The effects of crystal meth on the brain

THEeffects of Crystal Meth on the brain

BY: Beatrice PERINI, GIORGIO TUrati and pietro vasconi

1. The brain2. The parts of the brain 3. Crystal meth 4. Where DOES it COME from 5. The effects of Crystal meth on the brain 6. Other sides effects

index

the brain

• The brain is a complex organ that controls thought, memory, emotion, touch, motor skills, vision, breathing, temperature, hunger and every process that regulates our body. The brain and spinal cord that extends from it comprise the central nervous system, or CNS.
• Weighing about 3 pounds in the average adult, the brain is about 60% fat. The remaining 40% is a combination of water, protein, carbohydrates and salts. The brain itself is a not a muscle. It contains blood vessels and nerves, including neurons and glial cells.

the parts of the brain

• Frontal lobe: The largest lobe of the brain, located in the front of the head, the frontal lobe is involved in personality characteristics, decision-making and movement.
• Parietal lobe: The middle part of the brain, the parietal lobe helps a person identify objects and understand spatial relationships (where one’s body is compared with objects around the person).
• Occipital lobe: The occipital lobe is the back part of the brain that is involved with vision.
• Temporal lobe: The sides of the brain, temporal lobes are involved in short-term memory, speech, musical rhythm and some degree of smell recognition.

CRYSTAL METH

• Crystal meth is the common name for crystal methamphetamine, a strong and highly addictive drug that affects the central nervous system. There is no legal use for it.
• It comes in clear crystal chunks or shiny blue-white rocks. Also called “ice” or “glass,” it's a popular party drug.

• Methamphetamine was difficult to make until 1919, when another Japanese chemist—Akira Ogata—streamlined the process.
• He used phosphorus and iodine to reduce the ephedrine into a crystallized form, creating the world’s first crystal meth.

Where DOES it COME from?

• A Japanese chemist first synthesized methamphetamine. Methamphetamine was used early on as a medical treatment for narcolepsy, asthma, and weight-loss drug.
• During World War II, the Allies and Axis powers both used the drug to keep troops awake. After the war, meth use increased dramatically, even after it was outlawed by the United States in 1970.

The effects on the brain

• Long-term meth addiction use can cause extensive damage to the body and brain, and some damage may be irreversible. Continued meth abuse can severely damage dopamine and serotonin neurons, affecting how a person feels, acts and thinks.

Studies show that methamphetamine can cause brain issues like:

1. Reduced mental flexibility
2. Impaired decision-making
3. Impaired verbal learning
4. Reduced motor speed
5. Structural changes associated with emotion and memory

• Meth abuse can also affect cells in the brain called microglia, which are responsible for cleaning up damaged brain cells and fighting infection. Meth has been shown to increase the activity of microglia, leading to the destruction of healthy brain cells.

Tempor Labore

The effects on the brain

Increased heart rate and blood pressure

Anxiety and paranoia

Insomnia

Damages your arteries by making them less elastic, which decreases the flow of blood and oxygen to your heart and leads to heart disease. I can also cause chest pain

Both can cause similar bodily feelings like racing heart or feeling nervous, but the thought processes for each condition are different.

It can limit what you're able to do during the day, affect your mood, and lead to relationship problems with friends, family and colleagues.

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