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Paper Abstract: Overview of the nature of the addiction. Problem of clandestine manufacturing of crystal meth or Speed. Nature of the physical addiction. How it works in the body. The drug's pharmacology attributes; medical risks. Physiological damage of long-term use. Treatment and rehabilitation issues and options. Recommendations for prevention strategies. Paper Introduction: ABSTRACT: This research will present an overview of the nature of addiction with specific physiological reference for the drug crystal methamphetamine, otherwise known as Speed, Methamphetamine or Crystal Meth. Present rehabilitation and treatment options will be reviewed, evaluated and then suggestions for future options will be presented with a brief discussing their benefits over past treatment options. HISTORY: Methamphetamine is one of the United States’ most commonly abused substances. Pacific Rim countries particularly Korea, Taiwan and Japan have also succumbed to major abuse of the drug. Epidemics of methamphetamine abuse in the United States began in the 1950s and were experienced through the 1960s and 1970s. Text of the Paper: The entire text of the paper is shown below. However, the text is somewhat scrambled. We want to give you as much information as we possibly can about our papers and essays, but we cannot give them away for free. In the text below you will find that while disordered, many of the phrases are essentially intact. From this text you will be able to get a solid sense of the writing style, the concepts addressed, and the sources used in the research paper. Methamphetamine-associated events were reported by five state health departments (Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Oregon, and Washington) participating in the HSEES system. This isconsidered a sensitive measure of brain cell activity. Public HealthConsequences Among First Responders to Emergency Events Associated WithIllicit Methamphetamine Laboratories--Selected States, 1996-1999. Success has been exhibited with approaches similar to those utilizedin cocaine addiction treatment. (Manoguerra, 2 ) The substance Methamphetamine may be taken through ingestion,insufflated, by smoking or via injection by needle. 'This research suggests that we need to examine the possibility that there is a connection between methamphetamine use and a potential increase in HIV-related dementia,' he added. Panel issues recommendations on Methprevention/treatment. (Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Weekly. AmericanMedical Association. Illegal Disposal ofunused chemicals or by-products from the manufacture is associated withsignificant environmental contamination. Treatment programs that are successful for methamphetamine users arerare. Dec 24, 2 1p12. The 79 injured first responders had 111 injuries; 6 (54.1%) were respiratory irritation (e.g., cough, difficulty breathing, and throat irritation), and 12 (1 .8%) were eye irritation; 61 (77.2%) injured first responders were treated at a hospital and did not require admission. (Pain & Central Nervous System Week. Other medical risks associated with Methamphetamine users are thetransmission of hepatitis A. Anotherimportant statistical factor is that Meth users tend to be older than otheraverage drug users. This removal results in the substance methamphetamine. Presentrehabilitation and treatment options will be reviewed, evaluated and thensuggestions for future options will be presented with a brief discussingtheir benefits over past treatment options.HISTORY: Methamphetamine is one of the United States' most commonly abusedsubstances. Journal of Toxicology: ClinicalToxicology. Meth substance userswill experience CNS stimulation that is accompanied by euphoria coupledwith aggressive behavior. Low level of braindopamine [D.sub.2] receptors in methamphetamine abusers: association withmetabolism in the orbitofrontal cortex. This is related to their being present duringand immediately after a Meth lab release. Overdose toxicity is an extension of the drug's pharmacology producingseizures, cardiac dysrhythmias, hypertension, hyperthermia and vasospasm.These disorders may also lead to ischemia of the heart, kidneys, brain andother organs. June 1 , 2 2 v14 i23 p7 (1). This will allow professionals to refer them for theright treatment. The hazardoussubstances will usually enter the body by inhalation and skin absorption.It is possible to acquire exposures that result in symptoms such as cough,headache, chest pain, burns, pulmonary edema, respiratory failure, coma,and death. NewsRX (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) Volkow Nora D., Chang Linda, Wang Gene-Jack, Fowler Joanna S., Ding Yu-Sin, Sedler Mark, Logan Jean, Franceschi Dinko, Gatley John, HitzemannRobert, Gifford Andrew, Wong Christopher, Pappas Naomi. Studies suggest that long-term use of the substance, methamphetamine,may result in long term physiological damage, especially to the brain.According to an article in the June 1 , 2 2, Alcoholism & Drug AbuseWeekly: 'It is well known that psychostimulants such as methamphetamine are detrimental to the immune system and can cause progressive neuro-degeneration that may negatively affect the central nervous system and lead to dementia,' said Glen R. During the 198 s, clandestinelaboratories were mostly small and highly mobile while being operated by asmall, identified group of individuals. First on site responders to Meth lab events include but are notlimited to police officers, who incidentally, have had the greatestreported number of injuries. Manisses Communications Group, Inc. Imaging Studies ExpandUnderstanding of Methamphetamine's Effects on Human Brain. Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Weekly. Chronic users rapidly develop tolerance to thesubstance. Study finds link betweenmethamphetamine, HIV-dementia. This clothing may serve as aprotective layer and may be considered for all workers responding to Methevents in the future.REHABILITATION OPTIONS: One impediment to the treatment of methamphetamine addiction is thescarcity of substance abuse treatment providers in rural areas. Pacific Rim countries particularly Korea, Taiwan and Japan havealso succumbed to major abuse of the drug. Currently, the popularity of this drug may be tracedto the early 198 s in the San Diego area of Southern California. Highlypure and stereospecific methamphetamine is the result of the use ofpharmaceutical grade ephedrine such as may be found in common over thecounter cold medicines. Nora Volkow and Linda Chang and their colleagues at the Brookhaven National Laboratory report that methamphetamine acts on some of the same brain mechanisms as cocaine and alcohol. Adequatesedation will lower heart rate and blood pressure but some cases willexhibit the short acting 13 adrenergic blocking agents and in suchinstances, vasodilators may be needed. Statistically, methamphetamine users are most likelyto be involved in violent crime, homicide and suicide. The study foundlower levels of dopamine receptors and a lower rate of glucose metabolismin the orbitofrontal cortex in the methamphetamine users over the non-drugusers. Enlisting methamphetamine addicts into treatment is a challengebecause research shows that before entering treatment Meth users abuse thedrug for a greater length of time than do those persons who choose to abusemost other drug substances. Even more disturbing is the risk of injury associated withmethamphetamine labs by innocent emergency responders and bystanders. Feb 28, 2 v12 i9 p3. (The Journal of the American Medical Association. March 2 v38 i2 p187. Affect may take from 6 to 8 hours or longer. Epidemics of methamphetamineabuse in the United States began in the 195 s and were experienced throughthe 196 s and 197 s. Methamphetamine linked tocoordination, memory ills. ABSTRACT:This research will present an overview of the nature of addiction withspecific physiological reference for the drug crystal methamphetamine,otherwise known as Speed, Methamphetamine or Crystal Meth. Manisses Communications Group, Inc. As previously presented,research studies have exposed that brain dysfunction from methamphetamineuse can and will persist for months after the abuser's drug use stops. Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Weekly. May 2 , 2 2) The investigators of another study utilized positron emissiontomography (PET) scans to measure the level of dopamine D2 receptors inMeth users while assessing the rate of glucose metabolism. Thatmethamphetamine causes a direct measurable affect upon the brain in theareas of memory and motor skill coordination, and that these long termeffects may be measurably detected after a methamphetamine addict hasstopped using the drug for as long as 1 months or more. Dec 6, 2 v284 i21 p2715. JAMA, The Journal of the American Medical Association. American Journal of Psychiatry.Dec 2 1 v158 i12 p2 15(7). The method of manufacture most commonly used takes the removal of ahydroxyl group from the [Beta] position of the ethylamine side chain ofephedrine. With Methamphetamine, the drug physiologically: has potent [Central Nervous System] CNS stimulant as well as strong peripheral sympathetic activity. %) injured persons were first responders: 55 (69.6%) police officers, 9 (11.4%) EMTs, 8 (1 .1%) firefighters, and 7 (8.9%) hospital employees. In addition, research to seek theproduction of pharmacotherapies for methamphetamine use is under way.It is evident that successful treatment programs be conducted byindividuals with knowledge of methamphetamine, its use and abuse.Treatments also should address the mental health issues that often arefound in conjunction with methamphetamine addiction.EVALUATION OF OPTIONS: During training, medical and mental health professionals require thenecessary skills and knowledge to enable them to easily and quicklyidentify Meth addicts. Drs. Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Weekly. EMTs were recorded to havesustained the most injuries resulting from onsite exposure or directcontact with clothing and/or the epideral of contaminated persons.Firefighters were reported as the least injured, most likely due to theirwearing of PPE during Meth lab events. May 2 , 2 2 v14 i2 Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Weekly. Following severe agitation andhyperthermia is rhabdomyolysis leading frequently to acute renal failure,therefore, urinary acidification, which in the past was suggested as aneffective enhancement to produce elimination, should be avoided. Manisses Communications Group, Inc. This may happen resulting from the health caresystems in place in most communities affected by methamphetamine being illequipped to diagnose and treat these particular addicts properly. Programs that target the risk factors associated with other drugs andtheir use family conflict; availability of drugs; low neighborhoodattachment and community disorganization; antisocial behavior; academicfailure; and favorable parental attitudes toward substance abuse will alsobe the most successful in treating Meth use. Active onset isdependent upon the route of substance exposure and by the duration of theaction. ManissesCommunications Group, Inc. Dec 6, 2 ) Much of these injuries are due to the hazardous substances releasedboth during and later after an event at a Meth lab. METHAMPHETAMINE ABUSE. Dec 24 2 1)Alfred Heller of the University of Chicago concluded that "Methamphetaminedestroys the endings of dopamine-containing neurons and affects the samenerves that are lost in Parkinson's disease." Additionally, Heller pointsout that there are "other studies on prenatal exposure to methamphetamine[that] have indicated [methamphetamine] exposed babies are of lowerbirthweight and head circumference and may suffer strokes and learningdisabilities. Manisses Communications Group, Inc. The current epidemic of clandestine manufacturing of methamphetamineaccounts virtually for the entire supply of the drug. Hanson, acting director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). California PoisonControl System, San Diego Division, University of California San DiegoMedical Center, San Diego, California, USA Pain & Central Nervous System Week. The CDC has issued a warning for Polk County,Florida where Meth users are "transmitting hepatitis A through sexualactivity and shared drug paraphernalia, then exposing family members andothers to the disease." (Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Weekly. Statistically,methamphetamine use is greater among women and Caucasians. This is adirect result of rural areas not often having a provider with provisionalfunding or scientific expertise in working with methamphetamine issues. However, organized crime and gangsare now involved in the production that creates a significant ancillarycrime activity rise. Onlyrecently has it spread to other portions of the United States. The CNS effects of methamphetamine are thought to be due to release of the biogenic amines, norepinephrine, dopamine and serotonin from presynaptic storage sites while the peripheral effects are thought to be caused by release of norepinephrine from sympathetic neurons. The chronic user will also experience anxiety, delirium,hallucinations, paranoia, fatigue and depression as tolerance enhanced. Methamphetamine exposure could causeseveral harms. For this reason, many states and law enforcementhave issued limits to the ability to purchase medicines using ephedrine.Another form of manufacture may utilize phenyl-2-propanone but this resultsin a product that contains contaminants.NATURE OF THE ADDICTION: Physical addiction is the dependence of one upon a habit-formingsubstance, so characterized by the creation of a tolerance for thesubstance, as well as scientifically well-defined physiological symptomsupon withdrawal. This can more easily be accomplished with the developmentof methamphetamine treatment guidelines.CONCLUSION: Prevention of methamphetamine addiction strategies needs to bespecifically geared towards target populations. These drugs will control the user'sagitation and seizures. Methamphetamine addicts present a variety of physical and mentalhealth issues, including but not limited to depression, fatigue, anxiety,drug craving and severe cognitive impairment. Meth use associated with hepatitis Aoutbreak. The problemsassociated with abuse of methamphetamine spread beyond addiction tosignificant injuries to innocent citizens and emergency workers due to thenature of the illegal laboratories producing the drug. In an overdose situation, physical restraint is to be avoidedand benzodiazepines are to be used. Marcel Dekker, Inc. REFERENCES Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Weekly. Of the 112 events, 155 persons were injured; 79 (51. Oct 29, 2 1) However it ismeasured, the results of researchers conclude the same thing. Oct 29, 2 1 v13 i41p8. Manoguerra, AS. Hyperthermia is frequent, rapid and fatal and acomplication that must be recognized and managed immediately. More scientific research onmethamphetamine use will be required before science-based preventionprograms may be implemented. "Methamphetamine's effect on dopamine system similar to that of cocaine and alcohol," was published in the December 2 1 issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry. March 5,2 1 v13 i1 p8. 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