Crystal meth
Things to know about crystal meth
Dose
The quicker the hit, the stronger the effect:
- smoking takes 10 seconds
- injecting takes 15-30 seconds
- snorting takes three to five minutes
The down side
On crystal binges people can go for days without eating or sleeping.
The effects
Nose
Snorting can damage the inside of the nose.
Mouth
Long-term users often loose teeth and have gum problems (‘meth mouth’) caused by toxic chemicals in the drug.
Heart
Crystal makes the heart beat fast, pushing blood pressure and body temperature to dangerous levels, risking irregular heart beat, heart attack, coma or stroke; possibly death. Injecting can let bacteria into the blood causing life-threatening infections of the blood or heart.
Mind
The come down often causes exhaustion, depression, anxiety and, for some, suicidal thoughts. Use can cause aggression, paranoia and psychosis, especially with long-term use.
Lasting mental health problems can persist after quitting the drug.
Lungs
Smoking through a glass pipe or off tin foil can cause lung damage.
Skin
Long-term users can think bugs are under their skin, leading to constant picking, causing abscesses and skin infections.
HIV
The immune system of someone with HIV can be damaged by using crystal, and from lack of food/sleep and not taking HIV drugs on time. There's evidence of harmful interactions between crystal and some HIV drugs (protease inhibitors).
Problem use
Tolerance of crystal meth soon builds, leading to people taking bigger and more frequent doses. Some men seem able to be occasional users but people who can control their use of other drugs often can't control their use of crystal. It has a reputation for being quickly addictive and ruining careers, finances, relationships and health.
At risk
Injecting is the riskiest way of taking crystal, it's most likely to cause and overdose or addiction. Sharing syringes, needles etc can let infections like HIV and hepatitis B and C into the bloodstream. It can also cause blood poisoning, skin abscesses and life-threatening heart infections.
Hepatitis C could be passed on:
- Pipe sharing could pass on HIV too.
- when snorting straws or similar are shared if tiny amounts of blood pass from the lining of one person's nose to another's.
Mixing
HIV drugs
Some HIV drugs (for example protease inhibitors) can cause a large, potentially fatal increase of crystal in the body.
Other stimulants
Taking crystal with other stimulants (such as cocaine, E, but also Viagra-type drugs and poppers) risks putting a dangerous level of strain on the heart and brain.
Mixing with anti-depressants
Taking crystal when on anti-depressants can make life-threatening reactions more likely (like dangerously high blood pressure). Get medical advice before mixing meth and anti-depressants.
The law
Early in 2007 crystal was reclassified upwards to a Class A drug.
Penalties
The penalty for possession is up to seven years in prison and/or and unlimited fine.
The penalty for intending to supply, including giving to friends, is up to life imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine.
More information and support
For help and advice concerning drugs see the page of Useful info and support in the Power room on this website.