Ice, crank, crystal, speed. Those are just a few street names for methamphetamines that you may have heard of.

Most people know a little bit about meth, but I'm reasonably sure you don't know everything.

Methamphetamines were first made in the late 1800s. Back then it was used as a nasal

decongestant. That was obviously pre-modern medicine. I feel like some of the medicines and

medical procedures back then absolutely were, but some were pretty outlandish. Sort of

makes me think of some of the lines in the movie

a mean ways to die in the West

when the lead character is talking

about all the things that can kill you,

including doctors.

He said he was a little sick

and the doctor told him that he needed

an ear nail, as in a nail in his ear.

Doc, I have a fever of 102. Oh, you need a donkey kicking.

Or, I guess it could be like using meth as a nasal decongestant.

From there, meth went on to be used, believe it or not, in war. In

War II, meth was used by both sides, the Allied and the Axis, but primarily used by the Germans

to try to turn them into super soldiers. It did give them a boost, but the side effects after use weren't at all desirable.

It turned those super soldiers from superhumans to barely walking zombies.

Fast forward to today, and users who want to constantly chase that initial high they got

become incredibly addicted, people using the drugs can experience a range of mental health issues, including anxiety,

paranoia, schizophrenia, and psychosis.

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