By PATRICIA MEADE

By PATRICIA MEADE
VINDICATOR CRIME REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Meth users' nasty looking skin is a sign they're "rotting from the inside out," a recovery specialist says.
"They also pick at the skin, thinking things are crawling on them," clinical coordinator Gloria Hudnell said from her Lake Area Recovery Center office in Ashtabula. "They also complain about deterioration of their teeth, the teeth hurt, feel spongy because meth destroys the enamel."
Methamphetamine is a highly addictive synthetic stimulant made from household products and pseudoephedrine, the key ingredient in over-the-counter cold medicines.
Meth cooks typically make the drug in clandestine labs because of the smelly toxic ingredients, such as anhydrous ammonia, battery acid, lacquer thinner and so forth.
Hudnell said meth, with a variety of recipes, has many different levels of potency. The grades of meth are like ketchup -- generic and name brands, she said.
"We hear [from clients] that if it doesn't burn the nose it's not good," Hudnell said. "Some dealers sprinkle Ajax on it so it burns the nose."
The drug -- smoked, snorted or injected -- releases dopamine in the brain, generating intense pleasure. Chronic use causes paranoia and insomnia.
Treatment
Hudnell said the recovery center has roughly 25 clients now who used meth, some sent by court referral, others who sought treatment on their own. They'll stay 60, 90 or 120 days and participate in a 12-step recovery program.
"What we've heard from clients, one of the attractions to meth, opposed to other drugs, they say they always get the same high each time using the same amount," Hudnell said.
"We have found between meth and crack cocaine more recidivism with those using meth. They relapse, buzz along knowing they can work harder and everything seems OK. They don't want to crash. The body shuts down; they get a lot of headaches -- it's not exactly withdrawal, it's not life threatening."
Depleting dopamine out of the brain causes deep depression, 30 days after treatment the depression sets in, Hudnell said.
No drugs are given to aid in recovery, she said.
meade@vindy.com