Methamphetamine Abuse and Community Involvement

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) has long recognized the danger of methamphetamine abuse and how important it is for communities to become involved in developing both prevention and treatment strategies.

Methamphetamine is a long-acting and very potent stimulant drug. It can be snorted, swallowed, injected, or smoked, and it is frequently taken in combination with other drugs. Methamphetamine abuse produces a sense of euphoria by increasing the release of dopamine in the brain\s reward centers.

There are other dangerous effects of methamphetamine abuse. The large increases in dopamine produced by methamphetamine can trigger psychosis that in some instances persists months after drug use has stopped. Also, because methamphetamine affects the contraction of blood vessels it can result in heart attacks and strokes in relatively young patients.

Methamphetamine abuse is inextricably linked to risky sexual behaviors, thus increasing the risk for transmission of infectious diseases, including HIV. The recent case of a methamphetamine abuser with a particularly virulent strain of HIV is a sobering reminder of this connection. Those who inject the drug risk contracting HIV through the sharing of contaminated equipment, and methamphetamine\'s physiological effects may also favor HIV transmission and progression. Preliminary studies suggest that HIV-positive methamphetamine abusers who are on antiretroviral therapy are at greater risk of progressing to AIDS than non-users.

Methamphetamine addiction can be treated successfully.  Narconon Arrowhead provides drug-free, effective rehabilitation techniques that will help individuals overcome methamphetamine addiction.  Methamphetamine abuse is not the answer; contact Narconon Arrowhead on how you can become involved in your community and help someone overcome methamphetamine addiction, by calling 1-800-468-6933 or via email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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