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CRYSTAL METH EFFECTS
Drugs of any kind can have severe effects
on those who use and abuse them. But crystal meth is its own
“hell on earth” for those who have come under
its spell. It’s known by many names: meth, crystal,
ice, methamphetamine, speed, crank, glass, yaba, tina and
many others. But what makes it so hellish is what it does
to the people who try it and get hooked.
On this site, you’ll learn about:
- what crystal meth is
- how it’s made
- the ways it is used
- the effects it has on the user
- and, most important, how to stop using
 Photographs
of meth addicts show the horrors of addiction: faces that
seem to have had the life sucked out of them, sunken eyes
that indicate days or weeks without sleep, wasting bodies
from malnutrition resulting from a total lack of appetite,
mouths riddled with sores and rotted or missing teeth, skin
that’s been scratched or cut and incessantly picked
at to try and get to the “bugs” that crawl underneath.
You can see some examples, courtesy of the Multnomah, Oregon
County Sheriff’s Office, at http://www.facesofmeth.us/main.htm
.
And that’s only what’s happening
on the surface.
Inside, methamphetamines ravage the kidneys,
liver, lungs, heart and even the brain. Long-term use can
result in permanent psychological damage, stroke and failure
of other organs. Addicts hear voices and see people and things
that no one else sees or hears. Women who are pregnant give
birth to “crack babies” with cardiac problems,
cleft palates and other birth defects, who suffer the consequences
of withdrawal as soon as they’re born.
Many people believe that crystal meth is
a drug used by only the most “far gone” of drug
addicts. It’s true that chronic meth users look like
that, but they didn’t start out that way.
The facts are, meth is used by teenagers
who just want a little extra edge when studying for a test.
It’s used by young girls who want to control their weight.
And it’s used by guys who want a little extra out of
a sexual experience. Meth users (also called “tweakers”)
can be students, professionals, city folk or urban dwellers,
dirt poor or celebrity rich, and members of any ethnic background.
Not the typical “drug abuser”
profile, is it? Not by a long shot. Meth addicts need help.
They are in the grip of a progressive and potentially fatal
disease. Fortunately, there is help available. You’ll
find the resources you need right here on this site.
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