The abuse of the drug methamphetamine, or meth, is a growing problem across the country. Read on to find out what it is, why some young people are using it, and what you can do to help your teen.

• Methamphetamine is a powerfully addictive stimulant that dramatically affects many areas of the central nervous system. The drug can easily be made in clandestine laboratories from relatively inexpensive, over-the-counter ingredients, can be purchased at a relatively low cost and can be made in the comfort of one’s own home.
• Meth is sometimes referred to as “speed”, “meth”, and “chalk”. In its smoked form it is often referred to as “ice”, “crystal”, “crank”, and “glass”.
• Meth comes in many forms and can be smoked, snorted, injected or orally ingested.
• Meth is a white, odorless, bitter tasting crystalline powder that can be easily dissolved in water or alcohol.
• Meth is ADDICTIVE and DANGEROUS. It can cause paranoia, hallucinations and psychotic behavior. Meth can also cause liver, kidney and heart damage – all of which can be fatal.

Why Are Some Young People Using Meth?

• To Get a Rush
  Immediately after smoking or injection, the user experiences an intense sensation, called a “rush” or “flash”, that lasts only a few minutes and is described as extremely pleasurable. However, this is often followed by a “crash” during which the user begins to come-down off the drug and can experience extreme depression and disorientation.
• To Boost Self-Esteem
  Meth often provides users with a feeling of self-confidence which translates into a loss of inhibitions. Therefore, some teens believe that meth puts them at ease in social situations, when in fact it is only producing a façade for them to hide behind.
• To Self-Medicate
  Teens will sometimes turn to drugs for a quick fix to their problems as a means to self-medicate. Because meth causes a release of Dopamine (a chemical that we naturally produce, which makes us feel happy) into the body, users may experience a feeling of euphoria when they first take the drug, which can be highly addictive.
• To Lose Weight
  One of the side effects of meth is a loss of appetite, which in turn may cause a person to lose weight. This can be particularly attractive to teenage girls struggling with self-confidence. In most cases, however, trying to control a substance which has an ability to control you is an unsuccessful battle. People using for weight loss purposes may unintentionally become addicted – and shedding a few pounds will then be the least of their worries.
• To Stay Awake
  Meth can cause users to stay up for hours, giving them energy and focus. However, these effects can wear off and turn to nervousness, paranoia, hallucinations and depression.

Source: The Partnership For a Drug Free America
Site: http://www.drugfree.org/Portal/DrugIssue/MethResources/wake_up.html