The Road to Boarding School

The road to a boarding school for troubled teens usually begins simply enough. The stolen alcohol, the pills swiped from Mom’s purse, the marijuana easily available in the halls at school. And it may end there if the teen recognizes the danger or finds that the “high” makes him sick or uncomfortable. But sometimes the teen finds his only peace in that high. Sometimes that high is the only escape that the teen knows. And if that high is meth, that teen has started down a long and treacherous road. Educate yourself and your teen about the dangers of meth. “The drug is often used to produce a cheaper and longer-lasting high than another popular stimulant: cocaine. Because cocaine is a natural/synthetic stimulant, it breaks down in the liver, giving the user a 20- to 30-minute high.

Methamphetamine Abuse

Meth, on the other hand, is entirely synthetic, completely bypassing the breakdown in the liver and heading straight to the kidneys. Therefore, a regular user can achieve a six- to 12-hour high. According to the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, meth activates the central nervous system immediately after it is smoked, snorted or injected. A cascade of dopamine, a pleasure-giving chemical, floods the brain, creating a sense of euphoria. However, the crash comes quicker than cocaine, leading to an increase in violent and antisocial behavior. Meth also builds a quicker resistance in users than alcohol or marijuana, requiring more of the drug to achieve the same high, according to the DEA. The drug can also increase sexual arousal. Recent federal studies have shown that high usage of meth can be tied to an increased possibility of a sexual transmitted disease. Those who don’t use for several days begin “tweaking” undergoing detoxification of the body. They are often are victims of auditory, visual and tactile hallucinations. Users also become less likely to pay attention to personal hygiene, leading to rapid tooth decay. Their kidneys’ function becomes severely impaired and the chance of heart attack or stroke nearly doubles.” (Unknown Source) By Ann Walker