Methamphetamine has received much attention in the media over the past while. Reports of Meth labs and the dangers of addiction are frequent.
What is Methamphetamine?
Methamphetamine is type of amphetamine, or stimulant that speeds up the body's central nervous system. Street names for this drug include:
- Ice
- Crystal Meth
- Crank
- Glass
What does it look like?
Methamphetamine is a white, odourless, bitter-tasting crystalline poweder that dissolves easily in water or alcohol. It can be snorted, swallowed, injected or smoked. A pipe is used to smoke it.
How does it make users feel?
How a person feels after taking meth depends on many factors including:
- your age and weight
- how much you've taken and how often you take it
- how long you've been taking it
- what method (smoke, snort, inject) you use to take it
- where you are when you take it (environment)
- whether or not you have health or mental health conditions
- whether you have taken any other substances (illicit, prescription, over the counter or herbal) at the same time
Right after snorthing meth, users feel a surge of euphoria, sometimes called a "rush". If the user has swallowed meth, the rush can take 15-20 minutes.
Meth can also make people feel alert and energetic, confident and talkative. They might not feel hungry or tired.
Negative effects can include:
- racing heart
- chest pain
- dry mouth
- nausea, vomiting and diarrhea
- tension
- feeling restless or "wired"
- feeling edgy or irritable
- paranoid delusions (feeling like people or things are out to "get you")
- hallucinations
- aggressive behaviour
- impulsive violence
Is meth addictive?
Yes. When dependent users stop taking meth, they have strong cravings for the drug, and quickly begin to feel withdrawal symptoms. These include:
- stomach pain
- hunger
- headaches
- shortness of breath
- tiredness
- depression
Regular users build up tolerance quickly, meaning they need to use more and more to get the same "high".
Is meth dangerous?
Yes. Meth makes the heart beat faster, and blood pressure rise. The ingredients in meth are toxic, and cause longterm physical damage. Since meth is made in illegal labs, without any controls about what goes into the drug, it is hard for people to judge the size of a dose. Overdose can result in seizures, high body temperatures, irregular heartbeat, heart attack, stroke and death. The most risky way to take the drug is by injection.
What are long-term effects of using methamphetamine?
If you use meth regularly over a long period of time, you can begin to have hallucinations, delusions, paranoia, and bizarre and violent behaviour.
Research in animals and humans suggests that meth use can cause long-term damage to brain cells that control thinking, memory and movement.
This information has been adapted with permission from CAMH material.