Presents the history and physical properties of methamphetamine, physiological effects of the drug, use among teens, information about addiction and recovery, and the legal ramifications of involvement with the drug.

Methamphetamine (METH) abuse has become a major public health problem world-wide, as demonstrated by increases in the number of emergency room visits, substance abuse treatment episodes, and arrests attributable to METH manufacture and abuse. However, there are currently no pharmacological treatments for the wide range of symptoms associated with METH abuse. One of the reasons for this problem is that our knowledge of the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the development of METH-induced psychosis and dependence is limited. This book presents a review of the recent findings on METH abuse in humans. First by describing the background and physiological effects of METH in humans. Next, by discussing the clinical findings on METH abusers derived using brain imaging techniques (single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), positron emission tomography (PET), magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)). Finally, by reviewing the potential therapeutic approaches for the treatment of METH abusers.

A man is accused of attempted murder of a former crystal meth addict. He claims he shot in self-defense, responding to the extremely aggressive behavior the victim was exhibiting. How will this play out in court? Most likely, the prosecution and the defense will call various expert witnesses - perhaps neurologists, psychologists, pathologists - each with testimonies based on their own theoretical viewpoints, but none with a truly comprehensive knowledge of the background and effects of methamphetamine (MA) use. This will cause confusion, complexity, and their testimonies may not comply with Daubert standards. Written by a multidisciplinary team of experts, Methaphetamine Use: Clinical and Forensic Aspects examines MA use and abuse from clinical, forensic, and criminal justice perspectives. It is the first to cover virtually every aspect, reviewing the history, pharmacology, pathology, physiology, treatment, and evidentiary value of MA and its use. It addresses Daubert considerations and victim/witness credibility, competency to confess and to stand trial, criminal responsibility, extreme emotion as mitigation to murder, and dangerousness. It also details statutes and case law to represent perspectives of both the prosecution and the defense. Growing in popularity more than any other illegal drug, methamphetamine has been shown to produce a paranoid psychotic state, which may recur months or years after use. Methamphetamine Use: Clinical and Forensic Aspects provides a comprehensive, critical survey of the current knowledge and policies regarding the use and abuse of this dangerous and ubiquitous substance.

Separating myth from fact, this authoritative work reviews the breadth of current knowledge about methamphetamine addiction and describes the most promising available treatment approaches. Leading experts present state-of-the-art information on the effects of methamphetamine on the brain, body, mental health, and behavior. Psychosocial and pharmacological treatment strategies are critically evaluated, including approaches to treating dually diagnosed clients. Written in a concise, accessible style, the volume emphasizes that recovery is possible, despite the significant challenges the drug poses. The authors identify key avenues for collaboration among clinical, public health, and other professionals.

Methamphetamine not only destroys the lives of those who become addicted to it, but affects all corners of society, including innocent children. This important book follows the case of rural Illinois, where in the mid-1990s methamphetamine production and misuse became a significant problem and, as a result, child welfare professionals saw an influx onto their caseloads of children whose parents were involved with the drug. The authors' account of the problems the children face, and of the efforts to help them, sheds useful light on possibilities for many other situations. Applying a case-based, mixed-methods approach that capitalizes on rich qualitative data, the book examines parental methamphetamine misuse from a sociocultural perspective. Using extensive child welfare investigation data, participant observation, and in-depth interviews, the authors describe the perilous home lives of rural children whose parents misuse methamphetamine, where they are exposed to maltreatment, criminal behavior, and environmental danger. Many children end up with significant emotional and behavioral problems, especially posttraumatic symptoms, that will stay with them for years. Based on this descriptive information and the existing clinical literature, the authors designed a relationship- and narrative-based mental health program, "Life Story Intervention," that draws on rural communities' strengths, such as their storytelling traditions. Pilot data from the program, shared here, suggests some positive results of the intervention on children's psychological functioning. Eradication of the problems caused by methamphetamine abuse will require years more of concerted effort and collaboration such as that described in this book. Social work and child welfare professors and students, researchers, practitioners, and policy-makers will find inspiration in this account of the success that can result, with this issue and others, when practitioners and researchers join forces to understand complex social phenomena and design, implement, and assess effective interventions.

The definitive book on the impact of methamphetamine on individuals, communities, and society by two of America's leading addiction and criminal justice experts. In recent years, the media have inundated us with coverage of the horrors that befall methamphetamine users, and the fires, explosions, and toxic waste created by meth labs that threaten the well-being of innocent people. In Methamphetamine: Its History, Pharmacology, and Treatment, the first book in Hazelden's Library of Addictive Drugs series, Ralph Weisheit and William L. White examine the nature and extent of meth use in the United States, from meth's early reputation as a "wonder drug" to the current perception that it is a "scourge" of society.In separating fact from fiction, Weisheit and White provide context for understanding the meth problem by tracing its history and the varying patterns of use over time, then offer an in-depth look at:the latest scientific findings on the drug's effects on individualsthe myths and realities of the drug's impact on the mindthe national and international implications of methamphetamine productionthe drug's impact on rural communities, including a case study of two counties in the Midwestissues in addiction and treatment of meth.Thoroughly researched and highly readable, Methamphetamine offers a comprehensive understanding of medical, social, and political issues concerning this highly impactful drug.Written for professionals and serious lay readers by nationally recognized experts, the books in the Library of Addictive Drugs series feature in-depth, comprehensive, and up-to-date information on the most commonly abused mood-altering substances.