on Drug Use and Health: 2018: 1.9 million users age 12+,  1.1 million diagnosed use disorder, and substance use disorders (SUD) increased from 18.8 % in 2011 to 34.2 % on 2017 across all demographic groups.

Injections: increase 55% of primary meth admissions, related to co-use with heroin and illicit fentanyl, which leads to higher overdose risk and indicates poorer treatment outcomes compared to smoking or snorting, injections spread infectious diseases such as HIV and viral hepatitis (Jones et al, 2020; Jones Underwood & Compton)

Females: higher percentage of admissions may be related to gender differences concerning behavior and subjective effect of meth, often in relation with ACE such as sexual abuse

12-17-year-olds: treatment admissions increased by 12% between 2008-2017

Deaths

2017: 10333 overdoses, 50.4% related to meth

Conclusion   

Rise in methamphetamine-related harms linked to opioid epidemic, NEED in prevention concerning youth (Prevention programs: strengthen social-emotional learning skills to reduce the risk)

Interventions        

Detoxification in prisons for further treatment afterwards: CBT, family education and support, twelve-step-program, no ideal medication

Associations

• American Heart Association
• American Dental Association
• Pulmonary Hypertension Association
• NIDA National Institute on Drug Abuse
• Drug Policy Alliance

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