What exactly is meth, and why has it become such a big topic? Understanding the facts helps you cut through all the noise and mixed messages.
Meth, or methamphetamine, is a synthetic stimulant that affects the central nervous system.3
What is meth made of?
- Acetone (Nail Polish Remover)
- Lithium (Batteries)
- Toluene (Brake Fluid)
- Hydrochloric Acid (Ingredient in Plastic)
- Pseudoephedrine (Cold Medicine)
- Red Phosphorus (Match Boxes, Road Flares)
- Sodium Hydroxide (Lye)
- Sulfuric Acid (Toilet Bowl Cleaner)
- Anhydrous Ammonia (Fertilizer, Countertop Cleaner)
Find out more about what meth is made of here.
- Snorted
- Injected
- Swallowed
- Smoked
Common Names
- Speed
- Crank
- Ice
- Tweek
- Uppers
- Chalk
- Christina
- Tina
- Go fast
- Cookies
- Cotton candy
- Dunk
- Gak
- Go-go juice
- No doze
- White cross
- Pookie
- Rocket fuel
- Scooby snax
- Wash
- Trash
- Garbage
First created by a Japanese chemist in 1919, meth saw its heyday in World War II when it was dissolved into water and injected into soldiers to help them stay awake. After WWII, methamphetamine was prescribed as a diet aid and treatment for depression. This addictive drug quickly gained popularity as a cure all and spread across the world. With such popularity and the release of an injectable form, the misuse of the drug became uncontrollable. The government had to take action to suppress widespread misuse, addiction , and illegal production, and so they deemed it illegal, cutting misuse drastically. Even still, misuse continues to be a major problem.4
This is the lowest rate reported since the data collection began in 1999! Still with the serious impact meth addiction has on families and communities, it remains the #2 substance bringing people into treatment (after alcohol).2
What it feels like. Meth travels into your brain, specifically to the reward center where dopamine is stored.
One hit of Meth releases approximately 1200 units of dopamine, six times the maximum quantity that the body releases on its own.
Meth can also come in a liquid form for the purpose of smuggling the substance by appearing as apple juice or other such items. After transport, the water is boiled away, leaving the pure drug in a solid form.
Meth can cause many painful, uncontrollable effects, that interfere with quality of life. The list below states specific effects, or you can check out this interactive game.
- Open sores
- Picking at the skin
- Acne
- Infections
- Rotting teeth
- Loss of appetite
- Increased heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature
- Dilation of pupils
- Disturbed sleep patterns
- Nausea
- Bizarre, erratic, sometimes violent behavior
- Convulsions, seizures and death from high dose
- Permanent damage to blood vessels in the heart and brain
- High blood pressure
- Heart attacks, strokes and death
- Liver, kidney and lung damage
- Destruction of tissues in nose if snorted
- Breathing problems if smoked
- Infectious diseases and abscesses if injected
- Malnutrition, weight loss
- Severe tooth decay
- Disorientation, apathy, confusion, exhaustion
- Panic
- Paranoia
- Depression
- hallucinations
- Hyperexcitability
- Irritability
- Uncontrollable obsession with the repetition of certain behaviors
- Psychosis
Addiction
After continued use, your body is unable to create any more dopamine because the drug ravages the reward center in the brain and leaves it broken and in some cases inactive.
The brain, however, will continue to chase that original high causing continued use. At some point, the user no longer feels any pleasure and just continues use Meth to relieve withdrawal symptoms, as illustrated in this video.
“Even when I knew I was losing everything, I knew I still wanted to get high. That's all I knew.” - Rochelle’s Story
According to the federal Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), Methamphetamine is a Schedule II stimulant, which means that it has a high potential for misuse and addiction with limited medical use.
Each state deals with possession and use crimes differently, but Colorado penalties start with fines of $50-$100,000 and/or jail time of up to a year.7
Meth can also cause people to pull away from friends and family. It can twist perception of reality, so a person on Meth can become violent and dangerous to anyone around them at any time. People who are addicted to Meth will often resort to crime to obtain the money for their fix.
2 https://coag.gov/sites/default/files/contentuploads/oce/Substance_Abuse_SA/SATF-reports/11th_annual_substance_abuse_task_force_report_2016_final_2.pdf
3 http://www.methproject.org/answers/what-is-meth.html#The-Drug-Defined
4 http://www.drugfreeworld.org/drugfacts/crystalmeth/history-of-methamphetamine.html
5 http://www.methproject.org/answers/whats-meth-made-of.html#Whats-in-Meth
7 http://codes.findlaw.com/co/title-18-criminal-code/co-rev-st-sect-18-18-403-5.html
