Long-term effects
Long-term use of ice can result in a number of health issues, including:• high blood pressure and increased risk of heartrelated complications such as heart attack and heart failure

• malnutrition and rapid weight loss due to reduced appetite
• chronic sleeping problems
• reduced immunity and increased susceptibility to infections due to the person not sleeping or eating properly
• depression, anxiety, tension and paranoia
• brain damage (there is some evidence that amphetamines may damage brain cells resulting in reduced memory function and other impairments in thinking)
• dental problems (from grinding teeth)
• smoking ice can damage the lungs
• snorting ice can damage the lining of the nose
• injecting ice can lead to scarring, abscesses and vein damage. Sharing injecting equipment increases the risk of contracting blood-borne viruses, such as hepatitis B and C, and HIV.

Other effects and issues
Due to some of the effects of ice, some people may be more prone to practice unsafe sex. This increases the chances of contracting sexually transmitted infections and blood-borne viruses, such as hepatitis B and C, and HIV. As well as health problems, using ice (or any drug) can result in family, financial, legal, work, school and other personal problems. These problems can be made much worse because some people who use ice can become irritable, hostile and violent and/or experience other psychological problems. It is also dangerous to drive a vehicle or operate machinery after using ice.

Ice and pregnancy
Using ice while pregnant can affect the development of the foetus. Amphetamine use has been linked with bleeding, early labour, an increased risk of foetal abnormalities and changes to the brain.
If amphetamines are used close to birth the baby may be unsettled, overactive and agitated. Babies born to mothers who regularly used amphetamines during their pregnancy may experience withdrawal symptoms after birth.

Tolerance and dependence
People who use ice can quickly develop a tolerance to the drug so that increasingly greater doses are needed to achieve the desired effects.
Ice can also lead to physical and/or psychological dependence. People who are psychologically dependent on ice find that using it becomes far more important than other activities in their life.
They crave the drug and find it very difficult to stop using it. Physical dependence occurs when a person’s body adapts to the drug and the body gets used to functioning with the drug present. If a person who is physically dependent on ice suddenly stops taking it they may experience withdrawal symptoms.

Withdrawal
Some of the symptoms people may experience once they have stopped using ice include:

• disorientation
• hunger
• extreme fatigue and exhaustion
• decreased energy, apathy and the limited ability to experience pleasure
• anxiety, irritability and depression
• craving ice.

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