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what makes meth so addicting?

C

cookieweirdness

Bluelighter
Joined
Dec 7, 2000
Messages
127
I've been wondering what actions does meth have on the brain that make it so addictive, especially when smoked? Why does it the residual effects sometimes last for weeks at a time? I mean, meth is not anywhere near the BEST high in the world, at least not to me.
 
well, meth causes a massive release of newly synthesized catecholamines like norepinephrine, epinephrine, and dopamine, and blocks the reputake of these neurotransmitters...dopamine is linked to the "addiction" center of the brain, however, it is far more complicated than that..serotonin is also involved....
at high doses, meth also stimulates the release of serotonin, this probably also accounts for the addictive qualities.
now if you are smoking meth, you are smoking "ice"...Ice is the smokable form of meth, its like the "crack" of meth. Ice is particularly addictive because it is almost immediately absorbed into your blood stream...and it's 90 to 100% pure methamphetamine...it's different than crack in that it lasts for many hours, its half life is 12 hours...
 
This isn't coming from a pharmacological standpoint, but I believe part of the reason that meth is so addictive is that it's so easy to function on it. Not only is it fun, you can use it to stay up, study, whatever. It doesn't stop you from going through your daily routine, like many other drugs do.
BTW, all meth is smokeable.
 
So much misinformation! First of all, Ice is not meth, it's a completely different drug--4,Methyl-Aminorex or Euphoria. Second, because of its low vaporization temperature ALL crystal meth can be smoked no matter what the purity is. It is true, however, that smoking meth can more easily lead to addiction because the high is slightly shorter and because it gives an immediate "rush" that snorting doesn't provide.
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"All great things must first wear a terrifying and monstrous mask in order to inscribe themselves on the face of humanity"
-Nietzsche
 
*I* did not give *any* misinformation...Ice *is* the smokeable form of methamphetamine....Ice is the free base form of methamphetamine..only in this state can it be effectivly vaporized and inhaled in smoke.
I don't know where you are from, but different areas have different "terms" for drugs...but "Ice" *is* the smokable form of meth.
http://www.mninter.net/~publish/photo85.htm
http://www.streetdrugs.org/ice.htm
http://www.emory.edu/NFIA/brain/effects/ice.html
http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/concern/meth.htm
http://www.drugs.indiana.edu/publications/iprc/factline/ampet.html#ice
http://www.nida.nih.gov/ResearchReports/methamph/methamph3.html
 
Djmm, the free base form of methamphetamine is oily liquid in room
temperature. Methamphetamine-HCl is readily volatilized upon heating
at 300 degrees C. There can be formed some pyrolysis products (especially
when meth is mixed with tobacco), like amphetamine, N-cyanomethylmethamphetamine,
and phenylacetone.
 
Djmm - Yes you did and you're making it worse with every post. Methamphetamine "freebase" is an oily liquid that needs further processing to even be active. It CANNOT get you high until it is salted out. ALL I repeat ALL methamphetamine Hcl can be vaporized (smoked). And Ice is NOT meth it's 4,Methyl-aminorex commonly called Euphoria. Look it up 4,Methyl-aminorex U4Euh.
www.erowid.org
------------------
"All great things must first wear a terrifying and monstrous mask in order to inscribe themselves on the face of humanity"
-Nietzsche
[This message has been edited by Dr Gonzo (edited 13 December 2000).]
 
PAY ATTENTION..*we are talking about two different drugs*...again, I'm talking about "ICE", as in the smokeable form of methamphetamine...
http://www.mninter.net/~publish/photo85.htm http://www.streetdrugs.org/ice.htm http://www.emory.edu/NFIA/brain/effects/ice.html http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/concern/meth.htm http://www.drugs.indiana.edu/publications/iprc/factline/ampet.html#ice http://www.nida.nih.gov/ResearchReports/methamph/methamph3.html
I am completely aware of 4-methylaminorex, it may be called ICE, but that is not what I'm talking about, "Euphoria" is a serotonin neurotoxin/tryptophan hydroxylase inhibitor like MDMA.
 
oh yeah....did you even bother to look at any of the links?
 
Here's where you're misinformed: ALL I repeat ALL Methamphetamine is smokable...period! And Meth is an acid (Hydrochloride) not a base. The "freebase" is only a step in the manufacturing process. This has been dicussed many times before and PhreeX and many others will back me up. So you may call Meth "Ice", but that ain't what it is. Ice is 4,Methyl-ameinorex!
------------------
"All great things must first wear a terrifying and monstrous mask in order to inscribe themselves on the face of humanity"
-Nietzsche
 
OK I have a chemistry question stemming from this discussion. If crystal methamphetamine is methHCl and powder cocaine is cocaineHCl, what is MDMAHCl? Is this what's found in pills or is MDMA somehow a crystal freebase at room temperature?
P.S. thanks guys for trying to clear up the "smokeables" discussion.
- Citrus
P.S. what is the stuff that people CALL "Ice" - that looks closer to clear or waxy shards than powder? I doubt its U4EA since this is not a really well known drug, so is this just a differently-compressed or differently-prepared form of methHCl?
 
Yes I did. They are wrong. There is NO I repeat again NO such thing as Methamphetamine "smokable freebase"!!! All meth hcl is smokable, you just have to vaporize it (such as in a lightbulb or on aluminum foil).
------------------
"All great things must first wear a terrifying and monstrous mask in order to inscribe themselves on the face of humanity"
-Nietzsche
 
About those links from djmm:
djmm, do u really expect the DEA website and other proapaganda spouters to have accuarate information about drugs????!!!! Their stock-in-trade is vagueness and misinformation!!!!!!
- Citrus
 
AGAIN..."EUPHORIA" is a much newer drug than methamphetamine...can we agree on this?
Proof: http://www.erowid.org/chemicals/4_methylaminorex/4_methylaminorex_timeline.php3
Methamphetamine use started many years before that and "ICE" (as in the freebase form of meth) started in Hawaii, and spread to Japan, where it's called "shabu"
Euphoria is also called "ice"...but that isn't the drug I was talking about
obviously you didn't read the links, you continue to tell me that *I* am wrong, when in fact, and I quote from erowid:
"It is important to know that the slang term 'ice' is also used to refer to methamphetamine. "
here is the link http://www.erowid.org/chemicals/4_methylaminorex/4_methylaminorex_faq.shtml
are you going to tell me "ICE" is only "Euphoria" now??
are you going to actually READ the links I have posted?
Next time, try reading the entire post, including the relevant links *before* responding
 
I'm not denying that some people use the term "Ice" as slang for meth. My point is that there is NO SUCH THING as "smokable freebase" methamphetamine. Meth is an acid not a base, the base is an oily liquid that is merely one step in the manufacturing process. And by the way, your links are propaganda not scientificly based. I will no longer argue this but ask PhreeX, ask NYTFLY ask anyone on here you feel is an authority...they will tell you that "smokable freebase" of meth does not exist! All Methamphetamine Hcl is smokable! Trust me I used to smoke Meth the way others smoke pot...regularly. I rest my case you remain misinformed.
------------------
"All great things must first wear a terrifying and monstrous mask in order to inscribe themselves on the face of humanity"
-Nietzsche
[This message has been edited by Dr Gonzo (edited 13 December 2000).]
 
OK I agree that U4EA was called ice much later than methamphetamine. However, I think the disagreement is this: you say there is such a thing as a freebase form of smokeable methamphetamine that resembles clear-to-waxy shards or rocks and because of its resemblance to ice, some call it ice.
Dr. Gonzo and DrugDustbin say that there is such a thing as a freebase form of methamphetamine, but it is an oily brown liquid that is simply called "freebase methamphetamine". Not that it is impossible to smoke, just difficult due to being liquid at room temperature. The other form of methamphetamine, (methamphetamineHCL) is NOT freebase, but is smokeable and can appear in two forms: white powder that people call "crystal" and clear-to-waxy shards or rocks people call "ice". These are, however both exactly the same compound, methamphetamineHCl.
Correct me if I am wrong anywhere.
- Citrus
 
Citrus - You almost have it. The oily liquid that is the "freebase" of meth is not smokable; it is not even active. It will not even get you high until it is further salted out into the final product which is Methamphetamine HCl. It is useless until it is finished being manufactured. This final product can look like anything from powder to crystals to anything and it can all be vaporized (smoked). Some may use the slang term "Ice" for this, others call it "Glass". Whatever the slang is, it is an acid not a base and it can all be smoked. This ends my lecture on the science of Meth. And for those who care "Ice" usually does refer to U4Euh or 4, methyl-aminorex.
------------------
"All great things must first wear a terrifying and monstrous mask in order to inscribe themselves on the face of humanity"
-Nietzsche
 
OK cool - thanks for clearing that up Dr. Gonzo
smile.gif

- Citrus
 
Well, go back to Meth night school...
from one of my textbooks..
"A Primer of Drug Action: A Concise, Nontechnical Guide to the Actions, Uses, and Side Effects of Psychoactive Drugs."
by Robert M Julien, M.D., PhD.
and I quote verbatim...
"Like cocaine, methamphetamine (as the hydrochloride salt) is broken down at the tempertures that must be achieved for it to be vaporized for smoking. Howveer, when converted to its base, methamphetamine can be effectively vaporized and inhaled in smoke. Methamphetamine hydrochloride is used orally, by intravenous injection and by snorting; the base form (ICE) is administered by smoking."
"...Thus, ICE is to methamphetamine as crack is cocaine, the free-base, concentrated, high potencey smokable form of the parent compound."
when you get a medical degree and a phd in psychopharmacology, i'll take you seriously.
 
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