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[swoosh sound]
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[city ambience, birds chirping]
NARRATOR VOICE-OVER (VO): In communities across America,
concerned citizens are facing a
public health crisis that is jeopardizing the well-being of
friends, family, and loved ones.
Stimulant and methamphetamine use disorders
are now one of our country’s most pressing challenges.
In fact, from 2015 to 2019, the prevalence of methamphetamine
use disorder—not including injectables—has increased
tenfold in Black people, threefold in White people,
and twofold in Hispanic people.
So, the problem has gotten
exponentially worse
over the past decade
in terms of stimulant use
and stimulant use disorders here in the US.
Over the past 2 years, during the COVID-19 pandemic,
it’s increased even further.
NARRATOR VO: From 2015 to 2019, overdose deaths due to
stimulants other than cocaine increased by 180%.
You know, it’s not just
life-threatening in terms of
people die from overdoses;
it’s life-threatening in terms
of it threatens to not allow people
to experience a meaningful life.
I was really embarrassed
for a long time
because I hid my addiction.
And I always wanted to tell someone, because deep in my--
I wanted to be like everybody else. I wanted to be happy.
I wanted to smile. And I would put on a
manufactured smile, but
deep inside I was breaking apart.
NARRATOR VO: Communities are rising to meet this challenge
with compassion, strength, and hope.
The American Heart Association is here to empower your efforts,
with the latest science-based information and care.
Together we can make a difference.
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NARRATOR VO: Most of us recognize the
names of illegal stimulants like
crack cocaine, cocaine,
and methamphetamine.
Methamphetamine is a potent drug
that stays in the body far longer
and is highly addictive.
DR. BAGOT: Methamphetamine is particularly dangerous as a drug
and as a stimulant because it’s lab-based.
A lot of different chemicals may go into methamphetamines that
people may not be aware of. And so those different sort of
chemical compositions can lead to sort of more severe or
unanticipated consequences of drug use.
And a lot of times, methamphetamine can be laced
with things like fentanyl, which are really deadly and can cause
overdose deaths.
NARRATOR VO: But street drugs are not the only stimulant
putting our community at risk.
Be aware that drugs prescribed for medical conditions like
attention-deficit disorder, hyperactivity, narcolepsy, or
weight loss can all be misused.
DR. OLSAVSKY: Even just these prescribed stimulants alone, if
they’re taken in sufficient quantity, sufficient frequency,
in a way that's not intended,
it can not only precipitate symptoms in the now, but it can
lead to increased problems with substance use later on.
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NARRATOR VO: So, what’s going on inside the body that makes using
stimulants so pleasurable but causes such physical and
psychological pain?
Our brain produces a chemical called dopamine, which helps
motivate us to meet our basic needs—food, shelter, and
important relationships.
When a person uses stimulants, a flood
of dopamine occurs in the brain. This high can overpower other
rewards, such as interacting with people.
A dopamine cycle of pleasure and pain ensues.
The brain is hijacked, with more and
more drugs needed to get that same high. And each time the
person comes down, they feel worse. They are stuck in a loop,
taking more and more drugs, just trying to get back to feeling OK
again.
It changes the brain. It changes the body much in the
same way or in similar ways that we see with other chronic
diseases like heart disease or diabetes.
And actually, families and friends really have
an opportunity, by showing their loved ones compassion, by
actually understanding that this is an illness and it’s not a
moral issue.
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A lot of times, people have a stigma that an
addict has rotten teeth. He lives on the street, unkempt,
bad odor, but I wore a suit every day. I wore a suit.
I stood in front of people. I delivered messages.
I acted as if everything was OK.
But all along, I was falling apart. I was sweating.
I was cramping. I was agitated.
I was struggling financially.
I had a bad anger issue because
I did not share that with someone.
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NARRATOR VO: Stimulants can cause a variety
of physical symptoms,
from headaches and dilated pupils,
to stomach cramps
or elevated body temperature.
You may also notice a variety of behavioral changes that indicate
stimulant use.
Also, learn to recognize common drug paraphernalia used to
snort, smoke, or inject stimulants.
Being aware of these signs just might prevent a more severe and
often fatal outcome—
an overdose that causes seizures,
heart attack, or stroke.
[siren]
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Substance use disorders sort of transect every
subset of society. You can be Black, White. You can be rich.
You can be poor. Everyone at every level of society
is affected by substance use disorders.
NARRATOR VO: There are, however, contributing factors that put
certain people at a higher risk.
DR. BAGOT: If we have grandparents or parents that
have any history of any type of substance use disorder, whether
it be stimulants or alcohol, or anything, then that puts us at
an increased risk of developing a substance use disorder.
And that’s solely based on biology.
NARRATOR VO: Environment also plays a large role influencing
substance use behaviors.
DR. BAGOT: So we know that adolescents or youth that have
peers that are also using substances or that are engaging
in other risky-type behaviors are at much, much greater risk
of developing substance use behaviors themselves.
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One of the biggest issues for people who have
substance use disorders is being able to get treatment.
Being able to feel comfortable
coming forward and saying they have a
problem with this. A lot of the issue is that,
just like mental health problems,
substance use is having this stigma.
[swoosh]
DR. BAGOT: Even now, our use of the term
substance use disorders,
as opposed to addict,
is an attempt to move away from
that sort of stigmatized
description of the process
of the disease that people
are afflicted with.
[swoosh]
Family support is so important because in the
mindset of someone who’s using drugs, we already feel,
you know, isolated.
We already feel like there’s a stigma on us that
people see us once a drug user, always a drug user.
And so, that’s so important that there’s a family member or a
friend or a relative who has that rapport because once I
knew that somebody was all for me,
they weren’t going to judge me.
They weren’t going to look down on me,
but they were for me.
That’s when the healing process actually started.
Whether those social supports are parents, sisters,
brothers, aunts, uncles, spouses, significant others,
partners—it doesn’t really matter. If you have someone
positive that’s not enabling you but is positive and is there to
provide support through your substance use trajectory,
it’s really important. It’s one of the key indicators
of sort of treatment success.
[swoosh]
DR. OLSAVSKY: People who have substance use disorders,
they can rebuild their lives.
Even though you feel like you don’t have hope right now,
I always try to have enough hope for both of us,
that we can do this together.
And I think that’s really important.
And I think it’s something that family members can do too—
not just providers.
The family members can try to keep that kernel of hope
and understand that this is an illness and that there’s
treatment and that it’s possible
for their loved one to get better.
NARRATOR VO: For more information about stimulant use
disorders and resources for support and recovery,
visit empoweredtoserve.org/ stimulantusedisorder.