Methamphetamine.
What are some street names of methamphetamine? Some examples are Meth, Chalk, Speed, Crank.
What is meth? Meth is a highly addictive drug stimulant that speeds up the nervous system. It can make you restless, cause rapid speech, increase heart rate and more.
What does meth look like? Meth comes in multiple different ways. But, Meth is commonly found as a white powder or a pill. There is another form of meth called crystal meth. Crystal meth looks like white glass shards with a blueish tint.
How is meth used? Meth can be consumed and used in different ways. For example, it can be smoked using a glass pipe. However, you can also consume it by swallowing, snorting it or injecting it.
What influences adolescents/teenagers to use drugs and why? Teenagers can get influenced easily by different situations. Breaking it down using P.I.S helps. For personal, teenagers can be influenced by their own curiosity, to find a new high and more. Interpersonal affects a small group of people. A good one to look at for interpersonal is peer pressure.
Peer pressure is when someone tries to push you outside of your comfort zone to do something that can harm you, harm others or do something that isn’t the best decision. Some people who can pressure you can be your friends, distant family members or your significant other.
Societal can be how actors show the high of the drug. Other things can be from music/music videos, ads, influences talking about it and more.
What are the positives and negatives associated with the use of this drug? Taking methamphetamine has a lot more negative impacts than positive impacts. Some of the positive effects of methamphetamine is the high feeling, using it to cope, feeling happy and hyper and more. With all of the positive effects of meth, they are all short term. Meaning that after a while, these symptoms and impacts will slowly fade away.
Looking at the negative impacts of meth, there are a lot more impacts than the positive ones. One of them – and the biggest one being the risk of addiction. Meth is a highly addictive substance, If you do develop an addiction of meth, it can lead to serious health problems. Things like permanent damage to blood vessel, lung damage or maybe even a stroke.
What are the laws or restrictions of your chosen drug and what are the penalties? In New Zealand, meth is classified as a “Class A drug” – which is the dangerous class of drugs you can take. Meaning it is highly illegal to make, supply, use or have meth. Possession of this drug can lead to a maximum penalty of 6 months imprisonment OR a $1,000 fine. But, with things like selling or manufacturing meth can lead to a maximum penalty of life in prison.
What strategies would you suggest to a person between the ages of 13-18 about things that they could do to keep themselves safe around your chosen drug? For starters, I would advise them to not take meth. Due to the fact it’s highly addicting, bad for your mental and physical health and more. But, if they were to try meth, I would say to make sure you are in a safe environment. Meaning that at least one person should be sober, an adult is near in case something bad does occur and it is in a place where you know you’re guaranteed to be safe – like your house, your friends house ect.
Decision Making
Using this scenario, answer a- d. You can do this in paragraph format or create your own boxes.
Scenario: It is the start of interval; you receive a text. The text is from your friend. Your friend tells you to meet them at the back of the field to use meth with them.
- State what 3 options are that you have in this scenario.
- Explain what the consequences are of each of these options. (Positive and negative consequences of each option are higher-level thinking.)
- c. Explain what the feelings are that a person would have based on each consequence. (Positive and negative consequences of each option are higher-level thinking.)
- d. What is the best option for you to take? State why taking this option is the best option for the 4 areas of wellbeing.
| Tell a staff member a student has drugs at school. | Your friendship with this friend can stop because you told a staff member. (NEG)
Everyone stays safe and sober during school. (POS) |
You feel sad about impacting your friendship with your friend.
You also might feel worried about getting called “the class snitch”. |
|
| Politely decline the offer and find someone else to hangout with. | You stay sober at school and find a better group of friends to hangout with (POS)
You couldn’t find anyone else to hangout with, so you have to sit by yourself. (NEG) |
You feel proud of yourself because you didn’t cave in and take the drugs.
The morals you hold are still not impacted, meaning you don’t feel as much guilt as you would if you were to say yes to the drug. |
|
| Cave in and take the drugs. | You found a new way to relief stress and the new “high” (POS)
You get caught being high at school, leading you to get stood down. (NEG) |
You feel a sense of guilt about taking meth during school.
Even though the high lasts, when it crashes down you might feel sorry, sad or even disappointed in yourself. |
The best option would be option number two. Option number two is the best because it keeps you safe mentally and physically since you didn’t take meth during school hours. This reduces the negitive outcomes and effects that meth could have over your overall health. This option also maintains your taha whanau because you are not allowing the situation becoming worse and affecting your friendship with this friend. It also supports your taha wariua because your staying true to your personal beliefs, values and morals.
Overall, choosing option two helps your hauora by making responsible decisions that does not negatively impact your wellbeing, health, relationships and values.