Methamphetamine abuse: an overview for health care professionals

Methamphetamine is a stimulant and drug of abuse. Its use has shown a recent reemergence nationwide, most notably in Hawaii. Much of this increase is accounted for by smokable crystallized methamphetamine "ice". Its acute effects include cardiovascular and psychiatric disturbances. Chronically, structural and functional brain damage may occur. Psychosis may occur acutely or chronically, and sometimes even in abstinent patients.