The dangerous drug debilitating the health of youths in south-east/south-south region of Nigeria.

Mkpulummiri (Methamphetamine) as Igbo youths fondly call it is deadlier than most drugs of addiction, yet it is at every nook and corner of our streets. While few people fully understand the drastic effect of this drug, others just consume it because of the hedonia state it places them, thus forgetting the immediate environmental irritations.

What is methamphetamine?

Methamphetamine is a powerful, highly addictive stimulant that affects the central nervous system. Crystal methamphetamine is a form of the drug that looks like glass fragments or shiny, bluish-white rocks. It is chemically similar to amphetamine, a drug used to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy, a sleep disorder.

How does it affect the body?

Highly addictive agitation, increased heart rate and blood pressure, Increased respiration and body temperature, anxiety, paranoia high doses can cause convulsions, cardiovascular collapse, stroke or death.

How does methamphetamine affect the brain?

Methamphetamine increases the amount of the natural chemical dopamine in the brain. Dopamine is involved in body movement, motivation, and reinforcement of rewarding behaviors. The drug’s ability to rapidly release high levels of dopamine in reward areas of the brain strongly reinforces drug-taking behavior, making the user want to repeat the experience.

Short-term effects and signs that your young-adult might be into Methamphetamine:

• faster breathing

• rapid and/or irregular heartbeat

• increased blood pressure and body temperature

• increased wakefulness and physical activity

• decreased appetite

• increased expenses

Long-term methamphetamine use has many other negative consequences, including:

• extreme weight loss

• addiction

• severe dental problems ("meth mouth")

• intense itching, leading to skin sores from scratching

• anxiety

• changes in brain structure and function

• confusion

• memory loss

• sleeping problems

• violent behavior

• paranoia—extreme and unreasonable distrust of others

• hallucinations—sensations and images that seem real though they aren't

In addition, continued methamphetamine use causes changes in the brain's dopamine system that are associated with reduced coordination and impaired verbal learning. In studies of people who used methamphetamine over the long term, severe changes also affected areas of the brain involved with emotion and memory. This may explain many of the emotional and cognitive problems seen in those who use methamphetamine.

How is methamphetamine addiction treated?

While research is underway, there are currently no government-approved medications to treat methamphetamine addiction. The good news is that methamphetamine misuse can be prevented and addiction to the drug can be treated with behavioral therapies. The most effective treatments for methamphetamine addiction so far are behavioral therapies, such as:

• cognitive-behavioral therapy, which helps patients recognize, avoid, and cope with the situations likely to trigger drug use.

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