Methamphetamine
What is Methamphetamine ?
Short term Effects:
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea
- Increased , blood pressure, heart rate and body temperature
- Bizarre;sometimes violent behavior
- Panic and psychosis
Long term Effects:
- Permanent damage to blood vessels of heart and brain,high blood pressure leading to heart attacks, strokes and death
- Severe kidney, lung and liver damage
- Severe tooth decay
- Depression
- Damage to brain
How is it used?
Legal Status
Social factors that may influence drug use
Experimentation- Some people try drugs for the first time as an experiment, because they are curious or because friends are doing it.
Peer Pressure- When teens were asked why they started using drugs , 55% replied it was due to peer pressure.Friends and acquaintance have the greatest influence on adolescent for drug abuse.
Family Influence- Children who have a poor example to follow, such as addicted parents or older siblings may be more likely to try meth or other drugs and may view them as an acceptable decision.
For thrill- This is a major factor, as many people take meth or other drugs for the ‘buzz’ or ‘thrill’.
How can decision making skills and communication be used to respond to different influences?
To make a correct decision, an individual must be able to recognize the pros and cons of something, look at all aspects of a situation and decide on a path that leads to a productive, enjoyable life. It is common to associate peer pressure with negative influence but it can also be a force for positive change. If the individual belongs to a group that supports recovery from addiction or the group influences the person in a positive way, then it can encourage them to make positive changes in their life.
References:
Contributing Factors of Substance Abuse and Drug & Alcohol Addiction. (2014, April 22). Retrieved December 17, 2015, from http://sobercollege.com/contributing-factors-substance-abuse-addiction/
Drug Abuse Facts. (n.d.). Retrieved December 17, 2015, from http://www.teenchallenge.ca/get-help/educational-resources/drug-abuse-facts
Information About Illegal Drugs & Alcohol Abuse - Drug-Free World. (n.d.). Retrieved December 17, 2015, from http://www.drugfreeworld.org/home.html
Peer Pressure and Substance Abuse. (n.d.). Retrieved December 17, 2015, from http://alcoholrehab.com/drug-addiction/peer-pressure-and-substance-abuse/
Why Does Peer Pressure Influence Teens To Try Drugs? (n.d.). Retrieved December 17, 2015, from https://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/post/why-does-peer-pressure-influence-teens-try-drugs