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Every Ice Is Not Cool

Drugs are never good, but drugs like ice should be especially avoided because of their strong impact on the individual’s cognitive abilities.

Introduction

&ldquo;I destroy homes

I tear families apart

I&rsquo;ll take your children and that is just the start

I&rsquo;m more precious than diamonds, more valuable than gold

The sorrows I bring are a sight to behold&rdquo;

Even though the poem is someone else&rsquo;s discernment, I couldn&#39;t agree more. Crystal meth, ice, and methamphetamine are all names of the same drug that has been responsible for causing life-changing addiction and the reason behind the destruction of families. It changes how a person thinks about their life matters and even how they react to different situations.

Drugs are never good, but drugs like ice should be especially avoided because of their strong impact on the individual&rsquo;s cognitive abilities. 
&nbsp;

Understanding the Adverse Effects of Crystal Meth Addiction

Generally, people often confuse addiction with dependence. These are two separate states.

Addiction is when a person can&rsquo;t stop using a drug. They&rsquo;re basically abusing it, irrespective of any negative effect that they might be experiencing at the time. It can occur both with and without physical dependence on the drug; however, physical dependence is a common symptom of addiction.

On the other hand, dependence means that the body is dependent on the drug to function. So, the individual feels a need to use more of that substance to feel the same effect. If they stop taking it, they immediately experience withdrawal symptoms, including physical, behavioral, and psychological symptoms. 
&nbsp;

The following symptoms are considered red flags<a href="#accordion">[6]</a>:

<ul>
	<li>The uncontrollable and irresistible urge to (ab)use the substance, such that the person can&rsquo;t think of anything else</li>
	<li>The person wants to or already uses that substance regularly</li>
	<li>The person always has a supply at hand</li>
	<li>The person engages in risky behavior, including violence and unprotected sex</li>
	<li>The person is willing to spend money obtaining the substance even when they have financial issues</li>
	<li>The person uses more of the substance to get the same effect (tolerance level)</li>
	<li>The person uses the substance despite the problems it creates</li>
	<li>The person experiences withdrawal symptoms once they stop using it 
	&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Ice is considered greatly addictive that can alter how the body responds to different situations, and its effects are often long-lasting. This synthetic product was initially introduced as a therapeutic intervention. However, due to more targeted drugs available, the use of methamphetamine as a therapeutic agent is now greatly reduced. Even in the rare cases that it is used, it is only prescribed for uncontrollable <a href="https://merisehat.pk/disease/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-adhd">ADHD</a> and severe obesity<a href="#accordion">[3]</a>.

The illegally-used drug called crystal meth is essentially methamphetamine that&rsquo;s available in the form of an ice-like crystal; semi-transparent and white or blue in color. Despite being illegal, this substance is frequently abused. 
&nbsp;

A study in 2020 shows that nearly 2,600,000 people who were 12 years or older, which is about 0.9% of the US population, were found to be using Methamphetamine, including its crystal form<a href="#accordion">[3]</a>.

Another study in 2020 reported that around 153,000 people aged 12 years and older used methamphetamine for the first time that year<a href="#accordion">[3]</a>.

Drug users heat the substance and then smoke it in a glass pipe. Sometimes, though, they&rsquo;d crush it and snort or inject it into their system. However, smoking is preferred because it&rsquo;s quickly absorbed into the bloodstream, which in turn causes ice addiction.

According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, around 500 metric tons of amphetamine stimulants were produced in the year 2015 alone! Statistics also show that there were around 24.7 million amphetamine drug abusers around the world and in the year 2018, this number dramatically progressed. Moreover, the abuse of street methamphetamine was mostly in parts of Asia, Europe, Australia, and the United States<a href="#accordion">[1]</a>. 
&nbsp;

It should be kept in mind that using crystal meth once only does not get a person addicted. However, it gives them a taste of all the ups and rarely of the down. They feel awake and full of energy, their appetite drops, and their heartbeat and breathing increases<a href="#accordion">[3]</a>.This rewarding feeling is what makes them crave more of that substance.

Studies in Pakistan show that ice is gaining popularity with the younger generation. A lot of healthcare practitioners and researchers have attested to the fact that a great number of users are made up of students, educated families, and well-off families. Also, parents do not let their kids get the necessary attention they need because of their apparent social status. This needs to be corrected because the usage of crystal methamphetamine among the Pakistani population is increasing by the day. Based on data shared by Pakistan&rsquo;s anti-narcotic forces, around 27 million people abuse drugs in Pakistan and the fact that families would rather keep it a secret means there&rsquo;s even less room for researchers to gather data to find the required treatment<a href="#accordion">[2]</a>. 
&nbsp;

If you thought ice was the coolest name (no pun intended), you are in for a treat because crystal meth is also known by these names:

<ul>
	<li>Glass</li>
	<li>Blade</li>
	<li>Crystal</li>
	<li>Quartz 
	&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Biochemically, crystal methamphetamine is an excellent central nervous excitant. Those who abuse ice are easy to identify: their pupils are dilated, they breathe faster than usual, and experience excessive sweating. People high on meth also eat very less and complain about dizziness, headache, and nausea. They are unable to sleep for as long as they have meth available and the only time they actually sleep is when they faint! This can take days or even as long as a week, depending on how soon their stock lasts.

Their problems don&rsquo;t end even when they collapse because once they&rsquo;re conscious, they feel drained of energy and depressed. Consequently, they are more drawn to drugs or other addictive substances at that moment as it seems the only way to get rid of their fatigue and depression. Family members or loved ones may find small plastic bags with remnants of ice and narrow glass tubes with black substance in their stuff. 
&nbsp;

People who abuse ice often exhibit feelings of nervousness; they&rsquo;re talkative and overly energetic. If the drug usage is heavy or the symptoms are more severe, then they may even have visual hallucinations, like feeling as if insects are crawling under their skin, and trying to get them out usually results in injuries to the face or other parts of their bodies.

As mentioned earlier, pharmaceutical methamphetamine is manufactured as a medication to manage Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and even severe obesity<a href="#accordion">[4]</a>. When the drug is made for therapeutic purposes, it is classified as a Schedule II drug by the United States Controlled Substances Act, which means<a href="#accordion">[1]</a>:

<ul>
	<li>It has a high potential for abuse</li>
	<li>It has otherwise, accepted medical use</li>
	<li>It has the potential to lead to severe psychological or physical dependence 
	&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Crystal meth use can have serious risks and may cause dangerous drug toxicity and an easy overdose amidst the rush. Side effects of doing ice include<a href="#accordion">[3]</a>:

<ul>
	<li>Rapid heart rate</li>
	<li>High blood pressure</li>
	<li>Increase respiratory rate</li>
	<li>Increased body temperature</li>
	<li>Dental problems</li>
	<li>Insomnia</li>
	<li>Anxiety</li>
	<li>Paranoia</li>
	<li>Aggression and violence</li>
	<li>Cardiovascular issues, such as stroke and heart attack</li>
	<li>Tremor</li>
	<li>Death 
	&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

When a person loses their &ldquo;high,&rdquo; they enter a zone called a &ldquo;tweaking&rdquo; stage<a href="#accordion">[5]</a>. During this stage, they start feeling hopeless and crave the ice drug again.

It is important to know that this is the time when the user experiences psychotic symptoms. This essentially means that the user experiences delusions and the reality starts seeming bizarre. They may also feel uneasiness throughout the time and, therefore, should get professional help, such as a rehabilitation program. Rehab is a facility that offers specialized treatment and empowers patients to get rid of the craving, i.e., become sober<a href="#accordion">[4]</a>. 
&nbsp;

Methamphetamine withdrawal is not easy and can cause multiple acute (short-termed) and post-acute symptoms that vary from person to person. The intensity of ice drug withdrawal symptoms depends on multiple factors, including the route of administration, dosage, drug concentration, previous withdrawal symptoms, and how long they have been taking the drug<a href="#accordion">[3]</a>. 
&nbsp;

Acute ice withdrawal symptoms include<a href="#accordion">[3]</a>:

<ul>
	<li>Fatigue</li>
	<li>Anxiety</li>
	<li>Irritability</li>
	<li>Lack of energy</li>
	<li>Increased weight</li>
	<li>Dehydration</li>
	<li>Chills</li>
	<li>Insomnia followed by hypersomnia</li>
	<li>Dysphoria, which can lead to clinical depression and thoughts about committing suicide</li>
	<li>Inability to process thoughts clearly</li>
	<li>Anhedonia</li>
	<li>Social withdrawal</li>
	<li>Drug cravings 
	&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Post-acute ice withdrawal symptoms include<a href="#accordion">[3]</a>:

<ul>
	<li>Depression</li>
	<li>Mood swings</li>
	<li>Cravings</li>
	<li>Anhedonia</li>
	<li>Psychosis</li>
	<li>Suicidal thoughts</li>
	<li>Fatigue and hypersomnia</li>
	<li>An increase in appetite</li>
	<li>Sexual dysfunction and loss of libido 
	&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

The craving for the drug is a crucial symptom and, unfortunately, the hardest one to get rid of. It can lead to repeated drug use, commonly known as a relapse<a href="#accordion">[3]</a>.

Ice withdrawal symptoms appear to be terrifying and can be hard to face, but with professional help, it&rsquo;s possible to detox successfully.

It is not easy to be addicted to something and similarly, it is not easy to lose a loved one to drug addiction, too. We all need to understand that it is nothing to be ashamed of because feelings like these create a hindrance in the treatment plan that can be offered. 
&nbsp;

Conclusion

Doing drugs is not cool. You know what cool is? Being a hero. Be a hero to your family and see that they will not be able to live if something happened to you because you refused to accept medical help and give up your drug addiction. Be a hero to the other addicted people out there and show them it can be restrained. But most importantly, be a hero to yourself; you deserve a happy life, not a delusional one.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Key Takeaways

<ul>
	<li>Methamphetamine or ice is considered a greatly addictive substance that can alter how the body responds to different situations, and this can be quite long-lasting.</li>
	<li>The illegally-used drug called crystal meth is essentially methamphetamine, which is available in the form of an ice-like crystal &ndash; semi-transparent and white or blue in color.</li>
	<li>Usually, crystal meth or ice is heated and then smoked in a glass pipe.</li>
	<li>A study in 2020 shows that people who were 12 years or older, which sums up about 0.9% of the US population, were using methamphetamine, including its crystal form.</li>
	<li>Another study in 2020 reported that around 153,000 people aged 12 years and older used methamphetamine for the first time that year.</li>
	<li>The &ldquo;high&rdquo; that comes from abusing the drug makes them feel alert and full of energy; their appetite drops and their heartbeat and breathing increase.</li>
	<li>Based on the data received from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, around 500 metric tons of amphetamine stimulants were produced in the year 2015 alone!</li>
	<li>Statistics also show that there are around 24.7 million amphetamine-type drug abusers around the world.</li>
	<li>Pakistan&rsquo;s anti-narcotic forces shared that around 27 million people in Pakistan abuse drugs.</li>
	<li>Meth is also known as glass, blade, crystal, and quartz.</li>
	<li>Ice drug users develop dilated pupils, breathe faster than usual, and even feel sweaty.</li>
	<li>They are unable to sleep as long as they have meth available and the only time they actually sleep is when they faint!</li>
	<li>Ice drug users will be more drawn to drugs or other addictive substances when they lose their high, as it will seem like the only way to get rid of their fatigue and depression.</li>
	<li>Biochemically, crystal methamphetamine is a central nervous excitant.</li>
	<li>Crystal meth is classified as a Schedule II drug by the United States Controlled Substances Act.</li>
	<li>Pharmaceutical methamphetamine is manufactured as a medication to manage Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and even severe obesity.</li>
	<li>Side effects of doing ice include a rapid heart rate, insomnia, paranoia, and tremors.</li>
	<li>The time when a person loses their high, they apparently enter a zone called a &ldquo;tweaking&rdquo; stage.</li>
	<li>Methamphetamine withdrawal is not easy and leads to multiple acute and post-acute symptoms that vary from person to person.</li>
	<li>Acute ice drug withdrawal symptoms can include fatigue, anxiety, and irritability.</li>
	<li>Post-acute withdrawal symptoms from the ice drug include depression, mood swings, and craving for meth.</li>
	<li>Ice withdrawal symptoms make the user extremely uneasy and unpleasant; however, it is not fatal.</li>
</ul>

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