Methamphetamine, more commonly known as ‘meth’, is a powerful stimulant with a varied background for different uses. It was first synthesized in the late 1800s by a Japanese scientist and has been used medically since that time to treat a laundry list of medical conditions. In the 1970s, the highly addictive substance became illegal for recreational use in the United States.
Methamphetamine still has medical uses today, in controlled medications, to help treat problems such as ADHD. Methamphetamine has been labeled a Schedule II drug in the United States, which makes misuse of the controlled substance a felony due to the incredibly high risks that are associated with its use. Continue reading for more information on what does meth smell like.
History of Meth
Meth was initially crafted in Japan in 1885 as a substitution for ephedra extracts. The ephedra plant produces a potent stimulant known as ephedrine. The process was long and difficult until 1919, when the process was streamlined, using iodine and phosphorus, and resulted in the first crystallized form of methamphetamine. This stimulant worked wonders, and in the 1930s, amphetamines were in high demand as treatments for asthma and later for narcolepsy. By 1959, the law changed again, and the FDA stopped the sale of over-the-counter amphetamine inhalers. For the answer to what meth smells like, continue reading below.
The adverse side effects associated with this type of stimulant use were undeniable. In the 1970s, amphetamines (methamphetamine included)were declared Schedule II drugs to control the addictive substance and subsequent abuse that followed. Unfortunately, jail time was not enough of a deterrent, and illicit use of amphetamines has become an epidemic all around the planet.
Where Meth Comes From
Although amphetamines are still used in medicine today, the changes made by the FDA have made it increasingly more challenging to get ahold of, even for patients prescribed medication actions containing the stimulant. Meth addiction was rampant in the United States, so in the late 1980s, after the crack epidemic had caught public attention, the demand for a new stimulant increased.
Methamphetamine production was moved to the streets and produced in private homes and facilities tucked away from the public eye, better known as ‘meth labs’. Crystal meth became the center of the drug epidemic in the 1990s, requiring a new DEA task force to handle the growing problem. This problem creates the question, “what does meth smell like, and would you recognize it if it were nearby?”
Meth Addiction
Meth is one of the most addictive substances, in terms of hard drugs, that somebody can consume. Even prescription medication containing amphetamines remains highly addictive and thus regulated stringently. The problem with meth coming from the streets is no regulation. It is a roll of the dice every single time when taking meth, and your first high could also be your last. So, why do people use meth, and what does meth smell like?
To active users and people with addictions alike, the risk of death is no longer a deterrent, nor is jail time or poor health. A meth addiction can quickly escalate to the point where they cannot perform daily tasks without using the drug. Their body craves the substance to maintain an exhausting level of productivity, while the stimulant leaves no room for the body to rest and recover as it was designed to do. This slippery slope often decreases the users’ ability to cope with life without being high. Using meth causes the body to build up a tolerance to the drug, which drastically increases the risk of overdose.
This could be achieved by getting applicants to spend time with employees during the recruitment process or by including staff testimonials on the company website and on social media.
Getting High
When using meth, you can snort, inhale, swallow a pill, or inject the substance, depending on its form and the available source. Specific delivery methods will hit the user harder and faster than others; typically, the effects can last anywhere from 6 to 12 hours once someone has taken the drug. What does meth smell like? The smell of meth is reminiscent of burning chemicals or an electrical fire. The initial and temporary feelings associated with meth use are alertness, increased energy, euphoria, and moderate to high pain relief.
The trade-off is in its adverse side effects, both medical and physical. Atypical meth users report feeling like they have the flu and being sluggish and headachy after discontinuing occasional use. The feeling of coming down from a meth high is highly unpleasant and encourages users to take another dose just to take the edge off.
Symptoms and Side Effects
Prolonged meth use can result in various effects that vary slightly based on your delivery method. Meth users experience euphoria and excitement as their brain is initially flooded with dopamine and adrenaline. The response to the chemicals can deepen as the drug metabolizes, leading to different unpleasant feelings, such as paranoia, irritability, discomfort, anxiety, and a few others. Meth is unregulated, and there is no way of telling how a user will respond, even if they have tried the drug before.
Stimulants take a toll on the body. Over time, people with a substance use disorder may endure cardiovascular problems in the heart, lungs, or brain from repeated meth use. Immediate symptoms may appear as nausea, hyper-irritability, hallucinations, psychosis, convulsions, seizures, and even death. Prolonged use can cause people with an addiction to experience unpredictable violence, extreme hallucinations, intense itching, and self-mutilation. So again, what does meth smell like? It stinks.
Meth Addiction Is Rough
Meth addiction comes at an incredibly high cost. The drug is to obtain and relatively inexpensive. The cost is in the change that it brings into your life. Feeding an addiction to illicit drug use causes risky behavior to increase as a means of avoiding the law.
Decreased inhibitions, poor self-image, decreased hygiene maintenance, and poor rest and recovery cycles worsen physical and mental health. The drug has side effects such as stroke, racing heartbeat, and possibly death. If you are looking for more information, such as what does meth smell like, search online to recognize the signs of methamphetamines in your area.
