Drug abuse is a serious problem in American and throughout the world. In recent years there have been increases in the abuse of certain drugs such as methamphetamines. The purpose of this discussion is to explain the increased use of specific drugs in recent years. Let us begin by discussing the increased used of methamphetamines.

             Methamphetamines.

             Over the past five years methamphetamines (meth) has become the drug of choice for many Americans. The intriguing thing about methamphetamines is the addiction to this class of drug is just as likely to effect a stay at home mother as a wayward teenager. According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse communities across the nation have to grapple with the increased use of methamphetamine (Communities across the country, 2005). The article explains that Methamphetamine is a long-lasting powerful stimulant drug. Meth can be smoked, injected, swallowed or snorted (Communities across the country, 2005). The article reports that it is usually used with other drugs. The drug produces a euphoric feeling and releases dopamine (Communities across the country, 2005). The article explains that .

             "When dopamine is liberated in such high concentrations, it can damage dopamine cells. Indeed, several studies in laboratory animals have corroborated this. In humans, imaging studies have shown that methamphetamine abusers show abnormalities in dopamine function resulting in impairments in movement and cognitive function that are similar, though of a lesser severity, to those seen in patients with Parkinson's disease. The good news is that unlike Parkinson's disease, where the damage to the brain cannot be reversed, with protracted abstinence from methamphetamine, there is some return of function. This further highlights the importance of instituting treatment for methamphetamine abusers to maximize their chances of a successful recovery (Communities across the country, 2005).