Meth: How Dangerous Is It to Teens?
While meth (Methamphetamine) use in the U.S. has been declining, widespread media coverage about the drug often raises many questions and causes parents to worry about whether their children are exposed to or using this dangerous substance. Meth is a stimulant drug used for the euphoria it produces and for weight loss and increased libido. The down side of the high is addiction and a variety of toxic short- and long-term effects. One of the most serious and unpleasant side effects is “meth mouth,” where the users’ teeth rot from the inside out.
Parents need to talk to their kids about meth and the reality of what it does to the body. Parents also need to know when their teen might be using meth. Some of the most common signs and symptoms are extremely dilated pupils, dry or bleeding nose and lips, chronic nasal or sinus problems and bad breath. Because meth is a stimulant, users also experience hyperactivity and irritability. This includes a lack of interest in sleep and food, leading to drastic weight loss or anorexia. It may also cause users to be aggressive, nervous, and engage in disconnected chatter.
Some short-term effects are irritability, anxiety, insomnia, Parkinson-like tremors, convulsions and paranoia. Longer-term effects can include increased heart rate and blood pressure, damage to blood vessels in the brain, stroke and even death. Psychotic symptoms can sometimes persist for months or years even after the user has stopped taking the drug.
Meth use is declining among youth. The Monitoring the Future study shows that among 8th, 10th, and 12th graders, use of meth declined by 25 percent in the past three years.
It is important to note that marijuana is still the single largest drug of abuse in this country – 15 million current or past month users compared to one million meth current or past month users. Meth is often in the news because of its dramatic effects and consequences. Illegal meth labs often explode, creating danger to communities through fires. Meth labs on public lands create dangers to hikers and tourists, and children of meth users are often abandoned or neglected and are flooding the social services systems in many areas. Meth is easily made with common ingredients and readily available household equipment, making it widely and inexpensively available.
Adult methamphetamine addicts often become so obsessed with the drug that they neglect their children. Twenty percent of the meth labs raided in 2002 had children present. In addition to general neglect, children living in meth labs face a variety of dangers including the usual meth lab hazards – fires, explosions and exposure to extremely toxic chemicals. Chronic exposure to meth lab chemicals can damage the brain, liver, kidneys and spleen and can also cause cancer.
If you suspect a teen in your life is using meth or is exposed to meth, the time for a courageous conversation is now. Discuss the risks and effects of using this substance. Even without addiction, experimentation is too great a gamble. If something interrupts your conversation, pick it up the next chance you get.