Ice, crank, methamphetamine, crystal, tweak, go fast otherwise known as crystal methamphetamine, is at epidemic levels in the United States. 1Meth is not only highly addictive, but is easily “cooked” into homes across the country. Unlike some drugs, which are derived from natural sources, methamphetamine includes a number of dangerous chemicals. These chemicals can include battery acid, rat poison, and motor oil. Methamphetamine is a subcategory of amphetamines. Amphetamines are synthetic amines, similar to the body's neurotransmitters: norepinephrine and the hormone epinephrine (adrenaline). Amphetamines stimulate the reticular activating system. This activation is transmitted to all parts of the brain. This process causes the user to become excited, alert, and hypersensitive to stimuli, such as sunlight. Like other amphetamine crystals it also causes an increase in brain activity, a decrease in appetite and a general sense of well-being, which can last for approximately 6-8 hours. Additionally, Crystal is a highly addictive stimulant that affects the brain, respiratory, circulatory, and central nervous systems. The crystal also influences the nerve synapses of the pleasure center by increasing the production of dopamine and blocking its reuptake. Dopamine is responsible for the "reward". This effect causes the user to experience a sometimes severe decrease in excitability and happiness regarding things that previously brought the user pleasure. The receptors become numb and extreme depression occurs. Due to this extreme depression the user is almost forced to resort again to relieve the depression. The user's tolerance level thus increases. Tolerance refers to the fact that through continued use of a drug, users often feel the need to increase the "dose"...... middle of paper ......ouse Publishing- 1999Altered States: A History of Drug Abuse in America, Princeton, NJ: Films for the Humanities, circa 1993, 1 videocassette (57 min.) Drugs and Behavior, Rebecca Schilit and Edith Lisansky Gomberg, page 62, SAGE Publications, Inc.- 1991 Narcotics Anonymous website, www.na.orgDrugs : Addiction, National Institute of Justice, CF Productions, Inc. Rockville, MD: National Institute of Justice, 1990? 1 videocassette (29 min.) Altered States: A History of Drug Abuse in America, Princeton, NJ: Films for the Humanities, c1993, 1 videocassette (57 min.) Narcotics Anonymous website, www.na.orgDrugs: Addiction, National Institute of Justice, CF Productions, Inc. Rockville, MD: National Institute of Justice, 1990? 1 video cassette (29 min.)