Methamphetamine or “Meth” is one of the most addictive and dangerous drugs available. It is a man-made, central nervous system stimulant drug that gives first time users a great “high experience” because of the extreme increase of dopamine levels in the body. Meth has many nicknames including: ice, crystal, chalk, crank and rock. It is responsible for hundreds of deaths every year around the United States. Meth works by rushing dopamine, a neurochemical, into your brain which will lead the user to feel a pleasurable and enjoyable experience. It has the tendency to increase the users body temperature, blood pressure and heart rate. After using meth for the first time the user will usually feel angry, depressed, guilty and angry. They will than …show more content…
The loss of appetite is due to the fact that the dopamine activity is increased, but is also damaging the dopamine neuronal phase. Dopamine is sent out as a reward, for instance when a person is eating, playing or having sex. Moreover, as meth is damaging the dopamine activity, the dopamine will not have the same pleasure or reward after meth. Thus, causes a person to lose appetite. The increase of heart rate and high blood pressure is a short-term effect because the rush only lasts for a certain time period. Since the rush is only for a certain time period, the heart rate would be increased because the body is expecting the same amount of dopamine to be sent throughout the body. However, that does not happen because after the rush is done, it takes the body some time to recover. This is the same cause for the high blood pressure because the heart has to work harder to pump more blood throughout the body. The high blood pressure is relative to the high heart beat because if the heart rate goes down, so will the blood pressure, and if the heart rate goes up so will the blood pressure. Ultimately, the short term effect will lead to the long term effects. However, if the person smoking or injecting meth become smart, and begins to make right decisions. They might be able to limit the short term effects, and not get any short term effects