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Methamphetamine was derived from its parent drug, amphetamine. In the early 1900's pharmaceutical companies produced
amphetamine and methamphetamine for over the counter drugs used to treat narcolepsy. Benzadrine, and Methadrine were
sold over the counter until the early 1970's. Benzadrine was used in a form of inhaler and Methadrine was a pill.
The federal government made it illegal to posess amphetamine and methamphetamine without a prescription in 1973.
Adolf Hitler hired a chemist to produce methamphetamine in the early 1900's. Hitler was addicted to it, and often
gave it to his soldiers. It is believed that Hitler's murderous mind came from the haluccinations, and paranoia brought
on by continued meth use.
The Japanese gave amphetamines to their soldiers and pilots during World War II to keep them battle ready at all times.
Kamakazi pilots were believed to be high on meth when they crashed their planes into the decks of ships in the isle of Midway,
and other pacific battles. After the war Japan had an epidemic of addiction with 2 million of 88 million people
addicted.
Sadly, the United States also gave soldiers amphetamines during the Korean war, as it helped them to stay awake during
the lulls of combat.
Meth's Effects on the Body
Continued use of meth takes a huge toll on the body. Meth users sometimes will binge on the drug, called "tweaking".
Meth removes any want, need, or desire for food or sleep. Meth users while binging will stay up for days without sleep,
or food. Some users will become physically ill if they eat while they are high. Nevertheless, they become imaciated,
and very thin. Their eyes will slowly sink back into their head and they look near death.
Is does not take alot of time for the user to become addicted. Normally after only a few uses the addiction sets
in.
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| After three years of use |
Crank Bugs
Crank bugs are sores on a user's body that were created by scratching and digging. When a meth user is high on
meth, they will hallucinate that something is crawling on them, and they will begin to scratch. The scratching will
continue for hours, and eventually create sores from the digging. Most common are sores on the upper extremities,
face, and neck. These sores become infected and the user will continue to dig, decreasing their health even more.
Meth Mouth
Methamphetamine can be used by ingesting, intravenously, snorted or smoked. The most common method in Southwest
Michigan is smoking. When smoking meth, many things happen inside the mouth. Enamel on the teeth get brittle,
and crack. Users often do not practice good oral hygeine, and get gum disease, and cavities. That coupled with
the damage to the teeth creates a condition known as meth mouth.
Unhealthy teeth and gums lead to other problems for the user, adding to more health problems, and poor state of mind.
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Geeking
When meth users are high, they can start a relatively simple task, but then will be unable to stop. An example
would be, looking for something. A meth user can start looking for a pen, and spend the next several hours looking.
Geekers end up scratching at sores and imaginary bugs until they actually hurt themselves.
Geekers, are easy to spot. You can not focus their attention. And they are unable to change their train of
thought.
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