Rural Crime & Justice CenterA University Center of Excellence

Minot, North Dakota

• Smoked

• Injected• Snorted• Ingested• Absorbed

Routes of administration

Meth & the brain

• A powerful central nervous system stimulant

• Neurotransmitters affected are Dopamine - pleasure system, motor control

Epinephrine - appetite, mood, “fight or flight”

Serotonin - mood, sleep Norepinephrine - sleep, mood

• Normal reuptake is inhibited

Meth & the brain

Immediate Effects

• Euphoria• Increased heart rate• Increased metabolism• Blood vessels constrict• Pupils dilate• Increased body temperatureFollowing normal stimulation, the body should return to normal. Methamphetamine sustains these effects for hours, which places an extended burden on the nervous, respiratory and circulatory systems leading to further adverse effects. US HHS, CSAT 1999,

NIDA 2002

Short-Term Effects

• Increased state of alertness• Inflated sense of confidence• Decreased appetite• Hyperactivity• Tremors and/or dizziness• Palpitations• Hyperthermia• Seizures

Long-Term Effects

• Lowered resistance to all types of ailments

• Intense body odor• Extreme weight loss• Insomnia • Mood instability• Amphetamine psychosis• Severe depression• Stereotyped activity to include persistent,

compulsive and repetitive behaviors

Effects by ROA

Orally Severe tooth decay.Intranasal (snorting)

Sinusitis, loss of sense of smell, congestion, atrophy of nasal mucosa, nosebleeds, perforation or necrosis of the nasal septus, hoarseness, problems swallowing, and throat ailments.

Smoking Hoarseness, problems swallowing, throat ailments, and a productive cough with black sputum.

Injecting HIV, hepatitis, tuberculosis, lung infections, pneumonia, bacterial or viral endocarditis (inflammation of the lining of the heart), cellulitis, wound abscesses, sepsis (the toxic spreading of infection), thrombosis (blood clot), renal infarction (partial or whole kidney death), and thrombophlebitis (inflammation of a vein wall).CA Dept of Alcohol & Drug Programs

Warning Signs

• Changes in attitude & persona• Dramatic changes in appearance• Lack of motivation or interest in school

• Avoiding family & friends• Changes in sleep & eating patterns• Lying/dishonesty• Increase in borrowing money/stealing

• Evidence of drug paraphernaliawww.TargetMeth.com

www.theantidrug.com

The Partnership for a Drug-Free America

Other Signs & Effects

Rotten TeethTeeth

Grinding

Dr. A.N. Morton, DDSWashington State DOC

Other Signs & Effects

“Crank Bugs”“Meth Mites”

Drug use over time

This is a series of arrest photographs of the same woman taken over the course of 10

years that graphically shows the changes to the human body.

Year OneYear TwoYear ThreeYear FourYear FiveYear SixYear SevenYear EightYear NineYear Ten

Any Questions?