One of the major problems facing the United States today is the use of illegal drugs. One of the fastest growing illegal drugs is methamphetamine. Methamphetamine, also commonly known as methamphetamine, is “the label given to a homemade substance that is produced (typically) in rural laboratories using fertilizers, cold compresses, and household acids” (Armstrong, 2007, p. 427). When produced, it is commonly seen as a white powder or crystal, has no discernible odor, and has a pungent taste (McKinley & Fink III, 2006). There are several ways you can consume methamphetamine. This may include the product being smoked, inhaled, ingested, or injected via needles (McKinley & Fink III, 2006 & O'Connor, Chriqui, & McBride, 2006). Methamphetamine is a central nervous system stimulant (O'Connor et al., 2006). This particular drug affects the pleasure sensors in the body by accelerating them to an extreme level (Siebel & Mange, 2009). Methamphetamine causes the brain to receive an abundance of dopamine, a chemical responsible for feelings of reward (Siebel & Mange). According to the authors, the brain of a methamphetamine user can receive over one thousand percent of normal levels of dopamine. This abundance of joy, commonly known as a “high,” can typically persist for eight hours up to twenty-four hours. After prolonged use, tachyphylaxis takes effect (Watanabe-Galloway, Ryan, Hansen, Hullsiek, Muli, & Malone, 2009). This happens when the user does not get the same effect they previously received from a particular dose (Watanabe-Galloway et al.). According to the authors, solving this problem requires the user to increase the dose of methamphetamine. After a user continuously consumes methamphetamine, he or she begins to lose the ability to experience pleasure… middle of paper… Health, 28(8), 758-768. doi: 10.1177/0748233711425070Siebel, T. M. & Mange, S. A. (2009). The Montana meth project: "Unselling" a dangerous drug. Stanford Law & Policy Review, 20(2), 405-416. Walters, J. P. (2005). Methamphetamine: A national response. The Chief of Police, 72(3). Retrieved from http://www.policechiefmagazine.org/magazine/index.cfm?fuseaction=display_arch&article_id=566&issue_id=42005Watanabe-Galloway, S., Ryan, S., Hansen, K., Hullsiek, B., Muli, V. & Malone, A. C. (2009). Effects of methamphetamine abuse beyond individual users. Journal of PsychoactiveDrugs, 41(3), 241-248. Witter, R. Z., Martyny, J. W., Mueller, K., Gottschall, B. & Newman, L. S. (2007). Symptoms encountered by law enforcement personnel during meth lab investigations. Journal of Occupational & Environmental Hygiene, 4(12), 895-902. doi: 10.1080/15459620701693516