Profoundly psychological

EDITOR'S NOTE - "The Faces of Meth" is the final part of a three-part series that focuses on the growing problem of methamphetamines and the devastating effect that its use has on people's physical and mental health. A number of physicians and other healthcare professionals from Methodist Medical Center have contributed to this series of these articles.

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"Fire," "ice," "crystal," "crank," "meth" - whatever we call it, methamphetamine is a highly addictive, illegal and deadly drug. It can be produced with relative ease using over-the-counter ingredients, and it gives users a more intense high or feeling of euphoria than they get with cocaine. People smoke, snort, inject or take meth orally. There have been reports of users placing it in food and chewing it, as well. The high may last six to eight hours, and the depression that follows is severe.

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