University Students And Meth: Bluelight's Dark Secret

University students are increasingly turning to methamphetamine, also known as meth, as a study aid. Students report that the drug helps them stay awake and focus on their work, allowing them to cover more material in a shorter period of time. However, there are concerns about the potential negative consequences of using meth in this way. Some students report that they only use meth occasionally, for special occasions like finals and exams, while others acknowledge that it has become a regular habit. The potential for addiction is a significant risk, and students also report negative side effects such as loss of memory, weight loss, and increased anxiety and aggression. Despite these risks, the pressure to perform well in university may be driving some students to turn to meth as a study aid.

Meth as a study aid

Methamphetamine, or meth, is a highly addictive stimulant that has been reported to be used by university students as a study aid. While some students claim that it helps them stay awake and focused, others warn of its potential dangers and negative side effects.

Effectiveness as a Study Aid

Some students report that meth can be an effective study aid, allowing them to stay awake and focused for extended periods. One student claims that it helped them "cram 6-8 hours of homework into about 4 hours of time". Another student mentions that they can "remember a lot of shit when revising", but cautions that the information seems to be "all gone" the next day.

Administration and Dosage

When using meth as a study aid, oral administration is generally recommended as it provides a less intense high and seems to last longer. The dosage should be carefully monitored, as too much meth can lead to increased distraction and an inability to focus. One user suggests starting with a "good bump", which refers to a small amount of the drug, and increasing the dosage gradually until the desired effects are achieved.

Potential Dangers and Side Effects

While some students have found meth to be an effective study aid, others warn of its potential dangers and negative side effects. Meth is highly addictive, and regular use can lead to dependence and withdrawal symptoms. One student shares their experience of struggling to organise themselves and meet academic requirements without the drug, eventually leading to them dropping out of college.

In addition to the risk of addiction, meth use can also cause various physical and mental health issues, including cardiac problems, lack of sleep, skin sores, increased aggression, anxiety, psychosis, and depression. It is important to note that the negative consequences of meth use may outweigh any potential benefits as a study aid.

Alternatives to Meth

Some students have found alternative substances to be effective study aids. One student mentions that regular amphetamine, also known as speed, works wonders for them. Another student suggests trying Adderall, a prescription medication used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy. It is important to use these substances with caution and follow the advice of a medical professional to minimise potential risks.

Meth overdose

Methamphetamine, often referred to as "meth" or "crystal meth", is a potent and highly addictive substance that can have severe and harmful effects on the brain and body. It is a stimulant drug that is sold illegally on the streets, though a much weaker form is sometimes prescribed to treat narcolepsy and ADHD.

A meth overdose can be acute (sudden) or chronic (long-term). An acute overdose occurs when someone accidentally or intentionally takes a large amount of the drug, leading to life-threatening side effects. A chronic overdose refers to the health effects in someone who uses the drug regularly.

Signs and Symptoms of a Meth Overdose:

• Overheating or heat stroke: Red, hot, dry, cold, pale, or clammy skin.
• Heart attack: Chest pain or discomfort, radiating pain down the arms or to the neck, jaw, back, or stomach.
• Stroke: Restricted blood flow to the brain, causing a sudden and severe headache, blurred vision, loss of balance, and difficulty speaking or understanding speech.
• Seizure: Restlessness, inability to control movements, unconsciousness, and convulsions.
• Difficulty breathing: Slow or no breathing, snoring or gurgling sounds, blue or gray lips or skin.
• High body temperature: Blurred vision, dizziness, fast breathing or heart rate, fatigue, headache, excessive sweating, fainting, low blood pressure, muscle aches, nausea, and vomiting.
• Kidney damage: Bubbly or frothy urine, bloody or dark urine, extremely itchy skin, breathing difficulties, swelling in the legs or feet.
• Hypertensive crisis: Very high blood pressure that causes organ damage.
• Cardiac arrest: The heart stops beating, leading to death within minutes if CPR is not administered.
• Psychosis and paranoia: Delusional thinking, hallucinations, strong paranoia, agitation, depression, fear, or aggression.

What to Do in Case of a Meth Overdose:

• Call 911 immediately and seek emergency medical assistance.
• Try to wake the person up if they are unconscious.
• Start CPR if they don't wake up and check for a pulse.
• Give naloxone (Narcan) if you have it, especially if you suspect opioids are also involved.
• Cool down the person with cold towels, fans, ice packs, or by moving them to a cool room.
• Encourage them to sip cool water or suck on ice.
• Stay with the person until emergency services arrive and answer any questions from the dispatcher or paramedics honestly.

Preventing a Meth Overdose:

• Avoid using methamphetamine altogether.
• If using, do so with people you trust in a safe environment.
• Carry naloxone, as opioids are a common factor in drug overdoses.
• Don't hesitate to call 911 if you suspect an overdose—emergency services can save lives.

Meth addiction

Methamphetamine (meth) is a highly addictive synthetic psychostimulant drug that affects the central nervous system. It is also known as crystal, speed, zoom, go, crank, tweak, ice, glass, rock candy, shizzo, yaba, fire, uppers, poor man's cocaine or shards.

Meth gives users a "rush" of enhanced well-being, heightened libido, increased energy, and appetite suppression. It floods the brain with dopamine, the feel-good chemical responsible for pleasure, reward and motivation. However, when the high wears off, users experience a severe crash, sleeping for days afterward. Meth addiction is a vicious cycle, and once a person develops a tolerance to the drug, it takes more and more to achieve the same stimulating effect.

Meth can be swallowed as a pill, injected, snorted, or smoked. It can look like shards of glass or a bitter-tasting powder, ranging in colour from clear to pink, or off-white to brown.

The long-term effects of meth use are profound and can include:

• Irreversible damage to blood vessels in the brain
• Birth defects
• Profound weight loss
• Cardiovascular issues, including cardiac arrhythmia, myocardial infarction, stroke, and seizures
• Extreme and unhealthy weight loss
• Death

Meth and sex

Methamphetamine (meth) is a highly addictive psychostimulant that increases sexual desire, arousal, and sexual pleasure. It is associated with risky sexual behaviour and an increased prevalence of HIV and other STIs.

Meth increases sexual desire, and this greater desire results in risky sexual behaviour. A study by Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers found that the more intense the sexual arousal, the more likely participants were to shift their stated preference for using a condom to more risky snap decisions to have unprotected sex. The study also showed that the greater the increase in sexual desire, the less likely it was for the person to want to wait for a condom.

A study in Long Beach, California, found that men who used both meth and Viagra had higher rates of hepatitis B, syphilis, and HIV. The meth was reported to be taken right before or during sex in most cases. Another study found that Viagra is used more by MSM than by heterosexual men, and there is some finding that heterosexual men who take Viagra are more likely to have insertive anal intercourse with women, which may be associated with heterosexual HIV transmission from men to women.

In a forum post on Bluelight.org, a user describes their experience with meth:

> "When I do meth all I want to do is have sex - jacking off, sucking cock, etc... it makes me super super horny. Love it."

Another user describes their experience:

> "Nowadays I limit my dosages. Don't get me wrong. I love the tree people and the mysterious voice of nobody from the other room, but I got shit I have to do. What do I do while high on meth? Everything I would do as I would if I was sober."

Meth and hallucinations

Methamphetamine, or meth, is a highly addictive stimulant drug that can induce psychosis and hallucinations. While it is not possible to determine the exact number of university students who use meth, online forums suggest that it is a popular study aid among this demographic.

Meth-induced psychosis is a frequent complication, with an estimated 36.5-40% of meth users experiencing psychosis. This condition causes an individual to lose touch with reality, often resulting in visual and auditory hallucinations and delusions. The development of meth-induced psychosis can be acute or chronic and is influenced by factors such as pre-existing mental health conditions, sleep deprivation, and the amount of meth used.

Hallucinations are a common symptom of meth-induced psychosis, with users reporting tactile, auditory, and visual hallucinations. Tactile hallucinations, known as formication, involve feeling insects crawling on or under the skin. Auditory hallucinations include hearing voices, while visual hallucinations can cause users to see people or things that are not there. These hallucinations can be extremely distressing and may lead to compulsive scratching or picking at the skin, resulting in skin sores and infections.

The duration of meth-induced psychosis varies, with hallucinations typically lasting 1-2 days and other symptoms such as delusions and paranoia resolving within 2-3 weeks. However, some individuals may experience persistent psychosis for 6 months or longer, and the resumption of meth use, use of other substances, stress, or sleep deprivation can trigger a return of psychotic symptoms even after prolonged abstinence.

Treatment for meth-induced hallucinations typically involves acute psychiatric care to ensure the safety of the individual and others. This may include medications such as benzodiazepines and antipsychotics. Medical detox is often recommended to stabilize acute psychiatric conditions and monitor withdrawal symptoms, including psychosis and depression. Inpatient or outpatient drug rehab interventions, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and contingency management, can also be effective in treating methamphetamine use disorder.

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