Amphetamines/Methamphetamine

What is amphetamine/methamphetamine?

• Methamphetamine is a central nervous system stimulant¹
• It can be injected intravenously, snorted, smoked, or taken orally¹
• Physicians may also prescribe it in low doses for the treatment of attention deficit disorders or narcolepsy¹
• Amphetamines function by increasing the release of certain neurotransmitters including norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin²
• Use of amphetamines result in increased alertness, euphoria, exhilaration, and increased inhibition²
• Methamphetamines are a more potent form of amphetamines³
• Effects of methamphetamine include euphoria, increased wakefulness, and increased energy³

What are the medical consequences of amphetamine/methamphetamine use?

• Cardiac effects
       Cardiac arrhythmias^{2, 3}
       Hypertension^{2, 3}
• Insomnia^{2, 3}
• Seizures^{2, 3}
• Hyperthermia^{2, 3}
• Neurological effects
• Visual and auditory hallucinationsisual and auditory hallucinations³
• Mental health issues
       Mood disturbance
       Paranoia³
       Delusions³
• Decreased appetite⁴
• Dental problems⁴

What are the medical consequences of amphetamine/methamphetamine use in pregnancy?

• Placental abruption²
• Preterm birth²
• Decreased birth weight and size²
• Cardiac anomalies^{4, 5}
• Cleft lip and/or palate^{4, 5}
• Biliary atresia^{4, 5}
• Cerebral hemorrhage in neonate^{4, 5}
• Increased risk of neonatal death⁶
• Increased risk of developmental disorders in childhood like ADHD and oppositional defiance disorder⁷

1. Office of National Drug Control Policy.  Street Terms: Drug and Drug Trade.  Retrieved November 15, 2010 from http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/streetterms/. 
2. Lindsay, M.K. and Burnett, E. (2013). The use of narcotic and street drugs during pregnancy. Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology 56. 133-141.
3. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (2011).  ACOG Committee Opinion 479: Methamphetamine Abuse in Women of Reproductive Age.  Washington, DC: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. 
4. Drug Facts: Methamphetamine.  Retrieved January 15, 2014 from The National Institute on Drug Abuse Web site: http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/methamphetamine
5. Kuczkowski, K.M (2007).  The Effects of Drug Abuse on Pregnancy [Electronic Version].  Curr Opin Obstet Gynecol, 19, 578-585.
6. Good, M.M. et al (2010).  Methamphetamine Use During Pregnancy: Maternal and Neonatal Implications [Electronic Version]. Obstetrics and Gynecology, 116:2:1, 330-334
7. Lester, B.M., LaGasse, L.L (2010). Children of Addicted Women [Electronic Version]. Journal of Addictive Diseases, 29, 259-276. 

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