Global patterns of methamphetamine use

Abstract

From recreational use to addiction, methamphetamine use represents a serious risk to health and wellbeing of the community. Recognizing the pattern of abuse in specific populations is the key to assessing the risk, implementing prevention, and harm reduction measures, as well as making public policies.

Update on methamphetamine: an old problem that we have recently encountered

“…The addition of hydrochloric acid precipitates methamphetamine into a usable 'base' form, which is a damp powder or crystal (18). It can be swallowed, snorted, injected, or smoked.…”

On the necessity of translational cognitive-neurotoxicological research in methamphetamine abuse and addiction

“…METH is often consumed for its effects which, among others, include increased energy levels and decreases in fatigue, increased psychomotor activity and alertness, anorectic effects, increases in sex drive, and euphoria. Yet, irritability, agitation, risky sexual behaviors, (motor) stereotypies, psychosis, seizures, hyperthermia and other systemic effects are also common acute (side) effects of METH consumption (Panenka et al 2013;Cadet and Bisagno 2015;Chomchai and Chomchai 2015). Those effects are mainly attributed to increases in both central and peripheral monoaminergic signaling, with strong effects in the noradrenergic (NA) and dopaminergic (DA) systems (5-HT) (Schep et al 2010;Carvalho et al 2012).…”

“…In this regard, recent findings in animals by Fujaková-Lipski et al (2017) have shown transgenerational effects of METH exposure by looking at how neurotoxic effects of METH administered in utero alter various neurotransmitter Keywords Addiction · Methamphetamine · Neurotoxicity · Translational Humans have been consuming stimulants like amphetamine in the form of cathinone (khat) for thousands of years, but since world war two, synthetic amphetamines, especially methamphetamine (METH), have hit many societies in a worldwide surge (Carvalho et al 2012). Due to its highly addicting properties and the comparatively low cost, the abuse of this psychostimulant has rapidly increased in the last decades and years (Chomchai and Chomchai 2015) so that METH has become one of the most abused substances worldwide (Bernheim et al 2016). Continued METH consumption does not only have devastating effects on the health and well-being of the addicted individuals, but also affects whole communities and put a considerable strain on healthcare systems (Panenka et al 2013;Chomchai and Chomchai 2015).…”

“…Due to its highly addicting properties and the comparatively low cost, the abuse of this psychostimulant has rapidly increased in the last decades and years (Chomchai and Chomchai 2015) so that METH has become one of the most abused substances worldwide (Bernheim et al 2016). Continued METH consumption does not only have devastating effects on the health and well-being of the addicted individuals, but also affects whole communities and put a considerable strain on healthcare systems (Panenka et al 2013;Chomchai and Chomchai 2015).…”

Computational investigation of methamphetamine and its halogenated derivatives as the main source of pain and skin itching

“…In low doses, it can cause an elevated mood and increases the heart rate, blood pressure and body temperature, as well as dilate the pupil. On the other side, in high doses, it can results in heart problems, liver or kidney failure, seizures and even coma 10,11 . Moreover the animal studies show that increasing the concentration of injected methamphetamine decreased dopamine release from the striatum which leads to auto-phagocytosis of the neuritis and apoptosis of neurons in the striatum [12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19] .…”