Mental health professionals at River Edge Behavioral Health Center in Macon are seeing a growing number of people suffering from the effects of methamphetamine abuse.

"We have seen an increase in methamphetamine cases," said Jim Riley, addictive disease program director. "In the1980s crank was big in the middle Georgia area. At that time, the core group of the recovery community of addicts was crank addicts. Then crack cocaine came along and it changed the whole picture. Methamphetamine has been on the rise again for the past few years."

Methamphetamine goes by many names -- meth, crank, poor man's cocaine, crystal, ice, glass and speed. "These are all amphetamine derivative type drugs," Riley said. "A dozen years ago ecstasy came out as fashionable party drug, giving a greater and longer high."

"All of these speed-type drugs can cause seizures, convulsions or heart attacks," Riley said. And methamphetamine can kill by causing heart failure (myocardial infarction), brain damage, and stroke. It can also induce extreme, acute psychiatric and psychological symptoms that may lead to suicide or murder.

"You can be a young 20-year-old and overdose. In these street doses you don’t know what you are getting. They cut the drug with other things. It may be watered down or laced with strychnine, or get a high concentration."

Methamphetamine is an addictive stimulant drug that strongly activates certain systems in the brain. Methamphetamine is closely related chemically to amphetamine, but the central nervous system effects of methamphetamine are greater. Both drugs have some medical uses, primarily in the treatment of obesity, but their therapeutic use is limited.

In addition to the possible deadly effects of methamphetamine, River Edge counselors warn that the risk from injecting drugs is tremendous, including exposure to Hepatitis C, and the chance of AIDS from sharing needles.

River Edge Behavioral Health Center provides substance abuse treatment in Bibb, Monroe, Jones and Twiggs Counties. It provides services annually to some 6,500 residents with mental health issues, developmental disabilities and addictive diseases.

Methamphetamine is made in illegal laboratories and has a high potential for abuse and dependence. The Georgia Legislature is considering a child endangerment bill that includes penalties for parents who make methamphetamine in home-based labs, exposing their children to the fumes.

Methamphetamine abuse tends to be a binge use, Riley said. "They will start taking meth on Friday afternoon and stay up all through the weekend and crash Sunday. They get in trouble with families or absenteeism increase at work. They are getting in trouble the same way alcoholics are."

"Methamphetamine users suffer a chemically induced depression," Riley said. "They are crashing, down, depressed and irritable as they go through withdrawal. They suffer from loss of money, poor judgement, job absenteeism, and fights with family."

Today’s rise in methamphetamine use is part of a cycle that had faded in the mid-1980s, Riley said. "Narcotics and alcohol are here to stay, and although amphetamine drugs have always been around, it tends to cycle in and out as a stylish trend," Riley noted.

River Edge provides detoxification for methamphetamine users. "We can safely detox a person in three to five days," Riley said. "It gets them through the roughest part, and then we get them into counseling or into a residential or outpatient program."

If you or a loved one need help in overcoming problems of substance abuse or dependence, call and talk to a River Edge Behavioral Health Center counselor at 478-751-4519 (in Monroe County call 478-994-7600).

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