Crystal meth is a highly addictive stimulant that affects dopamine levels in the brain, causing feelings of euphoria. Long-term use can lead to psychosis, aggression, impaired motor skills, decreased brain function, and irregular heartbeats. Meth users have a drastically reduced life expectancy of only 5 years after beginning use due to effects on brain, heart, and immune system functions.

1. The Effects of Meth On the Human Brain

2. Not Even Once

3. What is Crystal Meth? Crystal Meth (a-methylphenthylamine hydrochloride) is a highly addictive stimulant which is easily prepared in a small lab. Considered to be one of the most addictive substances in the drug world, crystal meth is consumed by smoking, snorting, ingesting or injecting.

4. How does it Work? Methamphetamine affects the brain's levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine. It blocks the reuptake of the drug causing excess amounts of dopamine to be stored in the brain. Dopamine is the neurotransmitter involved in the reward and pleasure centres of the brain. The excess amounts of dopamine give the use a rush and a sense of euphoria. The methamphetamine enters the neurons of the brain directly through the neuron membrane. This makes it highly effective.

5. The Long Run In addition to being a hard drug that presents intense results crystal methamphetamine can also cause unpleasant long-term effects. Some of which characterize long-time, chronic users (called "tweakers"). Chronic users can expect: extreme aggresion psychosis and hallucinations impaired motor skills decreased brain function irregular heartbeat drastic weight loss damaged skin (picking at imagined bugs) and ever-present risk of overdose

6. Wait! Imagined Bugs? Yeah. Imagined bugs. They're called Meth Mites.

7. Meth is Death Meth users have a life expectancy of just 5 years after they begin the drug. This is because of the decreased brain and heart function coupled with decreased immune system. This leads to increased risk of severe infection. Sadly, Meth use is on the rise due to people's addictions beginning after one try. Don't be a statistic!

8. Resources Inquiry into Biology- McGraw-Hill Ryerson http://www.drugabuse.gov/infofacts/methamphetamine.html http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/darkcrystal/facts.html The Montana Meth Project