Methamphetamine (METH) is a highly abused psychostimulant and its abuse and dependency are major public health problems [1]. According the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC, 2011) report after marijuana, METH is the most abused illicit drug in the world and the use of it has grown significantly in Iran over the past decade and there are serious social and medical concerns about its use. The METH abuse has psychiatric and medical consequences, including psychosis, dependence, overdose and death. However, there are currently no pharmacological treatments for symptoms associated with METH abuse [2, 3], also high percentage of users relapse to drug after psychosocial and pharmacological treatments [4]. METH is a powerful psychostimulant that acts primarily to cause the release of the dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine [5]. The nucleus accumbens (NAc) play an important role in reward related phenomena by receiving a large dopaminergic projection from the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and glutamatergic projection from medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC)[6, 7]. It has been foun...
The phenomenon of Methamphetamine use and distribution is rising in our country. With this growing problem, the state of Kentucky is right at the top of the list. Manufacturing alone has more than tripled over the past four years, in the state of Kentucky. Given the rural areas and large vacant buildings, Kentucky has quickly become a breeding ground for Methamphetamine. A necessary additive for production anhydrous ammonia is available at many farm stores in the state. This phenomenon is largely costing the tax payers, as well as, putting our future generation in jeopardy. Given statistical data on the increased use and manufacturing, a definite problem is noted.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, methamphetamine, or meth as it is often referred to, is considered the fastest-growing illicit drug in the United States. The consequences of usage are detrimental to families and employers, not to mention the increasing law enforcement burden of having to find and disband labs making it illegally. (CDC, 2005) Aside from the far-reaching implications of methamphetamine use on these entities, this paper explores the effect methamphetamine has on the structure and function of the human brain.
Maxwell, J.C. & Brecht, M. (2011). Methamphetamine: Here We Go Again?. Addictive Behaviors, 36, 1168-1173. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3243901/
Perhaps the most addictive of drugs is cocaine. Cocaine acts on the mesoaccumbens dopamine (DA) pathway of the midbrain, extending from the ventral tegumental area (VTA) to the nucleus accumbens (NAc). (2). This pathway is also known as the reward pathway as it is the area of the brain that is activated when someone has a pleasurable experience such as eating, sex, or receiving praise. (NOTE: The reward pathway was discovered through the technique of...
Methamphetamine addiction can have very bad effects on a person’s brain and mental well-being. Meth triggers the brain to release certain hormones such...
Two major mechanisms have been found in the brain that mediates drug addiction - the dopamine and endogenous opioid systems. The release of dopamine from...
“Meth, not even once” is a popular phrase that is associated with this drug. This drug has many known horrible effects associated with it, plus many effects more I am sure are going to be discovered over time. I am intending to cover the history, effects, the different categories of meth abuse, and the withdrawal effects of Methamphetamine in this paper, and what to do if you suspect someone you know is using meth.
Drugs seem to cause surges in dopamine neurotransmitters and other pleasure brain messengers. However, the brain quickly adapts and these circuits desensitize, which allows for withdrawal symptoms to occur (3). Drug addiction works on some of the same neurobiological mechanisms that aid in learning and memories (3). "This new view of dopamine as an aid to learning rather than a pleasure mediator may help explain why many addictive drugs, which unleash massive surges of the neurotransmitter in the brain, can drive continued use without producing pleasure-as when cocaine addicts continue to take hits long after the euphoric effects of the drug have worn off or when smokers smoke after cigarettes become distasteful." (4)
Drug addiction is often characterized as being a complex brain disease that causes compulsive, uncontrollable, drug craving, seeking and use without any regards to the consequences they may bring upon themselves, or society. As long as the brain is exposed to these large amounts of dopamine on the reward system, it will inevitably develop a tolerance to the current dopamine levels, which it is receiving, lessening the pleasure the user will experience. In order to satisfy the brains “reward...
Substance addiction is becoming an epidemic. While some people can quit using a substance without any help, most people need help to their recovery. Narcotics anonymous is an important support group for our society. There are many different narcotic anonymous programs to join that have meetings throughout the week. The members of the support group all share one thing in common, they suffer from different types of chemical dependency. Members help each other because they have the same problems and worries that everyone in the room has. Though they may be struggling with different stages in their life, for the most part, they all relate to what each is going through. Just as AA, NA focuses on the 12-step program. The members of
Methamphetamine is a stimulant for the central nervous system (O’Connor et al., 2006). This particular drug affects the pleasure sensors in the body by accelerating them to an extreme level (Siebel & Mange, 2009). Meth causes the brain to receive an abundance of dopamine, a chemical which is responsible for the sense of gratification (Siebel & Mange). According to the authors, a meth user’s brain can receive over one thousand percent of the normal levels of dopamine. This abundance of joy, commonly known as a high, can typically persist anywhere from eight hours to as long as twenty-four hours. After prolonged use, tachyphylaxis takes effect (Watanabe-Galloway, Ryan, Hansen, Hullsiek, Muli, & Malone, 2009). This is when the user does not get the same high that they had previously received from a particular dose (Watanabe-Galloway et al.). According to the authors, to fix this requires the user to increase their meth dose. After a user continuously consumes meth, they begin to lose their ability to feel pleasu...
Does the use of Adderall lead to a higher chance of methamphetamine addiction in adulthood? According to Medical News Today, “...the vast majority of ADHD symptoms that arise in adulthood can be explained by other factors, such as substance abuse.”
Watanabe-Galloway, S., Ryan, S., M.D., Hansen, K., M.P.H., Wullsiek B., B.A., Muli, V., M.P.A., & Malone, A.C. (2009). Effect of Methamphetamine abuse beyond individual users Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 4131, 241-8.Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/207970885?accountid=41057
“Dopamine System May Be the Key to Addiction.” News Briefs. Nature Magazine. May-June 2012. National Drug Strategy Network. Web. 20 Apr. 2015
Drug abuse and addiction not only has negative effects in the lives of the people involved, but also in the lives of their close relatives, friends and immediate society. It leads to disintegration, failure in school, loss of employment and violence. Although intake of drugs is a voluntary and conscious decision initially, continuous intake of drugs changes the brain and challenges the self-control of the “addicted person” and inhibits the ability to resist extreme desire for drug intake.