Methamphetamine Paper

Methamphetamine

(meth, crank, speed, crystal)

Methamphetamine is a very powerful and addicting narcotic. Though it is a Scheduled 2 narcotic; it is readily availability on the streets for a considerably cheap price. An addiction to methamphetamine can totally disassociate a person from his or her everyday life.

Methamphetamine was first synthesized in 1919 by Japanese scientist A. Ogata. During World War 2 methamphetamine is given to troops to increase performance. In the 1960's methamphetamine becomes very popular inn the United States, though soon after the government labels it as a controlled substance.

The chemical name for methamphetamine is a-Dimethylbenzene-ethanamine and its chemical formula is C10H15N. The nitrogen means that this compound is an amine. Methamphetamine's chemical properties are very closely related to the properties of amphetamine except methamphetamine has an extra carbon chain and a few hydrogens.

Many users of methamphetamine use it because it is very inexpensive, or can make it themselves in homemade labs with a few household chemicals. These labs are often raided by the police or are blown up from the reactions.

The effects of methamphetamine are numerous. Some positive but for the most part; the drug is very unhealthy. Most users feel the drug almost instantly if they smoke it or sniff it. Soon after users feel full of energy and very alert; as some would say "like king of the world". This can sometimes cause very unpredictable and often violent behavior. The effects of one dose will last about eight hours, though the side effects will last for days. These included sleep loss (which will last one to six days), decreased appetite, loss of interests, itching, vomiting, diarrhea, panic, paranoia, irritability, involuntary movements (head jerks, finger twitching, ect...) severe depression, violent behavior, and suicidal tendencies. This side effects usually occur after two