Paranoia can result in thoughts of homicide or suicide. delusions, such as the sensation of insects creeping on or under the skin.The following symptoms of methamphetamine psychosis are also possible: Long-term methamphetamine use can lead to: However, it can have some dangerous side effects. People use methamphetamine because they enjoy the effects. This allows the drug to be present in the brain longer, extending the stimulant effects. Methamphetamine is different from and more dangerous than other stimulants because a larger percentage of the drug remains unchanged in the body. However, these high levels of dopamine are also thought to help make the drug more toxic to nerve terminals in the brain. Some people binge for several days, avoiding food and sleep while continually using the drug until it is finished. The drug acts on parts of the brain involved in reward, and this makes taking another dose tempting. Users try to maintain the high by taking more of the drug before the first dose wears off. This is the brain chemical involved in motivation, pleasure, and motor function.Īs with many stimulants, methamphetamine is most often abused in a “binge and crash” pattern. The pleasurable effects of methamphetamine happen when the body releases very high levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine. a pleasurable sense of well-being or euphoria.higher levels of activity and talkativeness.Share on Pinterest Using methamphetamine can produce feelings of euphoria, but there are also dangerous side effects. Long-term use is associated with devastating effects on the user and society. Methamphetamine is easy to produce and it is a potent drug, so it remains a serious drug of abuse. Methamphetamine is illegal except when it is prescribed by a physician for a very limited number of medical conditions. In the 1970s, the drug was added to the schedule II list of controlled substances. In time, it became clear that methamphetamine was dangerously addictive. Street names for this drug include chalk, crank, ice, crystal, meth, and speed.ĭiscovered in the late 19th century, amphetamine was first used as a nasal decongestant and a respiratory stimulator.ĭuring World War 2, methamphetamine - similar in structure to amphetamine - was used to keep military personnel alert and to improve endurance and mood. The effect lasts longer than with cocaine, it is cheaper, and it is easy to make with commonly available ingredients. It increases the levels of naturally occurring dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain. It is used for its powerful euphoric effects, which are similar to those of cocaine. Methamphetamine is a highly addictive and illegal psychostimulant drug that is similar to amphetamine.

List of methamphetamine drugs