Meth is an abbreviation for the drug methamphetamine. As its name implies, methamphetamine is a member of the amphetamine class of drugs. The chemical structure of methamphetamine differs from that of amphetamine in the presence of a single methyl (-CH3) group, which explains the name "meth"amphetamine.

Methamphetamine shares many properties with other amphetamines, which are stimulants that increase the activity of the nervous system. However, the presence of the methyl group in methamphetamine facilitates the drug's entry into the brain and enhances its resistance to degradation. As a result, methamphetamine is a stronger, longer lasting, and more harmful stimulant than other amphetamines. As can be seen in the photo on the right, a few years of using meth can have devastating effects on your body.

People generally use methamphetamine because it

• causes an intense "rush" of extreme pleasure, followed by a general sense of well-being
• makes people feel wide awake, energetic, and talkative

Other effects on behavior include:

• loss of appetite
• difficulty sleeping
• jaw clenching and grinding of teeth
• feeling agitated and jittery

Common street names: Crystal meth, crystal, crank, glass, speed, ice, and chalk.

How is methamphetamine used? Methamphetamine can be injected, smoked, snorted, or swallowed.

Risk of addiction: The risk of becoming addicted to methamphetamine is very high, and withdrawal is accompanied by serious symptoms that can sometimes be deadly. The intensity and duration of the withdrawal symptoms depends on how long a person has been using methamphetamine. Common withdrawal symptoms include drug craving, extreme irritability, loss of energy, increased appetite, anxiety, excessive drowsiness or difficulty sleeping, shaking, nausea, sweating, and rapid deep breathing. One especially worrisome withdrawal symptom is an overwhelming feeling of desolation and despair. This mental depression is so severe that the risk of suicide during withdrawal from methamphetamine is greater than is seen during withdrawal from heroin, cocaine, or alcohol.

Effects on the body: Stimulation of the nervous system by methamphetamine can cause

• increased heart rate
• increased breathing rate
• increased blood pressure
• increased body temperature
• sweating
• dehydration
• enlarged (dilated) pupils

Overdose or repeated use: High doses of amphetamines have serious risks, including convulsions, high fevers, irregular heartbeat, coma, and possible death. Repeated use of amphetamines can lead to paranoid thinking, hallucinations, delusions, memory loss, violent and self-destructive behavior, and loss of teeth.

 Excessive use of methamphetamine can even cause changes in the structure and function of the brain. For example, the photo on the right illustrates the effects of repeated meth use on the structure of the brain. The red areas represent structures involved in the functioning of the brain chemical dopamine, which is involved in emotions and learning. The reduced red area in the brain of the meth user refects a dramatic loss in the brain's ability to use dopamine.

  How is methamphetamine produced? Methamphetamine is a chemical substance made in laboratories. While some methamphetamine is produced by drug companies for medical use, it is also produced in illegal home laboratories from common substances that are relatively easy to obtain. Many of the chemicals used in making methamphetamine are quite dangerous. Just being exposed to some of them can create health problems, including dizziness, nausea, disorientation, and serious damage to the lungs and other internal organs. And a few of the chemicals are extremely unstable and may cause a catastrophic fire or explosion.

Can methamphetamine be used legally? Although most methamphetmaine is illegally produced, it is also available as a prescription drug called Desoxyn. Doctors prescribe Desoxyn mainly for treating hyperactive children with attention deficit disorders. Since methamphetamine is a powerful stimulant, it may surprise you to hear that it is sometimes used for treating hyperactive children. The reason for its usefulness appears to be that methamphetamine stimulates brain mechanisms that allow people to concentrate better, and this can have a calming effect on hyperactive children. Although Desoxyn is a legal prescription drug, it is not legal for a person to use Desoxyn that has been prescribed for someone else.

How long does methamphetamine act? The effects of methamphetamine can be felt within seconds after smoking or injection, and within 3-20 minutes after snorting or swallowing. The effects may last for 12 hours or more, which is significantly longer than most other amphetamines.

Drug tests for methamphetamine: Metamphetamine can be detected in the urine for up to 5 or 6 days after use.

How many students use methamphetamine? About 1% of high school seniors say they have used methamphetamine within the past year.