In a 3-4 page paper, use the videos above and additional research to discuss and

Question

In a 3-4 page paper, use the videos above and additional research to discuss and answer the following questions in detail. What physical changes happen to chronic meth users? Why do many chronic meth users lose their teeth? What are some of the crimes meth users commit on a regular basis? What happens to the brain when meth is used? Why are cold medicines stored behind the pharmacy counter at pharmacies? What is in these cold medicines to have them not available in numbers to the general public? Where does the majority of meth used in the US come from today? What is “meth rage”?

Explanation / Answer

Note: This response is in UK English, please paste the response to MS Word and you should be able to spot discrepancies easily. You may elaborate the response based on your classwork if necessary.

(Answer) (1) What physical changes happen to chronic meth users?

Prolonged use of Meth destroys the dopamine receptors in the brain. Although meth is taken to feel pleasure initially, in the long term, it tends to ruin the capacity to feel any pleasure at all. There is a loss of cognitive abilities that is mostly irreparable in chronic users. Furthermore, the patient may show signs of paranoia, anxiety, aggressive behaviour and insomnia amongst others. Muscle and tissue damage, damage to the nervous system, loss of appetite, severe grinding of teeth and acne, sores and loss of skin elasticity and skin lustre are among the few issues that a met user would face.

(2) Why do many chronic meth users lose their teeth?

When an addict administers meth, they cause their salivary glands to dry out. When this happens, the acids in the mouth begin to eat away the patient’s teeth. Dry mouth also leads to poor oral hygiene and terrible breath. This is why meth users tend to have broken and discoloured teeth. This is also known as “meth mouth.”

(3) What are some of the crimes meth users commit on a regular basis?

Meth users usually lose their jobs, their money and are sometimes even in poor relationships with family and friends over their continuous meth use. According to a national survey for drug use and health, this causes about 70% of meth users to commit property crimes. Thievery, break-ins and other such activities are often conducted by meth users in order to find the finance for their next hit. When their resources to pay for their habit generally runs out, they often become traffickers themselves.

However, certain states like Oklahoma have been experiencing fewer crimes simply because they have passed stricter laws in attaining the ingredients that are used to cook meth.

(4) What happens to the brain when meth is used? Why are cold medicines stored behind the pharmacy counter at pharmacies?

When meth is administered, the brain sees a surge in the dopamine level. This causes the user to experience a sense of euphoria. Addicts claim that they have a sense of control, focus, pleasure and even their sexual prowess seems to be heightened. This is something that occurs in the initial stages. However, since pleasure receptacles in the brain generally die out with prolonged use, the addict is unable to feel pleasure with the same amount of meth and required a lot more to bring in a certain desired effect. Cognitive abilities get poorer by the minute. Furthermore, the addict will even exhibit symptoms that would resemble that of a schizophrenic patient. Paranoia, insomnia, anxiety and other such symptoms begin to degenerate the individual’s brain.

Cold medicine contains pseudoephedrine. This is one of the main ingredients in cooking Methamphetamines. To curb such unlawful uses, the cold medicines with that ingredient are not sold without a prescription. Medicines such a Sudafel, Advil allergy medication and other such medications contain the chemical ingredient.

(5) What is in these cold medicines to have them not available in numbers to the general public?

Answered above.

(6) Where does the majority of meth used in the US come from today? What is “meth rage”?

Researchers have connected the rise in meth usage to the opioid epidemic in the United States. In the year 2008, the US government reported that 13 million users above the age of 12 have used meth. About 529,000 of those are regular users. Hawaii is one amongst the highest with people seeking help from such drug use at 48.2%. Other states with high meth usage includes California, Idaho, Minnesota and North Dakota.

The highest meth age is 18 to 23-year-olds with 35% of the users. The second highest users at 24% are under the age of 18. The lowest is 6% of users being above the age of 40 (source: rehab international). According to such statistics, the millennials are certainly a big part of the demograph.

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