FEATURE ARTICLE Methamphetamine: Putting the Brakes

ABSTRACT: In only recent history, illicit use of methamphetamine, once isolated to urban areas on the West Coast, has spread into rural areas of the Midwest and southern United States. Al-though past and current methamphetamine legislation has increased penalties for methamphet-amine manufacturers and tightened restrictions on sales of known precursors, the problem still persists. In fact, a 2004 survey indicates that an alarming 6.2 % of high school seniors have tried methamphetamine. A number of biological, genetic, and environmental factors influence chil-dren’s and adolescents ’ paths to substance abuse. Nurses should recognize the symptoms of meth-amphetamine abuse, which include agitation; aggressive behavior; rapid mood swings; hyperten-sion; tachycardia; and eventually lesion-marked skin, clinical depression, and paranoid psychosis. Treatment for methamphetamine addiction includes behavioral therapy. Research on pharmaco-logic therapy is lacking. Educating youth on methamphetamine prevention appears to be the best approach to curb the spreading use of this addictive and deadly drug. KEY WORDS: drug addiction, illicit substance, methamphetamine, substance abus