Methamphetamine: Will I be (scientifically) busted?

Discussion in 'Biology & Genetics' started by kca47, Apr 9, 2014.

  1. kca47 Registered Member

    Messages:
    1
    I'm sorry for disrupting your academia with my silly dilemma but I really would appreciate some scientific reassurance on this:

    Been off meth for 45 days. Was really tempted to do it the other day, was with a sex bud but didn't do it. Then he said 'blow some meth on my d***' and without thinking, I took a puff and blew out the smoke on his d***. I don't think I actually breathed it in but nonetheless, I feel worried. I had a probationary urinalysis 40 hours after the wretched test.

    Scientifically, just how much meth could I have absorbed from that one puff? Would it be possible for it to have not been flushed out from my system within the 40 hours? Considering meth's half-life (ooh, look at me go!) of 11 hours, and the miniscule amount I was exposed to, am I screwed?
     
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  3. Kittamaru Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. Adieu, Sciforums. Valued Senior Member

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    First and foremost, welcome to the forums.

    With regards to your initial question, I cannot say for sure; I am no chemistry or biology expert.

    What I would say though... or rather, what I would ask; what prompted you to dabble with drugs in the first place? I ask not out of any kind of intent to preach about how bad they are or such things, but rather simple curiosity. I myself have never so much as smoked a cigarette, though in part that is because of my asthma, much less used any other drugs. I worry more about what pushes you to use such substances, mostly because the underlying cause could be a deeper issue that needs resolved.

    I would also say that you are at a MUCH higher chance of relapse if you are around people still using such substances; I would like to congratulate you on going 45 days without using, as that in itself is an accomplishment, but would also warn you to shy away from such situations where you may be more tempted to use (old habits and all that).
     
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  5. Fraggle Rocker Staff Member

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    You've never drunk coffee, tea, cola, eaten chocolate, or ingested any other source of caffeine? You've never drunk an alcoholic beverage?

    Alcohol, caffeine and nicotine (strictly a New World crop until recently) are the oldest psychoactive drugs in wide usage. Alcohol, at least, was known in the Paleolithic Era.

    And... alcohol, caffeine and nicotine are arguably the most dangerous of all drugs because of their physical and/or psychological effects. (If you don't think caffeine belongs on that list, follow me--a perpetually recovering caffeine addict--around for a couple of days, and learn to duck.) The vast majority of users of cannabis, cocaine and even opiates, on the other hand, have only minor, fleeting ill effects--if any. And all of these popular drugs have legitimate pharmaceutical uses.

    You're an asthmatic who has never used marijuana to relieve your symptoms? What country do you live in??? That was the first prescribed use of the drug in the USA--in other countries it was glaucoma. "Medical marijuana" is not a joke! It saved the life of a friend's son, restoring his appetite after chemotherapy.

    Most of my friends are left-brained folks who spend all day thinking analytically. Marijuana apparently dampens left-brain activity and allows them to write poetry, paint, make music or simply wrestle with the dog when they get home.

    Geeze, Kitta. You generally come across as such a modern guy, but here you are stuck in the 1930s. Are you totally unfamiliar with the concept of recreation? That's why these are called recreational drugs! The "underyling cause" you're looking for is simply having fun. Maybe you should try that some time.

    Methamphetamine was invented in Germany at the end of the 19th century, and was widely used as a stimulant by the Axis armies in WWII. It was widely prescribed as a diet pill in the USA in the 1950s and 60s.

    As I've noted before, the major reason that so many new or newly-rediscovered drugs are so popular is that the shit-for-brains government is cracking down on marijuana, inarguably the first choice of most recreational drug users. Now that drug-testing has been invented (and wouldn't we all like to put that asshole in front of a firing squad) it's been discovered that the metabolites of marijuana remain detectable for weeks, whereas the evidence of most other drugs vanish in a day or two. Thus many people have been forced to switch to less-popular and (in some cases) more dangerous drugs in order to keep their jobs.

    I'm really getting exasperated with you drug warriors, since you invariably have studied only one side of the issue (and that usually from distorted government propaganda) and decided that the other side isn't even worth the courtesy of investigation. It's the alcohol, tobacco and pharmaceutical industries who don't want marijuana legalized, because it's a weed that grows wild in almost every environment and therefore impossible for them to monopolize and sell at an obscene profit.

    Relegalize marijuana and you'll have fewer drunk-driving fatalities. (Review Montana's experience after legalizing only medical marijuana--and no, stoned drivers are enormously safer than drunks.) You'll also see a vast decrease in the use of other now-cheaper illegal drugs, because marijuana is what people prefer. I wonder if KCA would be a meth-head at all if pot were $10 an ounce like it was in the 1960s?

    The government is not interested in our health and safety. They just want the corporations to make huge profits so they can parasitize their taxes.

    Please don't enable them.
     
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  7. Captain Kremmen All aboard, me Hearties! Valued Senior Member

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    Meth is up there with alcohol as a life wrecker.

    Trouble with alcohol is that a damaging amount is not much more than the effective amount.
    Half a bottle of wine a day will hardly get you drunk.
    A bottle every day will cause health problems.

    @kca
    As regards one puff triggering the test, you'll be able to tell us soon won't you?

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  8. cosmictraveler Be kind to yourself always. Valued Senior Member

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    News

    Study: Fatal Car Crashes Involving Marijuana Have Tripled

    February 4, 2014 9:14 PM


    SEATTLE (CBS Seattle) – According to a recent study, fatal car crashes involving pot use have tripled in the U.S.
    “Currently, one of nine drivers involved in fatal crashes would test positive for marijuana,” Dr. Guohua Li, director of the Center for Injury Epidemiology and Prevention at Columbia, and co-author of the study told HealthDay News.
    Researchers from Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health gathered data from six states – California, Hawaii, Illinois, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and West Virginia – that perform toxicology tests on drivers involved in fatal car accidents. This data included over 23,500 drivers that died within one hour of a crash between 1999 and 2010.
    Li reported in the study that alcohol contributed to about 40 percent of traffic fatalities throughout the decade.



    https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct...3ctDDaEoQ3eMS82PZIRwoCA&bvm=bv.64507335,d.b2I
     
  9. Captain Kremmen All aboard, me Hearties! Valued Senior Member

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    Got any dope on ya?
    It relaxes me when I'm driving
     
  10. skaught The field its covered in blood Valued Senior Member

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    4,103
    The thing about Meth, is that it is a stimulant. Because of this, it speeds up your metabolism. This is why the high is so short lived. Not only does it amp up your brain, but it amps up everything in your body, causing your body to quickly metabolize it and break it down.
    It is highly absorbable through the skin, and the membranes of your mouth, and usually the psychoactive substances are absorbed almost immediately. So more than likely, you got a good dose of it into your body.
    As far as I know, meth is water soluble, meaning it is absorbed into the water in your body, and flushed out through your urine and sweat. Therefore is is believed that drinking excessive amounts of water, peeing, and sweating a lot will help flush it out. Though this is not usually the case. It's half life is 11 hours no matter what you do.

    It may be a better idea for you to remove yourself from situations that tempt you to do it. This "sex bud" sounds like a pretty bad person for you to be around. And if sex is something that makes you want to use meth, you may want to consider abstaining from that for a while as well.

    Also considering that you were aware that you were having a urinalysis 40 later, and still used it (yes you did use it, claiming you didn't is rationalizing) then you may have a serious problem. Continuing in this type of behavior is not going to work in your favor.
     
  11. heytogi Registered Member

    Messages:
    38
    Well i'm alla for everything you preach Fraggle Rocker. I'm a beliver!
    And only a few of us see clear in what's going on with our governments. They dont want to care for us, but more to fill their pockets, so true!
    Thank you for sharing with everyone.
     
  12. Kittamaru Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. Adieu, Sciforums. Valued Senior Member

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    I apologize that I did not respond to this before, and I should have been more clear: I have never done any illicit/illegal drugs. Yes, I've had caffeine (and in fact only recently finished a rather unfun detox period to get myself off of my caffeine addiction) and alcohol and so on.

    For me, it isn't about the legality of it... I just don't like not being aware of what is going on around me. I've had a few things (such as Ambien) that left me so whacked-out and doozey that I couldn't remember anything from after I took it till I actually went to bed... we're talking an hour or two of my memory just blank. My reflexes while under that? Lets just say I've seen better reflexes on a corpse! It was horrid... I can't stand that feeling, so I stay away from anything that could cause it.

    Marijuana... I have no problem with them legalizing it; it is less dangerous than tobacco and causes less problems than alcohol... its illegality is a silly farce perpetuated by a silly system. Other drugs though, such as Meth or Coke... they can have some serious side effects... and that includes things like death. SO, yeah, not really thrilled about the idea of those being legalized (and yes, I am aware alcohol poisoning can kill you... but it's much harder to get that than it is to OD on something like cocaine... well, normally anyway, frat party antics... I don't want to talk about stupid stuff like that) While I would never partake of Marijuana for recreational purposes myself, I won't judge those that do - what they do is their deal... all I ask is that they respect me and not smoke around me, which I also ask of Tobacco users.

    Just for the record Fraggle... that was a bit harsh, and presumptuous, of you, especially the "drug warrior" bit. I have actually studied up on various drugs and their effects, mostly because I was intrigued by their effect on the human psyche, but I do understand your point - much like with guns, homosexuality, religion/atheism, and a host of other things, there is always "that crowd" that shouts loud as hell even though they are dumb as fuck to the facts.

    EDIT - and regarding marijuana being safer than alcohol when it comes to driving... yes, this is true. Alcohol has a far higher impact on your ability to react and judge things such as distance, speed, and direction than Marijuana... but you shouldn't be driving under the influence of either, because both affect your ability to be aware of what is going on around you, no matter how slightly.
     
  13. Fraggle Rocker Staff Member

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    24,690
    So when your state relegalizes mariojuana you'll be ready?

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    I've been trying to do that for 55 years. I think the problem is that I'm not really trying, especially as I get older. It sharpens my waning cognitive skills (especially short-term memory, the bane of all us elders) and also boosts my flagging energy in addition to a welcome improvement in physical strength and coordination. Unfortunately it ruins my sleep and doesn't do much for my personality.

    I've been hanging out with users of all the (then) popular recreational drugs for 40 years and no one's ever complained about not being aware of what's going on around him. They don't burn dinner, they don't leave the dog outside or forget to feed him, they don't miss any TV shows or forget they have concert tickets, they keep their appointments including the mundane ones such as trips to the supermarket. In other words, they are far more responsible than the average alcohol abuser!

    Well yeah. I guess you're too young to have had the slogan drummed into your head: Stick with the street drugs; the ones the government approves will destroy your life.

    I took valium for several years for insomnia, then switched to dalmane, and eventually I realized that I was not at my best during my waking hours. Being a former math-major, I looked up the half-life of the benzodiazepines in the PDR and resolved the infinite-series. If you take 10 mg once a day, after a few days you will have about 35mg coursing through your veins 24/7!

    As I noted earlier, meth was prescribed to millions of women (and a few men) for years, and there was no crisis, certainly no plague of meth-related deaths. Once again, virtually all of the harm attributed to drugs is actually the second-order effect of drug prohibition. Street drugs have inconsistent strength and purity, the providers are happy to sell you as much as you want as often as you want, and if a user finds himself in trouble he's reluctant to seek help from the legitimate authorities. My parents lived through Prohibition and assured me that exactly the same thing happened with alcohol. You had no idea how strong bootleg booze might be, and in many cases it was contaminated with wood alcohol, which causes blindness or even death.

    As for cocaine, my grandfather sold it in his pharmacy 100 years ago and he had no problem with customers abusing it. The pharmacists in his area of Chicago kept in touch with each other to make sure none of their customers were double-dipping. In addition, if he suspected one of his customers had a problem, next time the guy's wife or mother came into the store he shared the info with her, and that was the last time he ever saw the guy. He also sold Heroin (with a capital H because it was in fact a trademark of Bayer A.G. until we seized all German patents and trademarks in the unnecessarily punitive Treaty of Versailles) and had the same experience with that "dangerous drug."

    These days many potheads have switched to vaporizers. Contrary to popular belief, lung cancer is not a common side-effect of smoking pot, nonetheless coughing and sore throat are. (It really is the nicotine in cigarettes that kills people, not the smoke.)

    And the source of the misinformation is often the government. How many little kids were scared to death by those fraudulent D.A.R.E. lectures, or the scrambled-egg "this is your brain on drugs" TV ads?

    Pot induces a healthy sense of paranoia. This doesn't do much for teenagers, but then I insist that teenagers shouldn't be taking drugs anyway because their brains are still developing. Caffeine: 18 (why the hell should children need a stimulant? What will they do when life gets really tough?); Alcohol: 21 (with a breathalyzer ignition interlock until you're 30), Marijuana: 25, I'm less certain about the cutoff for other drugs, except tobacco which should be around 50 when your body starts to break down and you might have a legitimate need for a mood-leveler.

    Anyway back on topic, the stoned drivers are the ones in the right-hand lane, going 5mph under the speed limit, leaving twice the recommended distance from the car in front, checking their mirrors religiously. Probably safer than the average motorist.
     
  14. Kittamaru Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. Adieu, Sciforums. Valued Senior Member

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    I dunno... when I was in my first college, i had a roomate who was a pothead... and when he was stoned, he was completely oblivious to anything and everything going on around him except for the one thing he was focusing on... it was kind of funny, kind of irritating, cause he would get jumpy from it. *shrugs* Was... weird.
     
  15. KitemanSA Registered Senior Member

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    624
    The article, if not the study itself, seems a bit bogus. It says that the detection of marijuana use among traffic fatalities was up 3X but implied a causative relationship. That would imply the number of accidents would have been up too but there was no mention of that. Perhaps the number was down because legal pot has reduced the number of boozers on the road.

    A net-quaintance of mine insists that boozing and its replacement, stoning, are attempts to self medicate for PTSD from child abuse. He can also cite lots of statistics that stoners are much safer drivers than boozers. So maybe the reality is that the total fatalities are going down but the number of dead, killed by the remaining boozers, contain more mj-users. Hmmm.
     

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