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Review
. 2015 Mar 1;20(2):e205-10.
doi: 10.4317/medoral.20204.

Methamphetamine abuse and "meth mouth" in Europe

Carlo De-Carolis  1 , Geraldine-A Boyd, Luca Mancinelli, Stefano Pagano, Stefano Eramo
Affiliations
Review

Methamphetamine abuse and "meth mouth" in Europe

Carlo De-Carolis et al. Med Oral Patol Oral Cir Bucal. .

Abstract

With easy chemical synthesis from its precursor, methamphetamine (MA) is now widespread in many countries. The abuse of methamphetamine is associated with several negative effects on health, because MA is a neurotoxin and a dangerous central nervous system stimulant. It changes levels of neurotransmitters in the brain, releasing dopamine and inhibiting nor epinephrine uptake which increases sympathetic nervous system activity and can lead to cardiac arrhythmia, hypertension and tachypnea. The consequences of MA abuse are clearly manifested in oral diseases (like "meth mouth") which is characterised by extensive caries, teeth grinding with ensuing dental wear and trismus. The present review was designed to fill the gap in knowledge about methamphetamine abuse in the European Union (EU) and to illustrate the main clinical effects of prolonged use. After describing the pharmacology and systemic effects of methamphetamine and concentrating on its effects on the mouth, the present review compares the epidemiology and incidence of abuse in the world, particularly the USA and the EU.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest statement: The authors have declared that no conflict of interest exist.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
A clinical case of initial “meth mouth” in a young drug addict.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Formula and molecular structures of methamphetamine (panel a) and its precursors ephedrine (panel b), pseudoephedrine (panel c) and 1-phenyl-2-propanone (panel d).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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