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Joshua Holdaway

Journal 1 Meth

Explain in a paragraph what is Meth? How is made? Meth is a drug that stimulates the brain

creating dopamine. Meth was used during World War 2. Meth is made by mixing an assortment

of chemicals and cough medicine. Made in a lab setting with extracting chemicals from all

different things.

How does it work in the brain? Meth can have many long lasting effects on the brain. Long term

use of meth can alter the way the brain processes and remembers memories. Which can lead to

mood swings, violent behavior and paranoia.

List a few acute effects. Some acute effects of meth include increased wakefulness and physical

activity, Decrease in appetite, Cause a variety of cardiovascular problems, such as rapid heart

rate, Increased blood pressure and an elevated body temperature.

List and explain 3 chronic effects. Psychotic Behavior. Heavy long term use of meth can lead to

behavior including paranoia, aggression, hallucinations and delusion. Some users have even

reported feeling as though insects were crawling beneath their skin.

Behavioral Changes. Some meth users became far more aggressive under the influence of meth,

while others become socially isolated as their addiction worsens. This can lead to issues in

personal relationships, as well as legal troubles and even incarceration due to violent episodes

stemming from meth use.

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Increased Sickness. As meth use increases the body’s ability to defend itself from various

illnesses quickly decreases. This can lead to becoming sick more frequently and other physical

consequences that can include liver damage, heart disease, stroke, coma and even death.

Discuss the criminal activities of the cartels ,and the global impact on families, society and

governments. Drug cartels have a very big negative impact on on society and governments.

Cartels Increase the murder rate and drug trafficking. If governments sided with cartels that

could have a great negative impact on the way society would work.