This wiki page will explore the biological (physiological) implications associated with methamphetamine, while providing brief information regarding the sociological implications associated with the substance. The content is displayed in a holistic approach with emphasis given to the biological repercussions methamphetamine has on the human body. This wiki page will explore the systems of the human body that methamphetamine has the most devastating effects on. We hope that through an increased awareness of the effects of methamphetamine, individuals can make more informed decisions.
Colloquially referred to as go-fast, ice, speed, glass and crystal, methamphetamine is a synthetic stimulant that affects every major organ system in the human body, most prominently, the central nervous system. According to the Federal Drug Administration, methamphetamine is one of the most highly addictive substances known to man. Methamphetamine can be found in many forms: crystalline powder, pills, or crystals. It can be consumed via smoking, snorting, injecting or orally ingesting. When the stimulant is snorted, it takes anywhere from 3-5 minutes to take effect; when orally ingested, the stimulant takes 15-20 minutes to take effect. From just one dose of methamphetamine, an individual can be high for up to 12 hours.
Crystal Meth
Regardless of its form, methamphetamine has the power to addict a person with just one euphoric experience. Many users report that they begin taking methamphetamine to stay awake for longer periods of time, to lose weight, or to increase alertness. However, these individuals fail to recognize the physiological and biological consequences that are accompanied with methamphetamine administration. Among the many effects methamphetamine has on the organ systems of the human body, methamphetamine also has immediate effects on the consumer. Adverse health effects include: euphoria, uncontrollable energy, diarrhea and nausea, excessive sweating, loss of appetite, insomnia, tremors, jaw-clenching, memory loss, aggression, heart damage, and malnutrition. Take particular notice that methamphetamine use inevitably leads to medical, physiological, and social consequences.
Below you will find a video that illustrates the intense aggression that may result from abuse of methamphetamine.
Video Credit: methproject.org
Author Note: Howe Qiu, Gavy Roda, Eddie Soto, Jordan Wehe, undergraduate. University of Colorado Denver. Dr. Ferguson, biology professor, University of Colorado Denver, encouraged this research. This study was conducted for academic intrigue only; thus, it is not accountable to Institutional Review Board Approval. Correspondence concerning this research should be addressed to one of the four authors.
Methamphetamine 