Update on methamphetamine: an old problem that we have recently encountered

Abstract

Methamphetamine is a substance chemically closely related to amphetamine with a greater potential for harm due to its greater potency and longer half-life (1). Among illicit stimulant drugs (cocaine, amphetamine, methamphetamine and 3 , 4 M e t h y l e n e d i o x y m e t h a m p h e t a m i n e ) , amphetamine has always been the more common one in Europe, but recent data show that the methamphetamine market is on the rise (2). Acute and long-term use of methamphetamine are associated with cardiovascular, pulmonary, neurological, and mental health problems, ranging from anxiety, aggression, and depression to acute paranoid psychosis. In addition, injecting the drug is a risk factor for infectious diseases (2). Methamphetamine seems to be more dangerous than other stimulants due to its acute complications, long-term neurotoxicity, and high potential for dependence. The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) considers the harm to public health caused by methamphetamine to be significant, even at low prevalence rates, due to its severe negative effects (3). History of Methamphetamine Use