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Methamphetamine, or crystal meth as it is commonly known, is currently one of the most potent, addictive psycho stimulant drugs being abused in the U.S. It has quickly spread throughout the country infiltrating even the most rural, remote locations. According to a recent report published by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, a survey revealed that “10 million people in the U.S. have tried meth at least once” (http://www.nida.nih.gov/ResearchReports/methamph/methamph.html). This statistic is a frightening one considering the fact that meth abuse can lead to serious physical and psychological consequences. Crystal meth is a drug classified under the category of drugs called amphetamines. There are many reasons users of the drug find it so appealing among them are the fact that it’s cheap, easy to produce in mass quantities, and gives users a very powerful, fast high making it hard to resist trying it again and again. Symptoms of meth abuse include insomnia, irritability, decreased appetite/noticeable weight loss, nervousness/anxiety and tremors. Meth abuse can lead to serious long-term damage to different parts of your body. The heart is particularly vulnerable to the affects of meth. When the drug is snorted, smoked or inhaled, one of the most common symptoms users experience are rapid pulse, irregular heartbeat and high blood pressure. These symptoms can also be accompanied by inflammation of the small blood vessels that line the heart and brain. Research has shown that meth users have a higher than average risk of suffering from a heart attack or stroke as a result of the damage repeated meth abuse creates over time. When you take meth it causes dangerous blood pressure changes, blood vessel spasms and inflammation. Much of the physical cardiovascular damage caused by repeated abuse can’t be reversed, even once an addict becomes clean and sober. Their long-term risk for developing a stroke or heart attack remains higher than normal for the rest of their life. A 2008 study in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence revealed research results for over 3 million people between the ages of 18 and 44 who were hospitalized between 2000 and 2003. This study was on of the first to detect a relationship between meth use and heart attacks within this relatively young group. As the old saying goes, “prevention is the best cure.” Educating people about the physical dangers of drugs like meth, and getting addicts the help they need as soon as possible can reduce the likelihood of dealing with heart disease in the future. About the Author: Robert Shryoc is the Director of Development at the Stonegate Center, a Texas treatment center. The Texas drug rehab community serves people entangled in the physical, mental, social and spiritual bonds of chemical dependency. For more information about the residential treatment facility please visit http:www.stonegatecenter.com.
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