Methamphetamine

A powerful addictive stimulant that dramatically affects many areas of the central nervous system. The drug can easily be made in clandestine laboratories from relatively inexpensive over-the-counter ingredients and can be purchased at relatively low cost.
Sometimes referred to as "speed," "Meth", and "Chalk". In its smoked form it is often referred to as "ice", "crystal", "crank", "fire", and "glass".
Available in many forms and can be smoked, snorted, injected, or orally ingested.
A white, odorless, bitter-tasting crystalline powder that can be easily dissolved in water or alcohol.

A tendency to compulsively clean and groom and repetitively sort and disassemble objects, such as cars and other mechancial devices.
Signs of agitation, excited speech, decreased appetities, and increased physical activity levels. Other common symptoms include: dilated pupils, high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, chest pain, shortness in breath, nausea, and vomiting, diarrhea, and elevated body temperature.
Occasional episodes of sudden and violent behavior, intense paranoia, visual and auditory hallucinations, and bouts of insomnia.

Young adults who attend "raves" or private clubs are increasingly using methamphetamine.
Notable increases are occurring among homeless and runaway youth.
Use is increasing among men who have sex with men and use other drugs, making this population more vulnerable to contracting and spreading sexually transmitted diseases, especially HIV/AIDS.

In general, prevention programs should start early, be comprehensive, and repetitively stress key points.
Family-focused prevention efforts have been found to have a greater impact that strategies that focus onparents only or children/adolescents only.
Effective programs begins with an assessment of the specific nature of the drug problem within the local community and adapting the program accordingly. Assessment can include looking at a variety of indicators such as drug treatment and emergency room admissions.

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