TIK (Methamphetamine) WHAT ARE THE FACTS? What is “TIK” “TIK” is the slang name given to the stimulant drug, Methamphetamine. This drug is a much more potent version of its parent drug, amphetamine. Amphetamine was first introduced into medical practice in the 1930s as a nasal decongestant but because of its abuse potential its accepted medical use is now limited to certain rare conditions. Also known as “speed “, “ice “, “crank”, “crystal straw ”, “chalk” or “tjoef”, “TIK ” usually appears as a white or semi-transparent, odourless, bitter-tasting crystals or powder which may have slight colour variations, depending on the chemicals used in its manufacture. It is often sold in cool drink straws. How is the drug used Smoked : The most common way of using the drug is by smoking. This is done with a custom made glass pipe or by heating the crystals inside a light bulb and inhaling the dense odourless smoke. Users also use aluminium foil for this purpose. The smoked drug reaches the brain in about 6 seconds. Injected : “Tik” can also be injected intravenously by dissolving it in water. Through this route it reaches the brain within approximately 15 seconds Snorted : The drug can also be snorted through the nose which produces effects after 3 – 5 minutes Oral ingestion : The drug can be placed in food and eaten in which case the effects are felt within 15 – 20 minutes. Smoking and injecting the drug produces an intense, short lived rush which may only last a few minutes. Snorting or eating the drug does not produce a rush but rather a long lasting high of several hours. So-called low intensity users (people who casually use the drug to acquire extra energy or stay awake, ie long distance truck drivers) usually swallow or snort the drug, whereas high intensity or “binge” users prefer smoking or injecting the drug. Short-term effects The effects may vary depending on the amount taken and how the drug was taken. Generally, the stimulatory effects include many readily observable symptoms: Increased wakefulness and alertness Increased physical activity – jerky movements and fast reflexes Rapid speech Irritability, aggression and argumentative Decreased appetite Dry mouth Tremors False sense of confidence and power The less observable, physical effects include: High blood pressure, increased heart rate, dilated pupils and dry mouth and increased body temperature. As the high starts to wear off, the user may experience pronounced negative effects such as irritability, extreme tiredness, anxiety and aggression. Long-term effects It is common for casual users to start “binging” on “ Tik “, that is, smoking or injecting more of the drug as soon as the effects starts to wear off. Tolerance rapidly develops so that the user needs to increase the dosage to experience the same effects. Continued use is however a dead end street : Each time the user smokes or injects more of the drug a smaller rush than the initial one is experienced until, finally, there is no rush and no high. Long term use produces intense psychological addiction characterized by compulsive drug seeking and drug use, accompanied by changes in brain chemistry. Some of the long-term effects of Methamphetamine use include: • Violent and aggressive behaviour • Ahedonia (little or no pleasure derived from former enjoyable activities) • Lung disorders • Weight loss and malnutrition • Sleep disturbances • Cardiac problems: inflammation of heart lining, damaged blood vessels • Psychosis: Intense paranoia, suicidal thoughts, delusions (e.g., the sensation of insects crawling under the skin) • Marked general physical deterioration. Is there any evidence of damage to the brain Researchers have reported as much as 50% of the dopamine producing cells in the brain can be damaged after long exposure to relatively low levels of this drug – dopamine is a chemical which plays a crucial role in our ability to experience pleasure. Although other studies have shown a partial reversal of methamphetamine damage to the brain, there is no question that this drug has fairly long-lasting effects on brain chemistry which result in depression and an inability to take pleasure in things once enjoyed. What are tell tale signs of a “Tik” factory Discarded storerooms, warehouses, garages and Wendy houses are all potential places where a “home cooking” device can be set up. Evidence of such activities may include : Used coffee filters, Pyrex containers, funnels, rubber tubing, tea strainers, discarded torch batteries and chemicals such as iodine, red phosphorous ( the striking pads of matchboxes ), drain cleaner and fertilizer. PLEASE NOTE : The by-products of methamphetamine manufacturing are extremely toxic and should not be handled. Clean-up operations should only be carried out by waste disposal professionals. Where to find help • Dept of Social Services…………………… 021 370-4800 • SANCA……………………………………….021 397-2196 • Cape Town Drug Counseling Centre……..021 447-8026 • Narcanon…………………………………….021 975-6591 • Narcotics Anonymous………………………088 130-0327 You can also approach your Imam or Church leader, Teacher , Doctor or Occupational Health Sister for assistance.
Posted on: Sun, 02 Feb 2014 10:56:55 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015