Methamphetamine is an addictive stimulant

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The methamphetamine relates to the so called group of amphetamine-type stimulants - ATS. Methamphetamine has a high potential for abuse and addiction. Methamphetamine is made illegally with relatively inexpensive over-the-counter ingredients. Many of the ingredients that are used to produce methamphetamine, such as drain cleaner, battery acid, and antifreeze, are extremely dangerous.

Short-term effects can include increased respiration, hyperthermia, irritability, tremors, convulsions, aggressiveness, high blood pressure, arrhythmias, chest pain, shortness of breath. Hyperthermia and convulsions can result in death. Single doses of methamphetamine have also been shown to cause damage to nerve terminals. Long-term effects can include addiction, stroke, violent behavior, anxiety, confusion, paranoia, auditory hallucinations, mood disturbances, and delusions. Long-term use can also cause damage to dopamine neurons that persists long after the drug has been discontinued. Strong nervous exhaustion and quick increase in tolerance is the result of methamphetamine use.

According to the estimation of UNODC amphetamine-type stimulants manufacture worldwide could have ranged between 330 mt to 770 mt in 2006 and methamphetamine is accounted for 68% of the amphetamine group.

Methamphetamine is mostly manufactured throughout East and South-East Asia, North America and Oceania because of high demand and precursors availability.

According to the data of World Drug Report 2008 issued by Office on Drugs and Crime (United Nations) trafficking in amphetamine-type stimulants end-products remains premarily an intraregional affair there is evidence of increasing interregional trafficking. Precursor trafficking is predominantly interregional and the majority of precursors are trafficked out of South, East and South-East Asia. Nearly 14 million of the world’s amphetamines users are considered to be in Asia and most of them are methamphetamine users in East and South-East Asia.

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