2023-04-19 04:00:09
- The use of methamphetamine in Mexico began in 2013 in the northeastern states.
- Its consumption causes decreased appetite, loss of sleep, acceleration of heart rate and euphoria. In the long term, they suffer memory impairment, fatigue, heart problems, anxiety, serious dental complications, depression and psychosis, and even death.
- Almost half of the consumers (46 percent) started using it between the ages of 18 and 25.
In Mexico, the consumption of Methamphetamines represent a major public health problem. and as a high-impact drug it ranks first, even above alcohol. The Undersecretary of Health, Hugo López-Gatell Ramírez, stated this clearly, adding that they cause damage to health and put people’s lives at risk.
With this in mind, the official stressed that methamphetamines are “one of the clearest expressions of addictions, in which behind it there is a social, emotional, exclusion, displacement and loss of alternatives problem, especially for youth.”
Consequences of methamphetamine use
Also present is emotional pain, psychological trauma related to violence and abuse within the family, community and in life experiences. This generates a vicious circle of social deterioration that leads to the false exit door of the consumption of psychoactive substances.
Methamphetamines are used by injection, snort, smoke, or drink. They cause decreased appetite, loss of sleep, rapid heart rate, and euphoria, with a false sense of well-being that leads to addiction and dependency. In the long term, people suffer memory impairment, fatigue, heart problems, anxiety, serious dental complications, depression and psychosis, and even death.
He explained that methamphetamines are highly addictive synthetic stimulants derived from amphetamines. They are also known on the street as “cristal”, “crico”, “azul”, “hielo”, “anfeta”, “meta”, “ice” and “speed”, among other names.
Methamphetamines, a public health problem
Its use began around 2013 in the northeastern states. While by 2021 the use of methamphetamines spread to practically the entire national territory.
Nearly half of methamphetamine users (46 percent) started using between the ages of 18 and 25. Those who have used tobacco, alcohol or marijuana are more at risk of resorting to psychotropic substances.
López-Gatell reported that the Línea de la Vida telephone number 800 911 2000 is available, which works 24 hours a day, seven days a week, where people can receive information and guidance on mental health and addictions, since it has trained personnel from the National Commission against Addictions (Conadic), the Psychiatric Care Services (SAP) and the Technical Secretariat of the National Mental Health Council (STConsame).
Also available is the QR code of Contacto Joven, a collaborative effort between the Mexican Youth Institute (Imjuve) with the mental health and addiction services of the Ministry of Health and organizations such as the Youth Integration Centers (CIJ) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef).
He recalled that, as part of the “If you get high, you get hurt” campaign of the Secretaries of Public Education and Health, there is the following site that works as a repository for specific information on methamphetamines, fentanyl and other psychotropic substances.
Also read:
Chart of the day: The most consumed drugs during the pandemic
Anxiety and depression, the most frequent causes that trigger drug use in Mexico
Poor diet has greater health risk than drug use: FAO
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