Methamphetamine

Question: MeThAmPhEtAmInE!?!?!?!? anything similar to methamphetamine, if so can you give me detailzzzz on everything First off Im writing a paper on this and need to know was there anything chemically similar, obviously you won't be getting the best answer, and yes I have seen the faces of meth and how is Ritalin like it, any info on that?

Answer: Methamphetamine (methylamphetamine or desoxyephedrine), popularly shortened to meth and also nicknamed "ice", is a psychostimulant and sympathomimetic drug. The dextrorotatory isomer dextromethamphetamine can be prescribed to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, though unmethylated amphetamine is more commonly prescribed. Also, narcolepsy, and obesity can be treated by the aforementioned isomer under the brand name Desoxyn. It is considered a second line of treatment, used when amphetamine and methylphenidate cause the patient too many side effects. It is only recommended for short term use (~6 weeks) in obesity patients because it is thought that the anoretic effects of the drug are short lived and produce tolerance quickly, whereas the effects on CNS stimulation are much less susceptable to tolerance. It is also used illegally for weight loss and to maintain alertness, focus, motivation, and mental clarity for extended periods of time, and for recreational purposes. Methamphetamine enters the brain and triggers a cascading release of norepinephrine, dopamine and serotonin. To a lesser extent Methamphetamine acts as a dopaminergic and adrenergic reuptake inhibitor and in high concentrations as a monamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI). Since it stimulates the mesolimbic reward pathway, causing euphoria and excitement, it is prone to abuse and addiction. Users may become obsessed or perform repetitive tasks such as cleaning, hand-washing, or assembling and disassembling objects. Withdrawal is characterized by excessive sleeping, eating and depression-like symptoms, often accompanied by anxiety and drug-craving.[2] Users of methamphetamine often take one or more benzodiazepines as a means of "coming down". History Methamphetamine was first synthesized from ephedrine in Japan in 1893 by chemist Nagayoshi Nagai.[3] In 1919, crystallized methamphetamine was synthesized by Akira Ogata via reduction of ephedrine using red phosphorus and iodine. The related compound amphetamine was first synthesized in Germany in 1887 by Lazăr Edeleanu. World War II One of the earliest uses of methamphetamine was during World War II when the German military dispensed it under the trade name Pervitin. [4] It was widely distributed across rank and division, from elite forces to tank crews and aircraft personnel. Chocolates dosed with methamphetamine were known as Fliegerschokolade ("flyer's chocolate") when given to pilots, or Panzerschokolade ("tanker's chocolate") when given to tank crews. From 1942 until his death in 1945, Adolf Hitler was given daily intravenous injections of methamphetamine by his personal physician, Theodor Morell as a treatment for depression and fatigue. It is possible that it was used to treat Hitler's speculated Parkinson's disease, or that his Parkinson-like symptoms which developed from 1940 onwards were related to abuse of methamphetamine.[5] Post war use After World War II, a large supply of amphetamine, formerly stockpiled by the Japanese military, became available in Japan under the street name shabu (also Philopon (pronounced ヒロポン, or Hiropon), its tradename there.[6]) The Japanese Ministry of Health banned it in 1951; and its prohibition is thought to have added to the growing yakuza-activities related to illicit drug production.[7] Today, methamphetamine is still associated with the Japanese underworld, but its usage is discouraged by strong social taboos. In the 1950s there was a rise in the legal prescription of methamphetamine to the American public. According to the 1951 edition of Pharmacology and Therapeutics by Arthur Grollman, it was to be prescribed for "narcolepsy, post-encephalitic Parkinsonism, alcoholism, ... in certain depressive states... and in the treatment of obesity." In the 1960s significant use began of clandestinely manufactured methamphetamine and methamphetamine created in users' own homes for personal use. The recreational use of methamphetamine peaked in the 1980s. The December 2, 1989 edition of The Economist described San Diego, California as the "methamphetamine capital of North America."[citation needed] In 2000, The Economist again described San Diego, California as the methamphetamine capital of North America, and South Gate, California as the second capital city. Legal restriction in the United States In 1983 laws were passed in the United States prohibiting possession of precursors and equipment for methamphetamine production; this was followed a month later by a bill passed in Canada enacting similar laws. In 1986 the U.S. government passed the Federal Controlled Substance Analogue Enforcement Act in an attempt to curb the growing use of designer drugs. Despite this, or perhaps in part because of this, usage of methamphetamine expanded throughout rural United States, especially through the Midwest and South. Since 1989 five federal laws and dozens of state laws have been imposed in an attempt to curb the production of methamphetamine. Methamphetamine is easily “cooked up” in home laboratories using pseudoephedrine or ephedrine, the active ingredients in over-the-counter drugs such as Sudafed and Contac. However, preventative legal strategies of the past 17 years have steadily increased restrictions to the distribution of pseudoephedrine/ephedrine-containing products. As a result of the Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act of 2005, a subsection of the PATRIOT Act, there are restrictions on the amount of pseudoephedrine and ephedrine one may purchase in a specified time period, and further requirements that these products must be stored in order to prevent theft. Methamphetamine is a potent central nervous system stimulant which affects neurochemical mechanisms responsible for regulating heart rate, body temperature, blood pressure, appetite, attention, mood and responses associated with alertness or alarm conditions. The acute effects of the drug closely resemble the physiological and psychological effects of an epinephrine-provoked fight-or-flight response, including increased heart rate and blood pressure, vasoconstriction (constriction of the arterial walls), bronchodilation, and hyperglycemia (increased blood sugar). Users experience an increase in focus, increased mental alertness, and the elimination of fatigue, as well as a decrease in appetite. The methyl group is responsible for the potentiation of effects as compared to the related compound amphetamine, rendering the substance on the one hand more lipid soluble and easing transport across the blood brain barrier, and on the other hand more stable against enzymatic degradation by MAO. Methamphetamine causes the norepinephrine, dopamine and, serotonin(5HT) transporters to reverse their direction of flow. This inversion leads to a release of these transmitters from the vesicles to the cytoplasm and from the cytoplasm to the synapse (releasing monoamines in rats with ratios of about NE:DA = 1:2, NE:5HT= 1:60), causing increased stimulation of post-synaptic receptors. Methamphetamine also indirectly prevents the reuptake of these neurotransmitters, causing them to remain in the synaptic cleft for a prolonged period (inhibiting monoamine reuptake in rats with ratios of about: NE:DA = 1:2.35, NE:5HT = 1:44.5[9]). Methamphetamine is a potent neurotoxin, shown to cause dopaminergic degeneration.[10][11] High doses of methamphetamine produce losses in several markers of brain dopamine and serotonin neurons. Dopamine and serotonin concentrations, dopamine and 5HT uptake sites, and tyrosine and tryptophan hydroxylase activities are reduced after the administration of methamphetamine. It has been proposed that dopamine plays a role in methamphetamine induced neurotoxicity because experiments which reduce dopamine production or block the release of dopamine decrease the toxic effects of methamphetamine administration. When dopamine breaks down it produces reactive oxygen species such as hydrogen peroxide. It is likely that the oxidative stress that occurs after taking methamphetamine mediates its neurotoxicity. [12] It has been demonstrated that a high ambient temperature increases the neurotoxic effects of methamphetamine.[13] Recent research published in the Journal of Pharmacology And Experimental Therapeutics (2007) [3], indicates that methamphetamine binds to a group of receptors called TAAR. TAAR is a newly discovered receptor system which seems to be affected by a range of amphetamine-like substances called trace amines. Effects Common immediate effects.:[14] Euphoria Increased energy and attentiveness Diarrhea, nausea Excessive sweating Loss of appetite, insomnia, tremor, jaw-clenching (Bruxism) Agitation, compulsive fascination with repetitive tasks (Punding) Talkativeness, irritability, panic attacks Increased libido Side effects associated with chronic use: Drug craving Weight loss Withdrawal-related depression and anhedonia Rapid tooth decay ("meth mouth") Amphetamine psychosis Side effects associated with overdose: Brain damage/ Meningitis (Neurotoxicity) Formication (sensation of flesh crawling with bugs, with possible associated compulsive picking and infecting sores) Paranoia, delusions, hallucinations, which may trigger a tension headache. Rhabdomyolysis (Muscle breakdown) which leads to Kidney failure Death from overdose is usually due to stroke, heart failure, but can also be caused by cardiac arrest (sudden death) or hyperthermia. Pharmacokinetics The half life of methamphetamine is 9-15 hours. It is excreted by the kidneys and its half life depends on urinary pH. One of the metabolites of methamphetamine is amphetamine. [15] Tolerance As with other amphetamines, tolerance to methamphetamine is not completely understood, but known to be sufficiently complex that it cannot be explained by any single mechanism. The extent of tolerance and the rate at which it develops varies widely between individuals, and even within one person it is highly dependent on dosage, duration of use and frequency of administration. Many cases of narcolepsy are treated with methamphetamine for years without escalating doses or any apparent loss of effect. Short term tolerance can be caused by depleted levels of neurotransmitters within the vesicles available for release into the synaptic cleft following subsequent reuse (tachyphylaxis). Short term tolerance typically lasts until neurotransmitter levels are fully replenished, because of the toxic effects on dopaminergic neurons, this can be greater than 2-3 days. Prolonged overstimulation of dopamine receptors caused by methamphetamine may eventually cause the receptors to downregulate in order to compensate for increased levels of dopamine within the synaptic cleft.[16] To compensate, larger quantities of the drug are needed in order to achieve the same level of effects. Addiction Methamphetamine is addictive[17], especially when injected or smoked.[18] While not life-threatening, withdrawal is often intense and, as with all addictions, relapse is common. To combat relapse, many recovering addicts attend 12 Step meetings, such as Crystal Meth Anonymous. Methamphetamine-induced hyperstimulation of pleasure pathways leads to anhedonia. Former users have noted that they feel stupid or dull when they quit using methamphetamine. It is possible that daily administration of the amino acids L-Tyrosine and L-5HTP/Tryptophan can aid in the recovery process by making it easier for the body to reverse the depletion of Dopamine, Norepinephrine, and Serotonin. Although studies involving the use of these amino acids have shown some success, this method of recovery has not been shown to be consistently effective. It is shown that taking ascorbic acid prior to using methamphetamine may help reduce acute toxicity to the brain, as rats given the human equivalent of 5-10 grams of ascorbic acid 30 minutes prior to methamphetamine dosage had toxicity mediated, yet this will likely be of little avail in solving the serious behavioral problems associated with methamphetamine use that create many of the problems the users experience. To combat addiction, doctors are beginning to use other forms of amphetamine such as dextroamphetamine to break the addiction cycle in a method similar to methadone for heroin addicts. There are no publicly available drugs comparable to naloxone, which blocks opiate receptors and is therefore used in treating opiate dependence, for use with methamphetamine problems.[19] However, experiments with some monoamine reuptake inhibitors such as indatraline have been successful in blocking the action of methamphetamine.[20] There are studies indicating that fluoxetine, bupropion and imipramine may reduce craving and improve adherence to treatment.[21] Research has also suggested that modafinil can help addicts quit methamphetamine use.[22] [23] Since the phenethylamine phentermine is a constitutional isomer of methamphetamine, it has been speculated that it may be effective in treating methamphetamine addiction. Although phenteremine is a central nervous stimulant that acts on dopamine and norepinephrine, it has not been reported to cause the same degree of euphoria that is associated with other amphetamines. Abrupt interruption of chronic methamphetamine use results in the withdrawal syndrome in almost 90% of the cases. Withdrawal of amphetamine often causes a depression which is longer and deeper than even the depression from cocaine withdrawal Meth mouth Main article: Meth mouth Methamphetamine addicts may lose their teeth abnormally quickly, a condition known as "meth mouth". This effect is not caused by any corrosive effects of the drug itself, which is a common myth. According to the American Dental Association, meth mouth "is probably caused by a combination of drug-induced psychological and physiological changes resulting in xerostomia (dry mouth), extended periods of poor oral hygiene, frequent consumption of high calorie, carbonated beverages and tooth grinding and clenching."[25] Similar, though far less severe symptoms have been reported in clinical use of other amphetamines, where effects are not exacerbated by a lack of oral hygiene for extended periods.[26] METH MOUTH Like other substances which stimulate the sympathetic nervous system, methamphetamine causes decreased production of acid-fighting saliva and increased thirst, resulting in increased risk for tooth decay, especially when thirst is quenched by high-sugar drinks Here's a great link for meth

Question: Methamphetamine? does anyone know any good websites about this drug?im doing a project on meth and i cant find statistics about it..i cant find any statistics like how many people use meth a year, by age, by state, by sex, by ethnicity, that kind of stuff because i need to make graphs and all that.

Answer: try www.drug-statistics.com/meth.htm it has some good stuff like what your looking for, just scroll down good luck

Question: How long does methamphetamine stay in your system after injection? If someone who is not a user injected methamphetamine for two days, then was clean for 5 and had a swab test done on the fifth day, would they still test positive? I've read several different opinions across the web and I'm looking for facts. The typical answer seems to be 72 hours, but I'm not sure if the method of use or detection plays a factor in that... Anyone's input with knowledge or experience in this area would be great. Thanks.

Answer: Depending on the user, if that person is a chronic user... it would take up to 72 hours after injection for the body to excrete it out. The method used in the screening test for methamphetamine will detect the drug itself and metabolites of methamphetamine, such as amphetamine. There is no time limit per se on the drug test.

Question: Is crystal meth the same as regularly prescribed methamphetamine? I've been taking methamphetamine for about 9 years. It's like a strong strong cup of coffee. If methamphetamine is the same as crystal meth, I just don't get why they steal and rob for such drug. I can go without methamphetamine for many days, the result will just cause me to be a bit slower in thought. Is crystal meth the same as methamphetamine or is this a claim from people that know nothing about the two drugs. Please help me to understand. Thanks.

Answer: There are multiple differences between prescription methamphetamine (Desoxyn) and the kind that is cooked in clandestine labs. Most importantly, the strength of the prescription variety is consistent. And if you are taking the drug as prescribed, you aren't treating the drug as an addict would. An addict or someone who is using the drug to "party" continues using far beyond the dosage of what you're taking. And the potency can differ greatly from one batch to the next. Also, people who are using meth to get high end up needing more of the drug to feel less of a high (aka chasing the dragon) because they build a tolerance... that escalates into needing the drug just to feel normal and/or function. Addicts will crash, sometimes for days, when they run out of meth. Meth addiction is a very ugly thing...

Question: What does methamphetamine do to those who manufacture it? Here in NZ, methamphetamine, or P, is a major criminal activity. When the cops find a P lab, you see these guys completely sealed in protective clothing dismantling it. Sometimes the building is demolished because the furniture and structure are contaminated to the point where it's unsafe for habitation. What effect do these chemicals have on those who made the drug?

Answer: You could get killed ( blown up) mixing those low grade chemicals with plenty of impurities in them.

Question: What are the chemical equations to make methamphetamine? I'm doing a paper on methamphetamine. I've found lots of material but not the actual chemical equations of what is being reduced, what are the products and reactants at each step, etc. I'm not interested in the actual making of it, just the chemistry behind it. Why is heet needed for example?

Answer: Are you sure you don't mean Mentally Challenged or Ethically Challenged? While you may truly be interested in only an academic sense, posting that information might well encourage others to "give it a try".

Question: How would an overdoses of cocaine and methamphetamine look like? A person I know died from drug poisoning. He took cocaine and methamphetamine one afternoon, got violently ill later that night (gastrointestinal problems and at least one seizure). The next day he went to his work, feeling much better, but in the afternoon they found him gravelly ill, with bloody froth on his lips. He died shortly after. Could anyone explain to me what chain reaction took place in his body? Thanks!

Answer: drug overdosing could lead to multiple symptoms that lead to death. It could have been liver failure, stomach bleeding, brain bleeding from the seizure, etc. Especially when there was a mix of drugs and maybe alcohol involved, only an autopsy could tell the truth... cocaine can actually poison you, meth would lead to heart failure. Both are aggressive to the stomach and could lead to internal bleeding.

Question: What is the difference between Methamphetamine and the prescribed ADHD medication Adderal Amphetamines? 1) What are the long term affects of Methamphetamine versus those of ADHD Amphetamine? 2) Will prescription Amphetamines cause de-calcification of bones or teeth? 3) Would Methamphetamine have less destructive long term physical affects if it were pharmaceutical grade opposed to street-grade? I am curious because I have a prescription of Adderall.

Answer: Methamphetamine and Adderall are two VERY different drugs. Chemically, methamphetamine contains a methyl group in the composition of the drug. This creates different effects. Amphetamines, like Adderall, do NOT cause de-calcification of bones and teeth, but extensive use of Adderall can cause liver damage. Also, if Adderall is taken for a long period of time, you require more of the drug to give you the same effect. Ultimately, most patients end up changing drugs once they hit the maximum dose. Methamphetamine isn't available commercially (or "medical grade") because it's categorized as a Schedule 1 Drug, meaning it has no medical purpose in the eyes of the government. Regardless of where it's produced, methamphetamine will still have damaging effects. The only thing that is circumvented is the possibility of an "impure" drug. Ever hear the term "meth lab?" Adderall abuse can lead to extreme weight loss, liver failure, heart palpitations and heart attacks. Take only as directed and even then tell your doctor if it seems like too much.

Question: What scientific tests do law enforcement use to detect methamphetamine manufacture if someone complains? There is a problem in my apartment building, but law enforcement has only taken a hit and miss approach to this matter, including questioning the persons involved. Does anyone really think someone manufacturing methamphetamine would admit it to law enforcement? Law enforcement actually told someone who complained to stop contacting to law enforcement!

Answer: Unless they can develop enough probable cause to obtain a search warrant for the person's apartment, there is little they can do. Just the mere suspicion of criminal activity, even if it is reported by another party, is usually not enough to support a search warrant. Unless these people reporting this has actual proof and is willing to testify there is not much for the officers to go on. You're right, no one is going to admit to making meth to the police, so without proof, their hands are tied.

Question: How can I help someone come down from methamphetamine induced delusions? My daughter came home and she has obviously been using Methamphetime. She is delusional and thinks someone wants to kill her. I have already taken her to UCLA Harbor and they released her the next day and said it's from the methamphetamine. They DID NOT give her anything to help. She has no insurance because she wont' go to school or have a job so I can't help her there with my job either. Can someone give some advice?

Answer: A sleeping Pill. It will make her come down and sleep, and sleep is the only way to get this kind of stuff to stop. I also would like to let you know that a lot of the so-called "Acid" that is going around has meth in it. Acid won't show up on a drug test, so take in consideration that she could be tripping. In that case, she needs a quiet place that is harmonious that she can relax and come down. No stressful environments that will only make it worse.

Question: How much pseudoephedrine does it take to make methamphetamine? I don't care how it is made. But isn't it a pain to buy allgery medicine nowadays. The Patriot Act signed by President Bush on March 9, 2006, prohibits the sale of more than 9 grams of pseudoephedrine in a month. Plus you have to sign and show picture ID. Is anybody else finding this a royal pain in the a$$. I have respiratory allergies, so does my girlfriend and her two children. We have to alternate buying the allergy medicine so we do not go over the 9 gram limit. Now the meth problem in the United States is affecting normal every day people who just have allgeries. Your Thoughts?? Can you really make Methamphetamine from one box of Claritin D?

Answer: I too have allergy problems BUT I have also worked in public safety and know some of the problems faced by law enforcement with this. People buying this stuff and cooking meth is happening everywhere. The by-products are dumped and can cause serious health problems. Like leaking into the soil and then into streams and wells. And cops who bust the lab, have developed serious health problems. Its sad, that some people will try to abuse anything. And to try to prevent this abuse, the rest of us have to change our lifestyles. And yes, you can make a small batch with a box.

Question: What marijuana and methamphetamine users smoke K2 and Spice herbal incense? Do people who smoke K2 and Spice herbal incense real drug users or people who think K2 and Spice herbal incense feels like marijuana or Ice (drug), slang for methamphetamine? Do marijuana and methamphetamine users smoke K2 and Spice herbal incense?

Answer: The only people who smoke K2 are kids who don't have pot connections or people who get drug tested. It has almost the same psychoactive effects as pot, but it's disgusting and synthetic, and pot should totally be legalized if only to keep people from smoking these "substitutes." I don't know why meth users would smoke it, K2 is nothing like meth. Unless said meth users also happen to enjoy marijuana.

Question: How hazardous is it to manufacture methamphetamine? When the cops raid a methamphetamine lab., they wear protective clothing and undergo rigorous decontamination procedures. Often the building is condemned as too hazardous for human habitation. So what effect did the drug manufacture have on the health of the crims? You sometimes hear of fires and explosions in P labs, but not of poisonings.

Answer: really?

Question: What are the combined effects of Cannabis and Methamphetamine? Not just what the experience might feel like, but in what ways does the body react when using THC, after using Methamphetamine?

Answer: They are not adulterants if that is what you are worried about, and by that I mean one does not amplify the effect of the other, but there are some things you may want to take into account Marijuana can give you mild tachycardia, and if you suffer this symptom often from marijuana then methamphetamine wont help here (wont kill you, just not good for you) Methamphetamine may make your marijuana experience feel different, if you are not comfortable with this then you may choose to consume the two drugs separately There are more cannabanoids then THC, is an important part to marijuana but on its own isn't very effective, IIRC there is less then 0.1 milligram of THC in 1 gram of cannabis

Question: In California What is the sentence for possession of a methamphetamine pipe? Code 11364 H & S- Possession of a methamphetamine pipe, what is the sentence or fine or what ever?

Answer: You wont get time....jails way overcrowded. California is so hard up for money though....expect the fine to be hefty.

Question: Is it illegal to give somebody explicit information (no matter how) on how to synthesize Methamphetamine? I was just wondering if I could (technically) tell or write somebody, how to synthesize Methamphetamine (Crystal Meth). Not that I'm planning on doing it. But just in case I do tell somebody, I can't go to jail for it, can I? Thank you!

Answer: Yes, It's called aiding and a bedding a crime.