ABSTRACT
The clinical symptoms of methamphetamine use are primarily sympathomimetic in nature and are well documented in the literature on humans and animals (Tadokoro and Kuribara, 1986; Rothrock et al., 1988; Sachdeva and Woodward, 1989; DeVito and Wagner, 1989; Tohhara et al., 1990; Beebe and Walley, 1995; Ando et al., 1996; Ashizawa et al., 1996; Chuck et al., 1996; Logan et al., 1996; Peltier et al., 1996; Wolkoff, 1997). At low doses, methamphetamine causes generally positive effects, such as increased alertness, energy, euphoria, elevated self-confidence, persistent activity and work, increased talkativeness, increased sexual pleasure and hypersexuality, a sense of well-being, increased strength, and a loss of appetite. The ego-syntonic, pleasurable nature of methamphetamine intoxication explains its persistence as well as the addictive cycle that usually emerges.
