Methamphetamine is a highly addictive stimulant that influences and affects the central nervous system in the body. Methamphetamine can be made in high tech labs or can be produced in homes using over the counter ingredients. This combined with its very addictive nature is what has created widespread abuse across the United States. The other aspect of this drug that makes it so widespread is that it can be found as a prescription drug given to people diagnosed with ADHD, under the brand name Desoxyn, or as a street drug such as crystal meth.
Effects of usage
Methamphetamine comes in many different forms and can be used in a variety of ways. They can be smoked, injected, snorted or orally ingested.
Methamphetamine is generally used in a binge and crash sort of mechanism. This is because the euphoric feelings that a methamphetamine produces will disappear even before the drug content in the blood lowers significantly, therefore users will try to maintain a high by taking more of the drug. Many times a user will go for days binging with the drug, not sleeping or eating, just to maintain a high.
Smoking crystal meth has become more and more prevalent in the recent years, due to the fact that the drug has a very fast uptake when it is taken in this wise.
However these drugs are taken, they generally have similar effects on the user. Immediately after injecting or smoking crystal meth, the user will experience an intense rush that lasts for only a few minutes. This rush is generally described as being very pleasurable and euphoric. After this initial rush, the person will experience a high that can last up to 16 hours, at which point the person will use again in order to achieve a similar high.
The physical effects that crystal meth can have on the body are striking, with many users permanently damaged after using for a significant period of time. The reasons for this lie in the destructive chemicals that this drug is made 
out of. Crystal meth for instance, is a combination of various amphetamines and chemicals such as battery acid, antifreeze, lantern fluid and drain cleaner.
This drug when taken over time creates various physical defects in the body including constriction of blood vessels, tissue damage that can be seen externally, sores take longer to heal, skin appears lackluster, tooth decay, skin picking brought on by hallucinations of having bugs crawling under the skin, etc.
All of these side effects create very obvious signs of someone abusing crystal meth and add years onto someone’s appearance.
Treating methamphetamine addiction
The nature of the drug makes it one of the most addictive drugs that exist. Many users will experience intense highs that require the use of more drugs in order to get back to that high. As with most drugs, after awhile the person develops a tolerance for the drugs and needs them just to be happy in life. It is at this point that the cycle of addiction has kicked in and the person is using more drugs in order to satisfy their cravings.
Unfortunately the problems don’t end there, with the drugs being continually used to solve the problems of not being happy, the person becomes more and more dependent to the point where this becomes their only focus in life.
The only way out of this dwindling spiral of existence is through an effective drug rehabilitation program. However, most users of a drug like meth will not be able to see this for themselves and will need the help of those around them to get into a proper rehab.
The right rehab for someone in this condition is a long-term, residential program that will address all aspects of addiction, both physical and mental aspects. This way when they go back to their previous life, the physical and mental triggers that are present don’t affect them and they are able to get on with a productive and happy life without the use of meth.
The Narconon program covers each aspect of addiction and works to get to the root of the problem that started the person on the path to drug abuse in the first place.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/meth/body/
http://www.drugabuse.gov/drugs-abuse/methamphetamine