Methamphetamine (“crystal meth” or “speed”) is a synthetic (man-made) stimulant. It is not made from a plant or an herb. Instead, it is produced through chemical synthesis by pharmaceutical companies (for certain medical purposes) and illegal labs (for sale on the street).
Methamphetamine varies in texture and purity depending on how it is made. It may be sold as a fine to coarse powder (“speed”), crystals (“crystal meth”), or white chunks with grey or pink bits. It may be taken by mouth, smoked, snorted, or injected. “Speed” is the street term for the injectable or orally ingested form of methamphetamine. “Crystal meth” is the street term for the smokeable form of methamphetamine.
Also known as: 222, chalk, crank, crystal, crystal meth, dirt, glass, hawaiian salt, fast, gak, gingo, grit, high speed chicken feed, ice, koolaid, kryptonite, ladies, peach, peanut butter, peanuts, pink, poor man’s cocaine, rock candy, shabu, shards, sketch, soiks, speed (meth), spooch, stove top, tina, tweak, and zip.
Use of methamphetamine can produce many other effects including:
- dry mouth
- dilation of pupils
- teeth grinding
- stomach ache
- reduced appetite
- headache
- dizziness
- sleep difficulties
- sweating
- muscle tremors (shakiness)
- increased heart rate and irregular/abnormal heart rhythm
- increased breathing rate
- hypertension (high blood pressure)
- myocardial infarction (heart attack)
- cardiovascular collapse
- stroke
A regular user who suddenly stops using methamphetamine may experience:
- strong craving for the drug
- extreme fatigue
- lengthy but disturbed sleep
- intense hunger
- an exaggerated sense of mental or emotional discomfort (dysphoria)
- an inability to experience pleasure (anhedonia)
- personality disturbances (psychosis)
You can visit our homepage Neworld Medical Detox Centre for more information.