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Paper Abstract: Discusses the addictive central nervous system stimulant. Prescribed for treatment of some medical conditions. Also a source of drug abuse (speed, meth). Concern regarding the drug's effect on the human brain. Reported overdoses. Physiological effects of the drug; complications. Increased risk of contracting an infectious disease. Treatments; side effects. Prognosis. Paper Introduction: Metamphetamine Pathological Problem Metamphetamine, also known as methamphetamine hydrochloride, speed, meth, or crank, is a central nervous system stimulant which is medically prescribed for the treatment of narcolepsy and hyperkinesis and for the reduction of appetite in exogenous obesity (Methamphetamine hydrochloride, 1998). Though useful from a medical perspective, this particular drug has also become a source of drug abuse. This report will examine the pathological problem of metamphetamine addiction, it complications, and side effects, treatment alternatives, their negative as well as positive consequences, and the prognosis for addicts. Metamphetamine is an addictive drug that boosts the levels of dopamine, a neurotrans Text of the Paper: The entire text of the paper is shown below. However, the text is somewhat scrambled. We want to give you as much information as we possibly can about our papers and essays, but we cannot give them away for free. In the text below you will find that while disordered, many of the phrases are essentially intact. From this text you will be able to get a solid sense of the writing style, the concepts addressed, and the sources used in the research paper. New Scientist, 169 (2281), 16+.Program helps patients reduce, discontinue metamphetamine use. This compound appears to work by acting on serotonin,one of the brain's transmitters. Nearly allpatients who do present in the emergency room of a hospital with toxiceffects of metamphetamine require a referral to a psychiatric center(Derlet & Heischober, 199 ). (2 2). This report will examine thepathological problem of metamphetamine addiction, it complications, andside effects, treatment alternatives, their negative as well as positiveconsequences, and the prognosis for addicts. It has raised concerns becauseit may be neurotoxic to the human brain. According to Muir (2 1), individualsaddicted to this drug may experience the equivalent of 4 to 5 years worthof aging that negatively affects many mental functions. Physicians are therefore challenged to monitor the use of suchsubstances carefully in order to avoid permitting the metamphetamine addictto acquire a new addiction or dependence (Derlet & Heischober, 199 ).Though research suggests that ondansetron - a medication currently used totreat nausea and vomiting in chemotherapy patients and to halt the cravingsof early onset alcoholics - may be useful in treating metamphetamineaddiction, there is no evidence at the present time that this compound willbe significantly superior to the use of diazepam or haloperidol. This study revealed significant reductions in the use of anydrug, improved work and family relations, and a significant decline inpsychiatric and medical symptoms (especially reported hallucinations andparanoia) (Program helps patients..., 2 2).Side Effects of Treatment Derlet and Heischober (199 ) believe that withdrawal can befacilitated by the use of diazepam and haloperidol. Tremors routinely occur when usingmetamphetamine, as do respiratory problems (Addictions, 2 2). Available at http://jhhs.client.web- health.com/webhealth/topics/GeneralHealth/generalhealth sub/general.Derlet, R.W., & Heischober, B. (1999). In general, the prognosis formetamphetamine user will depend on such variables as the length of time auser has taken the drug, the volume of drug intake, the degree to which thedrug has damaged the respiratory, cardiovascular, and central nervoussystems, and whether this drug has been abused in tandem with othersubstances such as alcohol, cocaine, and so forth (Derlet & Heischober,199 ). It may place people athigh risk for neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinsons disease (Muir,2 1). Damage to blood vessels in the brain isanother complication of addiction to metamphetamine and stroke iscommonplace among addicts to this drug. Methamphetamine hydrochloride. The highly toxic effects of sustained metamphetamine use areclearly associated with potentially life-threatening and/or debilitatingphysiological and psychological conditions (Derlet & Heischober, 199 ). Muir (2 1) reported that drub abusers who are addicted to "speed"risk brain damage, even months after they stop using the drug. (199 ). In many emergency departments, patients arenot treated for agitation unless they could harm themselves. With regard to outcomes of psychotherapeutic interventions such asthe Matrix Model, research suggests that metamphetamine addicts requireintense and long-term interventions (Program helps patients..., 2 2). ReferencesAddictions. Elements ofbehavioral therapy, cognitive therapy, motivational interviewing, positivereinforcement, drug education, twelve-step programming, and familycooperation are included in most addiction treatment models (Federal grantsto help..., 1999). Speed is perhapsmuch more damaging than either cocaine or alcohol. Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Weekly, 14(35), 3-4.Volkow, N.D., Chang, L., Wang, G.J., Fowler, J.S., Franceschi, D., Sedler, M.J., Gatley, S.J., Hitzmann, R., Ding, Y.S., Wong, C., & Logan, J. Some cardiovascular symptoms caused bymetamphetamine toxicity include hypertension, tachycardia, abnormal heartrhythms, and myocardial ischemia (i.e., an insufficient blood supply to theheart). However, though bothof these pharmaceuticals are useful in facilitating withdrawal andovercoming the toxic effects of metamphetamine, they are not without theirown side effects. The drug increases the risk of contracting an infectious disease suchas hepatitis or HIV/AIDS when users share needles or injectionparaphernalia (Addictions, 2 2). This particular model is associated withreduced metamphetamine use and reduced psychiatric symptoms in addicts. Metamphetamine: Stimulant of the 199 s? Higher cortical and lower subcortical metabolism in detoxified methamphetamine abusers. However, research on the effectiveness of ondansetron isstill in a very preliminary stage (Researchers examine..., 2 2). These include temporary euphoria followed by irritability,confusion, and anxiety. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 44(7), 882-887. In a study involving 15 detoxified metamphetamine abusers and acontrol group, Volkow, et al (2 1) used positron emission tomography toexamine whole brain metabolism and found that it was 14 percent higher inthe metamphetamine group than in the control group. (2 2). It is believed that longer treatment participation is required formetamphetamine addicts who experience a somewhat protracted withdrawalperiod (Federal grants to help..., 1999). Drugs that lower blood pressure, such as beta blockers andcalcium channel blockers, are used to treat metamphetamine-inducedhypertension. The aging effects of addiction to this substance do not appear to bereversible (Volkow, et al, 2 1). There is no data available as to the viability of suchtreatments or their outcomes. Edition 5. Metamphetamine addiction is therefore a troubling problem thatpresents unique challenges to both medical and psychological clinicians. Acombination of intervention strategies appears to be more useful than anysingle intervention, including participation in a twelve-step supportgroup. Males are more likely than females toabuse this drug and it is believed that metamphetamine use has replacedcocaine as the drug of choice because it is more readily available, costsless, and causes a longer "high." In the mid-199 s, the number of metamphetamine-related deaths reportedby medical examiners increased dramatically with the greatest rates ofincrease observed in Phoenix, San Diego, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.In 1994, a total of 433 individuals died from metamphetamine overdose.Most of the victims were between the ages of 26 and 44, 8 percent weremale, and 8 were White. MetamphetaminePathological Problem Metamphetamine, also known as methamphetamine hydrochloride, speed,meth, or crank, is a central nervous system stimulant which is medicallyprescribed for the treatment of narcolepsy and hyperkinesis and for thereduction of appetite in exogenous obesity (Methamphetamine hydrochloride,1998). Metamphetamine has effects that mimic theeffects of aging: levels of dopamine transporters naturally fall bybetween 5 and 6 percent each decade, causing people to slow down andimpairing their movement and memory. Volkow, Chang, Wang, Fowler,Franceschi, Sedler, Gatley, Hitzmann, Ding, Wong, and Logan (2 1) notedthat research has focused on the effects of metamphetamine on dopaminecells and has also generated evidence that other neuronal types areaffected. Mosby's Medical, Nursing, & Allied Health Dictionary. Addiction to diazepam or dependence on this drug hasbeen observed among recovering metamphetamine addicts. However,it is important to recognize that participation in such interventions islargely voluntary, particularly after an individual has been released fromany psychiatric or other institution after presenting with an overdose ortoxic effects of metamphetamine use (Muir, 2 1). Serotonin reduces dopamine in the mid-brain and cortex. It is possible thatthe higher metabolism seen in the parietal cortex of metamphetamine abusersis the result of the drug's effects in circuits other than those modulatedby dopamine. (2 2). American Journal of Psychiatry, 158(3), 383-389. However, despite the ability of the drug to induce significant centralnervous system and cardiovascular simulation, relatively few patients whopresent to emergency departments for acute intoxication requirepharmacological intervention. There is no evidence that the psychotherapeutic interventions used intreating metamphetamine addiction have any negative side effects. The Western Journal of Medicine, 153(6), 625-629.Federal grants to help test effectiveness of methamphetamine treatment model. Levels ofdopamine transporters tend to be more than 2 percent lower than normal inthe two key areas of the brain that are involved in movement,concentration, and motivation. Metamphetamine is an addictive drug that boosts the levels ofdopamine, a neurotransmitter that stimulates brain cells, enhances mood,and makes users more animated (Muir, 2 1). Though useful from a medical perspective, this particular drug hasalso become a source of drug abuse. Astudy of the viability of the Matrix Model employed a sample of 114metamphetamine addicts who had received treatment two to five yearsearlier. (2 1). Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Weekly, 11(1), 1-2.Increasing morbidity and mortality associated with abuse of Methamphetamine - United States, 1991-1994. An estimated four millionpeople in the United Stats have abused this drug at least once (Increasingmorbidity and mortality..., 1995). Derlet and Heischober (199 ) pointed out that toxic doses of thissubstance cause agitation, anxiety, hallucinations, delirium, and seizures,possibly leading to death. Researchers are also examining the viability of Ondansetron, a drugused to treat cancer patients that may be an effective therapy for patientswith early-onset alcoholism or metamphetamine dependence (Researchersexamine..., 2 2). Derlet and Heischober (199 ) statedthat the drugs haloperidol and diazepam (i.e., valium) are used clinicallyto counteract central nervous system toxicity, including hyperactivity andagitation. 5697.Muir, H. (1998). The Brown University Digest of Addiction Theory and Application, 21(4),1-3.Researchers examine Ondansetron for methamphetamine treatment. Clinicians should also be aware of the symptoms of metamphetaminetoxicity that include psychosis, violence, seizure, and the cardiovasculardisturbances listed above.Treatment Alternatives Several treatment alternatives for metamphetamine or speed addictionhave been described in the literature. (2 1). It does appear that thelikelihood of an effective withdrawal from metamphetamine's toxic effectsand sustained elimination of drug use depends upon the length ofinterventions and the degree to which an individual makes a personalcommitment to refraining from drug use.Prognosis The prognosis for individuals diagnosed as metamphetamine addicts ismixed. Overdose from metamphetamine also tended to occurin individuals who used at least one other drug, most often alcohol,heroin, or cocaine (Increasing morbidity and mortality..., 1995).Complications and Side Effects Among the physiological effects of this drug are increased heart rateand blood pressure, wakefulness/insomnia, increased physical activity, lossof appetite, respiratory problems, and such potentially fatal effects ashypothermia, seizures, and cardiovascular problems (Addictions, 2 2).There are numerous psychological side effects of addiction tometamphetamine. Metamphetamine is the most widely illegally manufactured,distributed, and abused type of amphetamine. The majority of treatments that focus on this particular addictiontend to be psychological rather than pharmaceutical. A three-month outpatienttreatment called the Matrix Model is being studied at a number of treatmentcenters in the United States. Paranoia and violent behavior also tend to occurin individuals who are addicted to the drug or who consume large quantitiesof it. Slow down: Speed has damaging effects on the brain that may linger for months. If this paper is not what you are looking for, you can search again: Search for: or Click here to request an essay written just for you.

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