Transcript Life +Meth --------- Death

Life
+Meth
--------Death
A presentation by Laura Strom, M.S.
May 11, 2009
Presentation has graphic photos
Image retrieved May 5, 2009 from
http://www.cityofvancouver.us/upload/images/Police/meth/tweaker.jpg
What is meth?
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An addictive stimulant that is
closely related to
amphetamine, but has longer
lasting and more toxic effects
on the central nervous
system. It has a high potential
for abuse and addiction.
Street names: Speed, meth,
chalk, ice, crystal, glass
From National Institute on Drug Abuse
Image retrieved May 5, 2009 from http://blogs.citypages.com/blotter/images/meth.bmp
How is it used?
According to Wikipedia, the bioavailability
of meth is:
 62.7% oral
 79% nasal
 90.3% smoked
 99% rectally
 100% IV
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Image retrieved May 5, 2009 from
http://msnbcmedia3.msn.com/j/msnbc/864000/864036.widec.jpg
How is meth made?
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Mainly manufactured in California and Mexico
Commonly found chemicals that can be
purchased legally such as Toluene/paint thinner,
methanol, benzene, ethyl ether, camp stove fuel
(Coleman fuel), starting fluid (Heet), ammonia,
iodine crystals, ephedrine or pseudoephedrine
(cold medicine), drain cleaner (Drano, Red Devil
Lye), red phosphorous, muriatic and
hydrochloric acid and battery (sulphuric) acid.
“Cooking” leads to dangerous gases released
Taken from http://www.methtaskforce.org/FAQ.HTM#9
What is a meth high like?
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In lab experiments done on animals:
SEX causes dopamine levels to jump from 100 to 200 units,
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COCAINE causes them to spike to 350 units.
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 METH -
release from the base level to about
1,250 units,
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“…something that's about 12 times as much of a release
of dopamine as you get from food and sex and other
pleasurable activities“ Dr. Richard Rawson
"This really doesn't occur from any normally rewarding
activity. That's one of the reasons why people, when they
take methamphetamine, report having this euphoric
[feeling] that's unlike anything they've ever experienced."

Dr. Richard Rawson
Then, when the drug wears off, users experience profound depression and feel the
need to keep taking the drug to avoid the crash.
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Taken from http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/meth/body/
Short term signs of meth use
• Stimulated movement and speech (hyperactive,
staccato, "motor mouth", agitated)
• Dilated pupils
• Feelings of intense excitement and euphoria
• Lack of sleep, no desire to sleep
• Increased energy
• Mood swings, irritability, nervousness
• Increased heart rate and blood pressure
• Chest pain, heart palpitations, hot flashes, dry
mouth, sweating
Taken from http://www.methtaskforce.org/aboutmeth.htm
Long term signs of meth use
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Mental Confusion
Deteriorating school grades or work performance
Aggressiveness, violence, emotional lability
Weight loss (women & young women sometimes start the drug for
this)
Sores on face, arms (formication - "crank bugs“ feeling insects under
the skin)
Diarrhea, vomiting
Hallucinations, paranoia
Tremors or shaking, convulsions
Staying awake for long periods (e.g. several days)
Sleeping for long periods, sometimes days (after being awake for
long periods)
Hypertension
Palpitations, cardiac arrhythmia
Dental decay
Taken from http://www.methtaskforce.org/aboutmeth.htm
What causes “meth mouth”
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Dry mouth is result of depleted saliva
glands from acidic smoke
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When users smoke meth, the HCl acid
in the drug erodes their tooth enamel
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Users are dehydrated and crave sweets
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Loss of tooth enamel, a constant sweet
tooth and a disregard for brushing
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Leads to "meth mouth" with teeth that
are little more than little black stubs
Taken from http://www.stopmethaddiction.com/methmouth.htm
Both images
retrieved May 7, 2009 from
www.usdoj.gov/methawareness/
What is “tweaking”?
Tweaking occurs at the end of the
binge when nothing the abuser
does will take away the feeling of
emptiness and dysphoria,
including taking more
methamphetamine. Tweaking is
very uncomfortable, and the
abuser often takes a depressant to
ease the bad feelings. The most
popular depressant is alcohol, with
heroin a close second.
Tweaking is the most dangerous stage
of the methamphetamine abuse cycle to
law enforcement officers and other
individuals near the abuser. If the
abuser is using alcohol to ease the
discomfort, the threat to law
enforcement officers intensifies.
Image retrieved
May 5, 2009 from
http://www.orangeusd.k12.ca.us/
date/body%20by%20crystal_met
h_1.jpg
Taken from http://www.stopmethaddiction.com/meth-addiction.htm
Meth v. Cocaine
Meth
Cocaine
Human-made
Plant derived
Smoking produces a
high that lasts 8-24
hours
Smoking produces a high
that lasts 23-30 minutes
50% is removed from
the body in 12 hours
50% is removed from the
body in 1 hour
Limited medical use
Used as local anesthetic in
some surgical procedures
Taken from http://www.addictionsresources.com/drugs/meth_versus_cocaine.html
Brain damage by meth
Brain scan images from Dr.
Volkow's study. Image copyright
Nora Volkow/American Journal
of Psychiatry. Image retrieved
May 5, 2009 from
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/f
rontline/meth/body/
“When addicts use meth
over and over again, the
drug actually changes
their brain chemistry,
destroying the wiring in
the brain's pleasure
centers and making it
increasingly impossible
to experience any
pleasure at all.”
Taken from http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/meth/body
Brain damage by meth
“The human brain on meth does
not look like fried eggs. It looks
more like the night sky over
Baghdad during the first weeks of
the war.”
Quote from David Sheff, author, Beautiful Boy, p. 134
referring to PET/MRI scans of meth addicts by Dr.
Edythe London, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA
Brain damage by meth
Study by Dr. Nora Volkow, director of the
National Institute on Drug Abuse
 After more than a year's sobriety, these
former meth users still showed
 severe impairment in memory,
 judgment and motor coordination,
 similar to symptoms seen in individuals
suffering from Parkinson's Disease.
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Taken from http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/meth/body
Cost of creating meth
According to StopMethAddiction.com
 Meth Statistics #8: The estimated cost of
making meth is $100 an ounce, with a
street value of $800 an ounce.
 Meth Statistics #22: Methamphetamine's
street value is approximately $3,000 per
pound (about the size of a brick), while the
price of cocaine is roughly $11,000 per
pound.
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Cost of meth to society
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Increased
domestic
violence
Child
abuse/neglect
Traffic
accidents
Theft/crime
Lab clean up
costs
approximately
$10K each
Image retrieved May 5, 2009 from
http://neoconbs.files.wordpress.com/2007/03/meth.jpg
“Broken” by Seether
The video “Broken” by
Seether was filmed on
the location of an actual
meth lab explosion and
can be seen on You
Tube.
http://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=hfOYufGFiZg
Image retrieved May 5, 2009 from
http://www.everhype.com/uploads/
CS_S_3015_20090304085451.jpg
Recovery
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“…meth addicts may be unable, not
unwilling, to participate in many common
treatments, at least in the early stages of
withdrawal. Rather than a moral failure or
a lack of willpower, dropping out and
relapsing may be a result of a damaged
brain.”
David Sheff quoting Dr. Edythe London’s work in Beautiful Boy, p.
135.
Recovery
“…severe cognitive impairments may make
patients incapable of participating in
therapies that require concentration, logic
and memory. Also, patients with extremely
high levels of depression and anxiety, and
who are suffering a type of ‘chronic agony,’
as London describes it, are at a major
disadvantage when taking part in cognitive
and behavioral treatments.”
David Sheff quoting Dr. Edythe London’s work in Beautiful Boy, p. 135.
Recovery
Detox takes 4-6 weeks
 Physical cravings for up to a year
 Intensifying cravings at 3 month intervals
 Strong psychological addiction
 Most difficult addiction to treat
 Addict does not want to give up something
that makes them feel “so good”
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Taken from http://www.stopmethaddiction.com/meth-recovery.htm
Henry Ohlhoff House (SF)
Recovery Philosophy – ohlhoff.org
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We offer a strong, structured model of accountability and support
which empowers clients and their families to take control of their lives.
Based on the belief that addiction cannot be cured in isolation, we combine
the critical components of recovery into a unique, success-oriented
approach:
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Providing a social model of reintegration into the community
Emphasizing that recovery is spiritually based
Building a lasting community through the 12-Step principles
Operating from the clinical conviction that addiction is a family
disease; therefore addresses the entire family, not just the addicted
person
Requiring clients to be active participants in their own recovery
Relapse Prevention
Discharge Planning
Aftercare
Issues for VR Counselors
Clients must be firmly in recovery
 Clients may have issues similar to
Parkinson’s, schizophrenia, ADHD
 Careful placement to avoid prior drug
triggers
 Testing to evaluate cognitive functioning
 Client should be networked with good
support on multiple fronts
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Meth use over 10 years
Image
retrieved
May 7,
2009 from
http://ww
w.macfan
atic.net/bl
og/wpcontent/u
ploads/20
06/09/met
huse.jpg
National Resources
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Alcoholics Anonymous www.alcoholicsanonymous.org
Narcotics Anonymous www.na.org
Al-Anon www.al-anon.org
Alateen www.al-anon.alateen.org
National Institute on Drug Abuse
www.nida.nih.gov
National Council on Alcohol and other Drug
Addictions – Bay Area www.ncadaba.com
A Few Local Resources
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211 by United Way www.211bayarea.org
Great booklet by 211 “Help for Hard Times”
http://www.211bayarea.org/pdfs/HelpforHardTim
es.pdf
Haight Ashbury Free Clinics www.hafci.org
Salvation Army Drug and Rehab Services
www.salvationarmyusa.org
Ohlhoff Recovery Programs SF www.ohlhoff.org