Meth Madness
By Kara Dillon, RDH-E
Drug use in America is on the rise. Methamphetamine use
is one of the reasons. Areas of use for this particular type
of drug are small towns in the western, southwestern, and
midwestern U.S. states. Who uses methamphetamine drugs? It
is being used by blue collar, white collar, young and old.
Everyday families are torn apart by its deadly grip.
Methamphetamine
is a drug that is cheap and easy to make. It is easily
accessible and the high of meth can last up
to 12 hours versus 1 hour for crack cocaine. That’s
how powerful this dangerous drug is. Methamphetamine has
many street names including: Poor Man’s Cocaine, Meth,
Speed, Ice, Crank, and Crystal. It can be snorted, smoked,
injected or taken orally.
Many
different ingredients can be used to make this drug. Here
are just a few examples of
what are used to make meth: gasoline additives, rubbing
alcohol, ether, paint thinner, Freon, acetone, camp stove
fuel, ammonia,
table or Epsom salt, iodine crystals, red phosphorous,
drain cleaner, Red Devil Lye, lithium from battery acid,
cold tablets,
diet aids, and energy boosters – the list goes on
and on.
Can
you imagine why anyone would want these kinds of
things to enter their bodies? Peer pressure, desperation
for some kind of “fix”, something to make a
person feel invincible. All they have to do is try it once
or twice
and it can own their soul. This
drug is highly addictive and can cause severe health problems
to its user. Dental professionals are becoming more
and more aware of a condition known as “Meth Mouth.” This
condition is caused by chronic meth use and is characterized
by rampant decay of the teeth particularly near the gum line
and in between the teeth.
Meth
users typically crave high calorie drinks such as
soda pop which are very harmful to
the teeth. A side effect of the drug includes dry mouth
symptoms which pair up with poor oral hygiene contributing
to the
already rapidly forming cavities. Although many people who do not use methamphetamines heavily
drink soda pop, experience dry mouth, and do not take care
of their teeth properly, they also can get cavities. There
is a large difference with the meth users in that they have
a particular pattern of decay that can be noted by a dental
professional.
If
you know someone who is a meth user please urge them
to speak to their healthcare provider privately
about the dangers of meth use. There are many opportunities
today to help these people stop using drugs and live healthy
lives again. For personal information about yourself or your family,
please contact your dentist or healthcare provider. |
