Clandestine Meth Labs 2015
Medical Effects and Consequences of
Methamphetamine Use
ACMT / BIA Meth Lab Working Group
Jennifer Lowry, MD American College of Medical Toxicology Associate Professor, Pediatrics University of Missouri-Kansas City Children’s Mercy – Kansas City, MO
The Faces of Meth How Did We Get There?
2.5 Years Later Clandestine Meth Labs 2015
Objectives
l Where Meth Works l Routes of Abuse l Phases and Patterns
of Abuse l Short Term and
Long Term Effects
Clandestine Meth Labs 2015
● Methamphetamine is a central nervous system stimulant.
● It interferes with neurotransmission. ● It increases the release of the
neurotransmitters dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin.
What is Methamphetamine?
Clandestine Meth Labs 2015
● Methyl group is key – Amphetamine is a metabolite of methamphetamine – Greater CNS penetration – ~10X Longer duration of action than amphetamine
CH3
HN
H
CH3
CH3N
H
Methamphetamine Amphetamine
Toxicokinetics / dynamics
Pseudoephedrine Clandestine Meth Labs 2015
Dopamine is manufactured in nerve cells within the ventral tegmental area and is released in the nucleus
accumbens and the frontal cortex.
Why People Use Meth
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What Happens in the Brain
l Dopamine – Responsible for enjoyment/pleasure – Responsible for reinforcement
l Frontal Cortex – Behavior
l Movement – Substantia Nigra
Clandestine Meth Labs 2015
Medicinal Use
l Started with benzadrine (amphetamine) l Military use - Pervitin l Methedrine (Methamphetamine)
l Now is a Schedule II agent
Clandestine Meth Labs 2015
● Oral forms – The prescribed form ● Onset 20-60 min
Oral Administration
Desoxyn (methamphetamine) Clandestine Meth Labs
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● Sniffed powder ● Onset of action: 5-10 min
Intranasal methamphetamine
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● Inhalational form ● Onset of action: Less than 2 min
Crystal Meth (aka Ice)
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● Onset of action: Less than 2 min
Intravenous Administration
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What It Feels Like To Use Meth
l Rush (5-30 min) - due to adrenal gland release of epinephrine putting the body into “fight or flight” mode and the explosive release of dopamine; – effects are tachycardia, increased metabolism,
hypertension, palpitations; euphoria likened to the intensity of 10 orgasms (sexual rush)
l High (4-16 hrs) - follows the rush and sometimes called the shoulder; feelings of aggression and “heightened intellect”
Clandestine Meth Labs 2015
Short-term Effects of Meth Abuse
● Increased wakefulness and physical activity and decrease appetite.
● A brief, intense sensation, or rush, is reported by those who smoke or inject methamphetamine.
● Oral ingestion or snorting produces a long-lasting high instead of a rush.
● Both the rush and the high are believed to result from the release of very high levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine into areas of the brain that regulate feelings of pleasure.
Clandestine Meth Labs 2015
● Low intensity – Casual use / often task-oriented – Tend to swallow or snort – Not addicted
● Binge – Psychological dependence – May develop physical dependence – Tolerance during binges (2 - 15 days) – “Speed Runs” – Develop Medical Problems
Meth Use Patterns
Clandestine Meth Labs 2015
l Binge (2-15 days) - continuation of the high but due to tolerance larger doses required to achieve same intensity until no rush or high felt; physical and mental hyperactivity
l Tweaking - at the end of the binge when nothing will
take away the feelings of emptiness and dysphoria; often alcohol and heroin used during this time to ease the bad feelings; Irritable, psychotic symptoms, paranoid, violence more likely – Myoclonic, jerking movements
A binge goes through several stages
Clandestine Meth Labs 2015
When the binge is over
● Crash (1-3 days) – Follows binge or long period of high-intensity use – Suffers from sleep deprivation and
neurotransmitter washout – Similar to other stimulants (cocaine)
l Post-binge – relatively normal – Physical and psychological state slightly
deteriorated compared to pre-binge – May depend on length of usage
Clandestine Meth Labs 2015
When the binge is over
● Withdrawal (30-90 days) – No acute, immediate symptoms. Psychological
element strongest – Depression (suicidal), lethargy, drug craving – Relieved by
return to drug use
Volkow et al. J of Neuroscience 2001;21:9414-18.
Clandestine Meth Labs 2015
Meth Use Patterns (cont)
● High intensity – Psychological and physical dependence – Tend to smoke or inject
l Rush – Entire life aimed at preventing crash -->Life dysfunction
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High Intensity Use
● Extreme Weight Loss (50-100 lbs.), Malnutrition ● Belligerence, Aggression, Violence ● Toxic Psychosis
– Paranoia – Hallucinations – Hysteria – Sleep Deprivation
● Multiple medical complications ● e.g. Stroke, Heart Failure
Clandestine Meth Labs 2015
Classes of Clinical Effects
Early – during binge l Adrenaline excess
– Tachycardia – Hypertension – Tachypnea – Dilated pupils – Psychomotor
agitation l Hyperthermia
Late – at the end l Adrenaline Depletion
– Lethargy – Unresponsive – Normal vital signs – Depression
Clandestine Meth Labs 2015
Depends on Route
Chronicity of Use
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Abstinence
● Anergia: – Decreased energy.
● Anhedonia: – Inability to experience pleasure, boredom: – in contrast to the intense euphoria of the
drug experience, sharpens the users dissatisfaction with the current state.
Clandestine Meth Labs 2015
Abstinence
● Craving: – Endogenous:
● "comes from within" or background craving, feelings of dysphoria.
– Environmentally Cued: ● Craving stimulated by objects, persons
and situations associated with prior use
Clandestine Meth Labs 2015
Clandestine Meth Labs 2015
l Vitals – Tachycardia – Hypertension – Fast Respiratory Rate – Hyperthermia
l Neurological – Stroke – Seizures – Tremors
l Cardiovascular – MI – Dysrhythmias – Necrotizing Angiitis – Aortic Dissection
l Pulmonary – Wheezing – Chemical Pneumonia – Pulmonary edema
Clinical Features of Sympathomimetic Toxicity
Clandestine Meth Labs 2015
Clinical Features of Symptomatic Meth Patients
l Musculoskeletal – Muscle Spasms – Rigidity – Rhabdomyolysis
l Psychiatric – Insomnia – Anxiety – Impulsive – Irritability
l Psychiatric – Tremors – Aggressiveness – Paranoia – Confusion – Hallucinations – Psychosis
Clandestine Meth Labs 2015
l Skin – Sweating – Lesions – Formication
l Mouth – Dry mouth – Bruxism – Extensive tooth
decay
l Gastrointestinal – N/V – Diarrhea – Malnourished
l Genito-urinary – STDs (HIV) – Dehydration – Renal Failure – Rhabdomyolysis
Clinical Features of Symptomatic Meth Patients
Clandestine Meth Labs 2015
Other Meth Related Problems
– Smoking-Related – IV-Related – Trauma – Medico-legal – Lab / Chemical
Exposures
Clandestine Meth Labs 2015
Long-term Effects of Meth Abuse
● Addiction ● Tolerance for methamphetamine ● Violent behavior, anxiety,
confusion, and insomnia ● Psychotic features ● Physical Appearance
Clandestine Meth Labs 2015
Specific to Methamphetamine
l Cardiovascular – Stroke (Hypertension, Tachycardia, Vasculitis) – Cardiomyopathy (Infarction, Catecholamine Use) – MI, arrhythmias less likely
l Neurologic – Acute psychosis – Kindling Effect – Seizures Less Likely – Movement Disorders
l Neuropsychiatric Changes Clandestine Meth Labs
2015
Meth Mouth
Clandestine Meth Labs 2015
Clandestine Meth Labs 2015
Clandestine Meth Labs 2015
The Faces of Meth
4 YEARS LATER Clandestine Meth Labs 2015
The Faces of Meth
3 MONTHS LATER Clandestine Meth Labs 2015
Chronic Effects
Clandestine Meth Labs 2015
Meth & Pregnancy
● Methamphetamine use and/or abuse during pregnancy can be fatal to the mother and result in spontaneous abortion of the fetus.
● Methamphetamine has been shown to cause placental vasoconstriction and interfere with placental monoamine transporters.
● Neonatal drug withdrawal symptoms requiring treatment have been reported.
Clandestine Meth Labs 2015
Summary
l Meth is a stimulant drug whose abuse has both acute and chronic effects
l Various use patterns are known (low / high intensity, tweaking, etc.)
l Acute effects are generally due to adrenergic excess l Adrenergic depletion in the crash phase l Chronic effects involve neurologic, psychiatric, and
dental deterioration plus much more
Clandestine Meth Labs 2015
Questions?
Clandestine Meth Labs 2015