Methamphetamine history

Anglin, M.D., Burke, C., Perrochet, B., Stamper, E., Dawud-Noursi, S. History of the methamphetamine problem. J. Psychoactive Drugs 32 137, 2000. 

Alhassoon, O.M., Dupont, R.M., Schweinsburg, B.C., et al. Regional cerebral blood flow in cocaine-versus methamphetamine-dependent patients with a history of alcoholism. Int. J. Neuropsychopharmacol. 4 105, 2001. 

Hitler s tremendous paranoia, lack of compassion and judgment, and violent and aggressive tendencies are often attributed to his repeated use of methamphetamine. These personality changes may have ultimately helped change the course of World War II and history itself. 

Ephedrine has not been extensively studied in humans despite its long history of use. Its ability to activate 3 receptors probably accounted for its earlier use in asthma. Because it gains access to the central nervous system, it is a mild stimulant. Ingestion of ephedrine alkaloids contained in ma huang has raised important safety concerns. Pseudoephedrine, one of four ephedrine enantiomers, has been available over the counter as a component of many decongestant mixtures. However, the use of pseudoephedrine as a precursor in the illicit manufacture of methamphetamine has led to restrictions on its sale. 

Mosedale, Mike. Meth Myths, Meth Realities. City Pages, vol. 24, May 14, 2003, n.p. Also available online. URL http //www.citypages.com/databank/ 24/1171/articlell254.asp. A comprehensive and vivid account of the history and realities of methamphetamines, among the most widely abused and dangerous illicit drugs in the United States today. The article includes... 

Ephedra has a long history of legal use in the United States and around the world. Today, the laws that apply to ephedra cover sales, formulation, and labeling by manufacturers they do not outlaw its use by consumers as with street drugs such as marijuana and cocaine. Because ephedrine can be used to manufacture methamphetamine, companies that sell bulk ephedrine and ephedrine tablets are subject to laws... 

The GC/MS procedures for methamphetamine are described in Table 4. The papers published in Japanese - have corresponding reports in English. - - Methamphetamine was detected and determined by mass fragmentography in rat hair after administration of the substance. Nine methods also detected the metabolite amphetamine or amphetamine alone. Suzuki et al. determined methamphetamine also in nail, sweat and saliva. The workup (EX after acid or alkaline hydrolysis) and derivatization technique (methanol-trifluoroacetic acid [TEA]) is rather uniform in most procedures. Nakahara et al. ° used methoxyphenamine excretion into beard hair to discuss several washing procedures. Alkaline or methanolic extraction are used with one exception. Derivatization is mainly made by fluorinated anhydrides. A review ° gives details on analytical procedures, incorporation rates of amphetamines from blood to hair, and relationship between drug history and drug distribution in hair. 

Moriya, R, Miyaishi, S., and Ishizu, H., Presumption of an history of methamphetamine abuse by postmortem analyses of hair and nails a case report, Jpn. ]. Alcohol Drug Depend., 27,152,1992. Nakahara, Y., Kikura, R., Takahashi, K., and Kunoma, K., GC/MS analysis of drugs and metabolites in hair for diagnosis of chronic methamphetamine abuse, Adv. Chem. Diagnos. Treat. Metab. Disord., Matsumoto, Ed., London, 1994,187. 

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