Methamphetamine was once a widely used drug sold under the trade name of Desoxyn and approved by the FDA. It was used to treat ADHD and obesity. It was also used to treat depression and narcolepsy. However, today it is synonymous with illegal drug use. It’s an addictive substance that has largely replaced cocaine and other narcotics on the black market. It’s taken orally, smoked, or taken intravenously. It induces a sensation of euphoria in users as a first effect, and therefore it is very popular.

Despite those initial “happy feelings,” methamphetamine effects are mostly negative. Physical effects include a fast heart beat, strokes, and heart failure. These health problems usually occur with regular use of the drug. Often, the user becomes so physically exhausted by persistent drug use that a mild stroke can become fatal. Difficulties in swallowing and urinating are other milder effects. Users have extreme difficulty swallowing due to the resultant muscle constriction and there is a lot of pain and discomfort. Urination can also be painful, and drug users may find it hard to urinate, thereby damaging their kidneys.

Long term use of meth can result in chronic ulcers, skin diseases, and vascular problems like lung diseases and tuberculosis. These are all very serious, life threatening diseases that could have been easily avoided by abstaining from substance abuse.

There are many psychological effects of using methamphetamine. Mostly, it creates an initial euphoria that subsides into a “down” feeling. This can lead to acute depression and suicidal thoughts. The addictive nature of the drug is enhanced by these side effects, because taking more drug usually causes them to go away. However, the problem is that as the body takes more of the drug, it adapts to having less time between doses. This creates a vicious cycle where larger doses are required to cure the side effects of previous smaller dosages.