Lesson Plan of the Month
(September 1998)

Topic:   Methamphetamine			Target Group:   High School

Prepared By:   David M. Pabst	Agency:   Colusa County Sheriff's Dept.

Address:   929 Bridge St.			Phone:   (530) 458-0200
                  Colusa, CA 95932
________________________________________________________________________

Objectives:

	The student will identify what methamphetamine (crank) is and the effects it 
	can have on the body.
	The student will be able to name different types of stimulants and understand 	some of its uses.
	The student will recognize signs of a suspected user or dealer, and know what 
	not to do.

Introduction:

	My name is David M. Pabst.  I am a deputy sheriff with the Colusa County Sheriff's Department.  I have worked in law enforcement for two years.  Previously, I worked in major narcotics undercover operations with federal, state, and county task forces, fourteen years in the marine corps involving drug interdiction, and worked with confidential informants dealing with drug buys.  Today, I'm here to talk with you about the uses and abuses of methamphetamine.

Body:

I.	What is a drug?  Is it just a bunch of letters and numbers?
	A.	The defined version is:  Any substance whose chemical make-up 		interacts with the chemical make-up of a living organism in a way that 		alters the physiological and/or psychological behavior of the organism.

II.	What does that mean?
	A.	Drugs are used to treat illness and for pleasure.

III.	C6H5CH2CH(CH3)NHCH3 (Draw on blackboard)

IV.	Methamphetamine is another name for:
	A.	Speed, meth, bennies, beans, crank, black beauties, co-pilots, 		crossroads, thrusters, pep pills, uppers or ice.

V.	What other names does it go by?
	
VI.	Effects of the drugs vary greatly, depending on the size and purity of the 	dose, the way it is taken into the body, the frequency of use, the social setting, 
	and the expectations of the user.

VII.	Several ways crank could be used	
	(Show any appropriate videos)
	A.	Taken orally (injected by mouth)
	B.	Smoke it (inhale) ....Clinton
	C.	Snort it (up the nose) ....Marion Barry
	D.	Inject it (needles)

VIII.	If taken orally the effects would be: (Have volunteer act out effects as you 
	read very quickly)

	If you take meth by injection or smoke it, it delivers the drug to the brain 	within seconds and it could be too much for the body to handle.  Here's what 	could happen.
	- Increased heart rate, breathing rate and blood pressure
	- Dilated pupils
	- Agitated, argumentative
	- Decrease in appetite
	- Dry mouth and lips
	- Grinding teeth, sweating
	- Headaches, blurred vision
	- Euphoria, sleeplessness
	- Anxiety, excessive activity
	- Touching and picking at extremities
	- Rapid or irregular heartbeat
	- Tremors, dizziness
	- Loss of coordination
	- Convulsions, brain damage
	- Coma
	- Death

VIX.	Another form of crank is methylinedioxymethamphetamine; better known as 	"ice" or crystal meth.  They form crystals like rock candy.  Ice will have 
	a lasting effect for 12 hours or more, but paranoia and psychosis can last up 
	to 48 hours.  You are the primary age group.

	Ice is dangerously addictive.  It can drive you into a binge on ice, as you 	desperately try to escape the crash.  You can hallucinate well after the drug 
	has lost its effect.  Extended use of these drugs destroys up to 50% of your 	brain cells that regulate emotions and movement.
	
	Signs of use would include: (Volunteer)
	- Stimulated movement and speech
	- Feelings of excitement and euphoria
	- Increased energy
	- Decreased appetite, nausea
	- Lack of sleep
	- Irritability, nervousness
	- Irritability, blood pressure and heart rate
	- Dry mouth, sweating
	- Burnt fingers/vent pipe

	With long term or excessive use:
	- Mental confusion
	- Severe anxiety
	- Aggressiveness, violence
	- Weight loss
	- Diarrhea, vomiting
	- Increased agitation and irritation
	- Visual and audio hallucinations
	- Paranoia
	- Lethargy
	- Tremors
	- Chest pain
	- Hypertension
	- Cardiac arrhythmias
	- Elevated body temperature
	- Convulsions
	- Cardiovascular Collapse
	- Death

Review:

Meth and ice are drugs that effect the body chemistry in several bad different ways.  People abuse crank and could possibly end up dead.  Different names are used to associate the drug (crank, ice, uppers, meth, etc.).  There is just no good reason to take this drug.  Just say no.

Practice:

Verbally ask what they learned or test students by having them list the different names of the drug, effects and signs of use.  Don't think of people who use drugs as cool, think of them as those who are making the wrong choices in life.  Make today the day you decide to say no to drugs for the rest of your life.  


Documentation and/or Sources:

1.  	National Drug & Safety League, 1996, Confusions About Alcohol and other      	Drugs.   p. 26-27
2.	Livermore Public Library, CA Attorney General, Drugs and Youth, Video 	Tape.
3.	CFS Publishing Corp. by Orlo Otteson and John Townsend, 1983, Kids and 	Drugs
4.	Livermore Emergency Care Unit, One Syringe and Precision Guide Need
5.	Optomotrist-Volponi, John T. For Dilating Right Eye For Visual Effect.
6.	Plastic Baggies With What Appears To Be Methamphetamine. (Actually, it's 
	just dirt)