That fact that child abuse is such a strong predictor of abuse speaks volumes about the problem. See what you think:

Meth abuse and Meth addiction, according to the National Institute of Health, impacts all Americans, because we all pay the cost for it.

Statistics show that Meth abuse and Meth addiction cost Americans over $484 billion annually. This figure includes healthcare costs (and abuses of that system), lost job wages, traffic accidents, crime and the associated criminal justice system costs.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, approximately 10 to 22 percent of car crashes involved drivers who have been using drugs.

Meth use and addiction is linked to at least half of the major crimes in this country, as at least half of the suspects arrested for violent crimes, such as homicide and assault, were under the influence of drugs when they were arrested.

Sadly, nearly two-thirds of people in Meth abuse treatment report that they were physically or sexually abused as children. Child abuse is a major contributing factor to Meth addiction.

Here are some facts that may surprise or sadden you about Meth abuse. As with most issues about addiction, there is much that is unexpected; the costs or much higher than expected and the causes are very sad. That fact that child abuse is such a strong predictor of abuse speaks volumes about the problem. See what you think:

Meth abuse and Meth addiction, according to the National Institute of Health, impacts all Americans, because we all pay the cost for it.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, approximately 10 to 22 percent of car crashes involved drivers who have been using drugs.

Sadly, nearly two-thirds of people in Meth abuse treatment report that they were physically or sexually abused as children. Child abuse is a major contributing factor to Meth addiction.

Here are some statistics from the U.S. Department of Health and Family Services concerning Meth abuse and addiction:

-- In 2006, an estimated 20.4 million Americans aged 12 or older were current (past month) illicit Meth users, meaning they had used an illicit Meth during the month prior to the survey interview. This estimate represents 8.3 percent of the population aged 12 years old or older. Illicit drugs include marijuana/hashish, Meth (including Crack), heroin, hallucinogens, inhalants, or prescription-type psychotherapeutics used non-medically.

-- In 2006, there were 2.4 million current Meth users aged 12 or older, which was the same as in 2005 but greater than in 2002 when the number was 2.0 million. However, the rate of current Meth use remained stable between 2002 and 2006.

-- Hallucinogens were used in the past month by 1.0 million persons aged 12 or older in 2006, including 528,000 who had used Ecstasy. These estimates are similar to the corresponding estimates for 2005.

-- There were 7.0 million persons aged 12 or older who used prescription-type psychotherapeutic drugs non-medically in the past month. Of these, 5.2 million used pain relievers, an increase from 4.7 million in 2005.

-- In 2006, there were an estimated 731,000 current users of Meth aged 12 or older.

-- Among youths aged 12 to 17, current illicit Meth use rates remained stable from 2005 to 2006. However, youth rates declined significantly between 2002 and 2006 for illicit drugs in general and for several specific drugs, including marijuana, hallucinogens, LSD, Ecstasy, prescription-type drugs used non-medically, pain relievers, tranquilizers, and the use of illicit drugs other than marijuana.

-- The rate of current marijuana use among youths aged 12 to 17 declined from 8.2 percent in 2002 to 6.7 percent in 2006.

-- Among persons aged 12 or older who used pain relievers non-medically in the past 12 months, 55.7 percent reported that the source of the Meth the most recent time they used was from a friend or relative for free.

-- In 2006, there were 10.2 million persons aged 12 or older who reported driving under the influence of illicit drugs during the past year.

Methamphetamine (Meth) is a highly addictive stimulant and is derived from its parent drug, amphetamine, which has limited medical purposes and drug addiction methamphetamine is common among those who use it.

Amphetamines were developed in the 1930’s for use in treating obesity and narcolepsy. In the case of obesity, amphetamine acts to curb appetite. In narcolepsy, a condition that causes excessive daytime sleepiness, amphetamine helps keep the patient awake. Amphetamine is also used in nasal decongestants and bronchial inhalers.

Meth, as we know it today, was once only found in Hawaii and some western states. The drug had been brought in from Asia. But the drug quickly found its way across the country, and statistics show that at least 10 million people have tried methamphetamine at least once.

Methamphetamine is classified as a Schedule II stimulant, meaning it has a high potential for abuse and addiction. It is a powerful central nervous system stimulant and works on the brain and spinal chord.

The drug interferes with the normal function of neurotransmitters, which are natural chemicals produced by nerve cells that communicate with each other to regulate thinking and all body systems. One of those neurotransmitters is called dopamine, which influences our natural reward system.

For example, we do a good job, we feel good about ourselves. We get pleasure from the company of others. We enjoy a soft summer breeze.

Methamphetamine increases the release of dopamine. That's why drug addiction methamphetamine is so common. In its legal form, the drug is only available by prescription and those prescriptions cannot be refilled.

Methamphetamine is highly addictive because of its pleasurable effect from the increased release of dopamine. Users become addicted quickly and as they continue to abuse the drug, higher doses are needed, and increased frequency of use.

Chronic abuse of this drug, will alter brain function by damaging neuron cell endings. The dopamine and serotonin neurons do not die, but the cell endings are cut back and while cells endings might grow back, that process is limited by the damage.

Drug addiction methamphetamine studies of the human brain have shown apparent changes in the dopamine system, and these changes are responsible for reduced motor skills and impaired verbal learning.

Methamphetamine use also contributes to changes in areas of the brain associated with memory and emotion. Chronic users have experienced serious emotional and cognitive problems directly attributed to drug addiction methamphetamine.

Methamphetamine gets to work quickly, even in small amounts, and persons using it may exhibit some of the following symptoms:

-Their heart rate may increase or become irregular; their breathing my be more rapid; their blood pressure may rise.

- Other side effects are anxiety, irritability, insomnia, tremors, a confused mental state, cardiovascular collapse and even death.

Chronic, long-term use produces anorexia, aggressiveness, paranoia, memory loss, hallucinations and delusional thinking. Long-term Methamphetamine use causes severe dental problems. Methamphetamine use also increases the risk of contracting HIV/AIDS and hepatitis.

If a user injects the drug, the HIV risk comes from used needles. But the drug is so intoxicating that users may be less inhibited and often engage in unsafe activities, such as unprotected sex.

Methamphetamine users who have HIV, experience an increase in neuro-injury and cognitive impairment, compared to HIV patients who do not use drugs.

The pleasurable effects of Methamphetamine will wear off before its concentration in the blood is reduced, so users will try to keep the “high” going by taking more.

The powerful lure of the drug keeps the user occupied, often for days, going without food and sleep. This is known as a “run” and that binge leads to a crash. Because of the binge and crash, users lose their sense of reality, as any health concerns are abandoned by the urge for the high. With no sense of time, no awareness of danger, people can literally throw away their lives using this drug.

The media runs stories from time to time about raids on the small illegal labs that produce methamphetamine. The drug is manufactured using common chemicals that can be purchased legally.

In recent years, for example, there was a crackdown on over-the-counter cough medicine because those legal medications were being used to produce methamphetamine. The portable labs are small and can fit into a suitcase.

Illegal operations are set up in home kitchens, basements, garages, hotel rooms or just about any small, private space. However, the labs are also very dangerous, as explosions are not uncommon. These dangerous manufacturing operations are started because a few hundred dollars in materials can lead to thousands on the street. Those who profit from the misery and misfortune of others figure it’s a risk worth taking.

The drug has many street names including meth, speed, crank, chalk, go-fast, zip, tina and cristy.

Methamphetamine hydrochloride is the form of the drug that is smoked, and some of its nicknames include L.A., ice, crystal, 64 glass and quartz.

The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NASDUH) reported in 2005 about drug addiction methamphetamine, that 10.4 million people aged 12 and older had tried methamphetamine at least once. The rate of annual and 30-day use of the drug had not changed from 2004 to 2005, but the number of people who had tried the drug at least once had declined from 4.9 to 4.3 percent.

There have also been reported dramatic decreases in the illegal methamphetamine labs, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration. However, there have been reported increases in the smuggling of larger amounts from Mexico and a much more pure form of the drug.

Meth Addiction Facts Meth Addiction Facts Meth Addiction Facts Meth Addiction Facts

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