Crystal Meth Can Lead to IV Drug Use

A Canadian study involving 395 young people living on the street in Vancouver found a link between methamphetamine and IV drug use. The new study found an increased risk of injecting drugs with crystal meth use.

Researchers observed people, ages 14 to 26, over a five year period; participants had used meth but had not injected. During the course of the study, 16 percent started injecting drugs for the first time. Crystal meth was most commonly used in the first injection, Health Day reports.

“Addressing the impact of crystal methamphetamine use in increasing the risk of injection initiation among injection-naive street-involved youth represents an urgent public health priority,” study co-author Dr. Evan Wood of the University of British Columbia said in a news release.

People begin using methamphetamine due to it similar properties to cocaine. However, meth lasts longer and is much more intense than cocaine. The drug is often made in crude laboratories with caustic chemicals that reside in the final product.

The use of crystal meth is known to cause erratic, violent behavior among its users.

The drug's effects can include:

• Suppressed Appetite
• Insomnia
• Mood Swings
• Unpredictability
• Tremors
• Convulsions
• High Blood Pressure
• Irregular Heart Rate
• Paranoia
• Homicidal or Suicidal Thoughts
• Anxiety

The findings are published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

Related articles

• Crystal Meth May Jump-Start Injection Drug Use, Study Says (news.health.com)
• Crystal methamphetamine use increases risk of injection initiation among injection-naive street-involved youth (medicalnewstoday.com)