Back With a Vengeance: The Reappearance of Methamphetamine and its Implications for Health Care Providers

Abstract

A great deal of attention has been placed on the opioid epidemic that the United States is currently experiencing; however, a resurgence in methamphetamine (METH) use has been occurring during the past 5 years. METH is an addictive stimulant that primarily affects the central nervous system by increasing dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin. Ranking second to opioids, METH use has had a significant impact on mortality, morbidity, and health-related costs and remains a serious public health problem in the United States. Individuals who use METH often use an emergency department or community-based organization for health care. Therefore, nurses and other health care providers must be knowledgeable about the harmful physical and psychological health effects of METH.