# Presentation: 487372

## Methamphetamine

***This Lesson Plan Produced By Your Drug Demand Reduction Program***

**Notes:**
Do you know how to tell if someone is high on any form of methamphetamine and what form they are using?  Methamphetamines, like some of the other drugs, can become the beginning of brain damage that you never recover from.  Of course, the best way to never face brain damage or other life altering effects is to never start using any type of drug and by staying drug free along with associating only with people and organizations that are drug free.

## What Is Methamphetamine? 

**What Is Methamphetamine? **

- Addictive stimulant that strongly activates certain systems in the brain
- Three types:
- Methamphetamine
- Methamphetamine Pills
- Crystal Methamphetamine

**Notes:**
Methamphetamine (Meth) is an addictive stimulant that strongly activates certain systems in the brain.  There are three types:  Methamphetamine, Methamphetamine Pills, and Crystal Methamphetamine.  All three types of methamphetamine look different and may affect you in some different way. 

## What Does It Look Like?

- Methamphetamine is a crystal-like powdered substance
- When the powder flakes off the rocks, it looks like glass, which is another nickname
- Usually white or slightly yellow, depending on the purity
- Methamphetamine pills are a combination of the stimulants methamphetamine and caffeine

**Notes:**
Methamphetamine is a crystal-like powdered substance that sometimes comes in large rock-like chunks.  When the powder flakes off the rock, the shards look like glass, which is another nickname for methamphetamine.  Methamphetamine is usually white or slightly yellow, depending on the purity.  Methamphetamine pills are a combination of the stimulants methamphetamine and caffeine.  They are produced in Burma by groups such as the Burmese Army and marketed predominantly in Thailand.  Methamphetamine pills are an addictive stimulant drug that strongly activates certain systems in the brain.

## How It Appears

## What are some of the signs that a person is using methamphetamines?

**What are some of the signs that a person is using methamphetamines?**

- Methamphetamine can cause:
- Irritability/Aggression
- Anxiety
- Nervousness
- Convulsions
- Insomnia

**Notes:**
Methamphetamine can cause:  irritability/aggression, anxiety, nervousness, convulsions, and insomnia.

## Some Short-term Effects

**Some Short-term Effects**

- Extremely pleasurable  “rush” or “flash” that lasts only a few minutes
- Snorting or swallowing methamphetamine produces euphoria - a high, but not a rush
- Irritability/aggression

**Notes:**
Immediately after smoking or intravenous injection, the methamphetamine user experiences an intense sensation, called a "rush" or "flash," that lasts only a few minutes and is described as extremely pleasurable.  Oral or intranasal use produces euphoria – a high, but not a rush.  Other effects include irritability/aggression, anxiety, nervousness, convulsions, insomnia.  The faster the absorption, the shorter the high lasts.  Other possible immediate effects include:  increased wakefulness and insomnia; decreased appetite; irritability/aggression; anxiety; nervousness; convulsions; and heart attack.

## Some Long-term Effects

**Some Long-term Effects**

- Methamphetamine is addictive:
- Can develop a tolerance quickly, needing larger amounts to get high
- Users forego food and sleep
- Take more every few hours for days, “binging” until they run out of drug or become too disorganized to continue
- Chronic use can cause:
- Development of a tolerance quickly, needing larger amounts to get high
- Paranoia
- Hallucinations

**Notes:**
Methamphetamine is addictive, and users can develop a tolerance quickly, needing higher amounts to get high, and going on longer binges.  Some users avoid sleep for three to 15 days while binging.  Psychological symptoms of prolonged meth use are characterized by paranoia, hallucinations, repetitive behavior patterns, and delusions of parasites or insects under the skin.  Users often obsessively scratch their skin to get rid of these imagined insects.  With continued use or high dosages, or both can bring on full-blown toxic psychosis (often exhibited as violent, aggressive behavior).  This violent, aggressive behavior is usually coupled with extreme paranoia.  New research shows that those who use methamphetamine risk long-term damage to their brain cells similar to that caused by strokes or Alzheimer's disease and/or death. 

## What is the DEA Federal Classification Schedule for methamphetamine?

- Methamphetamine is listed as a DEA Federal Classification Schedule II drug, which is based on amount in possession and previous offenses.

**Notes:**
Methamphetamine is listed as a DEA Federal Classification Schedule II drug, which is based on amount in possession and previous offenses.

## Penalties for Possession

**Penalties for Possession**

- Penalties for possession of methamphetamine range from the following:
- First offense: Five to 40 years imprisonment
- Second offense: 10 years to life imprisonment

**Notes:**
Penalties for possession of methamphetamine range from the following:

  Penalties for First Offense:  Five years imprisonment, and not more than 40 years
  Penalties for Second Offense:  10 years imprisonment, and not more than life imprisonment

## As a member of CAP, what should you do if you know someone who is using methamphetamine?

- Notify one of the following:
- Deputy Commander for Cadets / Cadet Programs Officer
- Chaplain / Moral Leadership Officer
- Unit Commander

**Notes:**
Since not all CAP units are staffed with the same duty positions, you should notify one of the following:  Deputy Commander for Cadets/Cadet Programs Officer; Chaplain/Moral Leadership Officer; Unit Commander.

## Why do people use methamphetamine?

- To escape reality.
- Want to feel good.
- To be part of the crowd.
- Something to do.
- To fit in with the “in crowd.”
- Don’t realize the effects it will have on your body.

**Notes:**
To escape reality.  Want to feel good.  To be part of the crowd.  Something to do.  To fit in with the “in crowd.”  Don’t realize the effects it will have on your body.

## What are some of the ways you can say “No” to drugs without isolating yourself?

- I don’t do that.
- I’m straight.
- I’m good.
- Ugh!
- I’m drug free, man!
- Nope.

**Notes:**
I don’t do that.  I’m straight.  I’m good.  Ugh!  I’m drug free, man!  Nope.

## Summary

**Summary**

- The three forms of methamphetamine have a lot of similar affects on a person
- But yet each one has something different to affect your body
- All can cause death or very serious health problems
- Is using these types of drugs how you want to live or possibly die?
- Only losers turn to drugs to feel good

**Notes:**
As you see, the three forms of methamphetamine have a lot of similar affects on a person, but yet each one has something different to affect your body.  But all can cause death or very serious health problems.  So why would you want to use any form of methamphetamine?  Is using these types of drugs how you want to live or possibly die?  Let your peers notice you by the good things that you accomplish in life.  Only losers turn to drugs to feel good.  I am sure you aren’t one of them.

## Lesson Plan Resources

**Lesson Plan Resources**

- U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration
- Available on _www.dea.gov_
*Methamphetamine or Methamphetamine Pills *or*  Crystal Methamphetamine* by National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
- Available on _www.drugfree.org_

**Notes:**
U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration is available at www.dea.gov; and Methamphetamine, Methamphetamine Pills, or Crystal Methamphetamine (National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)) is available at www.drugfree.org.  These are only two of the numerous websites available to all interested parties that are facing a decision about life altering use of methamphetamines or to learn about the various types of drugs.

## Don’t march with these guys,say NO to drugs!

**DEAD MEN WALKING**

**Notes:**
Dead Men Walking.