Recreational Drug Methamphetamine

In News: Sonali Phogat (Actor and a Politician) who was recently killed by giving the recreational drug methamphetamine on the eve of her death.

• She died after a heart attack caused by an overdose of methamphetamine.

The stimulant drug

• Methamphetamine — meth for short — is a powerful, highly addictive stimulant that affects the central nervous system, and is used to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy, a sleep disorder.
• Crystal methamphetamine or crystal meth is a form of the drug that looks like glass fragments or shiny, bluish-white rocks.

• It is chemically similar to amphetamine.
• Methamphetamine can be smoked, swallowed in the form of a pill or tablet, snorted, and injected after dissolving the powder in water or alcohol.
• Methamphetamine can lead to myocardial infarction (heart attack); it can cause stroke.
• The drug can affect the heart, the brain, and the kidneys. It can result in the blood pressure shooting up suddenly. So, it is a very dangerous drug if there is an overdose.

Effect on the brain

• Meth raises the amount of dopamine in the brain.
• Dopamine, a natural chemical, plays a role in body movement, motivation, and reinforcement of rewarding behaviours.
• The ability of the drug to rapidly release high levels of dopamine in reward areas of the brain strongly reinforces drug-taking behaviour, making the user want to repeat the experience.

Role in heart attack

• Methamphetamine on its own might not cause the heart attack but it can result in a cardiac arrest if consumed in an excess quantity.
• The recreational drug can lead to over sedation, which can affect the organs, including the heart.
• It affects the cardiovascular system by triggering blood vessel spasms and life-threatening spikes in blood pressure.
• It can also increase plaque in the arteries and rewire the heart’s electrical system.
• It leads to narrowing and spasms in the blood vessels, rapid heart rate (tachycardia), high blood pressure, and death of cardiac muscles.

Source: Indian Express

Previous Year Question

Q.1) Triclosan considered harmful when exposed to high levels for a long time, is most likely present in which of the following? (2021)

1. Food preservatives
2. Fruit-ripening substances
3. Reused plastic containers
4. Toiletries